Hormone therapy with oestrogen or oestrogen plus progesterone decreases cognitive function in older postmenopausal women

Abstract

Summary Question What is the effect of hormone therapy with oestrogen, or oestrogen plus progesterone on cognitive function in postmenopausal women aged 65 years or older? Study design Randomised controlled trail. Main results Hormone therapy significantly decreased cognitive function compared with placebo, after 5 to 7 years (see Results table). This decrease in cognitive function was greater in women who had a lower base-line cognitive function score (pooled p value: Authors’ conclusions Oestrogen, or oestrogen plus progesterone, has no protective affect on cognitive function in postmenopausal women aged 65 years or older.