Randomization to hormone therapy and changes in plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's pathology: The women's health initiative memory study

Maturitas 2026 Open access

Read full text
Authors: Aladdin H. Shadyab, Bowei Zhang, Andrea Z. LaCroix, Linda McEvoy
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2026.108873
Cited by: 2
References: 5

Abstract

The association of hormone therapy with Alzheimer's pathology among postmenopausal women is not well understood. We examined the association of randomized assignment to hormone therapy with changes in plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's pathology in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study. Rates of change in the biomarkers (p-tau217, p-tau181, Aβ42:Aβ40, GFAP, and NfL) over an average 15-year follow-up did not significantly differ for estrogen alone vs placebo or estrogen plus progestin vs placebo. These null associations do not support either a protective or a detrimental association of hormone therapy of the types tested in the Women's Health Initiative with long-term changes in plasma Alzheimer's biomarkers. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT00685009.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies

Publication details

Journal / source
Maturitas
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
207
Pages
108873–108873
Publication date
11 February 2026
Language
EN