Estrogen + progestin therapy and cognition: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Endocrinology
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Hormone therapy (HT) is widely used for menopausal symptom management.
• Limited data exists on the impact of combination HT on cognitive function, particularly concerning treatment timing.
• This study investigates the effects of HT on cognitive performance in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of combined estrogen and progesterone therapy on cognitive function in healthy pre- and postmenopausal women.
• To assess the influence of treatment timing on cognitive outcomes related to HT.
• To provide insights into the relationship between HT and cognitive performance around the menopausal transition.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, randomized study involving 32 healthy women (16 premenopausal, 16 postmenopausal).
• Participants received either hormone therapy (HT) or placebo (PL) for six months.
• Cognitive performance was assessed at baseline and follow-up using tests for verbal/visuomotor functions, memory, and attention.

Main Results:

• In premenopausal women, HT improved cognitive attention in one task, while placebo improved other attention measures.
• Postmenopausal women on HT showed enhanced verbal episodic memory but a slight decline in auditory attention.
• Overall, HT demonstrated only minor cognitive effects in both groups.

Conclusions:

• Hormone therapy (HT) with estradiol valerate and norethisterone has minimal impact on attention around menopause and memory in postmenopause.
• The findings suggest nuanced effects of HT on different cognitive domains and menopausal stages.
• Further investigation into HT timing and its cognitive implications is warranted.