Previous studies of effects of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or impaired cognitive function have yielded inconsistent results, although some studies suggest an effect of ERT primarily in verbal memory-language domains. This analysis of pilot data from a Women’s Health Initiative ancillary study examines the effect of self-reported ERT use on cognitive test scores in community-dwelling women age 60 or over with Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores > 24. Of 154 women, 132 with complete data were included. Ever (compared to never) use of ERT was associated with higher mean scores in tests of immediate (3.7 points; 95%CI 1.4-6.0) and delayed (3.8 points; 95%CI 1.1-6.4) verbal memory (prose recall), adjusting for age, education and depression. Adjusting additionally for either race, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or Vitamin E supplements (VITE) did not change these results. Adjusting for age, education, and depression, current (compared to ever or never) ERT use was associated with higher mean scores in immediate (3.5 points; 95%CI 1.2-5.9) and delayed (3.5 points; 95%CI 0.5-6.2) verbal memory as well as the Boston Naming Test (BNT) (3.3 points; 95%CI 1.05-5.5) and immediate visual memory (2.4 points; 95%CI 0.2-4.7). Only BNT and immediate verbal memory scores remained associated with current ERT use when additionally adjusting for race, NSAIDS, or VITE. No association was seen between ever or current ERT use and tests of word list recall/recognition or attention. These preliminary data support earlier suggestions that ERT may selectively protect prose recall /language functions.
Learning Objectives: Suring this session, faculty will discuss recent findings from pilot data regarding the effects of estrogen replacement therapy on cognitive function in older women
Keywords: Aging, Women's Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.