Menopausal hormone therapy accelerates tau protein buildup in brain regions linked to Alzheimer's in women over 70, potentially contributing to their higher vulnerability to the disease.
According to some estimates, Alzheimer’s disease will affect nearly 14 million Americans by 2060, with women comprising two-thirds of those cases. Research indicates that this disparity arises from the buildup of tau, a protein linked to cognitive decline, which occurs earlier and progresses more rapidly in women. A recent study found that menopausal hormone therapy accelerates tau accumulation in older women, potentially contributing to this heightened risk.
The study involved 146 cognitively healthy women between the ages of 51 and 89. Researchers used brain scans to measure the accumulation of amyloid-beta and tau proteins in the women’s brains and gathered information about their menopausal hormone usage.
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They found that women over 70 who had used hormone therapy showed faster tau buildup in key brain regions linked to Alzheimer’s disease. This increase in tau was also associated with greater cognitive decline. However, in younger women—those under 70—hormone therapy had little to no effect on tau accumulation.
These findings suggest that the timing of hormone therapy plays a critical role in brain health, supporting the idea that initiating treatment earlier in menopause may be safer. Understanding how hormone therapy influences tau buildup could help refine guidelines for menopausal treatment and Alzheimer’s risk reduction. Learn more about factors that influence the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in this clip featuring Dr. Dale Bredesen.