How HRT May Prevent Dementia in Women

Dementia in women is more common than you may know. And Alzheimer’s disease among women is a growing problem.

Here are just a few statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association:

• 55 million people worldwide live with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
• Over 6 million people in America have Alzheimer’s disease.
• Of those, two-thirds are women — almost 4 million people. 
• Women in their 60s are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as breast cancer.
• A woman has a one-in-five chance of developing Alzheimer’s at age 65.

These are some frightening statistics — but there is hope! A new study has recently come out that suggests Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in some at-risk women.

What Causes Dementia in Women?

Dementia is a general term for loss of memory and other cognitive abilities that are serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for up to 80% of dementia cases. 

While Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging, the greatest risk for the disease is being 65 and older. It’s a progressive disease, with early stages of mild memory loss worsening over time to the point where a person loses the ability to respond to their environment. 

Alzheimer’s has no cure, but many treatments are ongoing to delay the progression and prevent it from developing. That’s why the recent study about HRT and dementia in women is so important to understand.

How Can HRT Potentially Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk in Women?

The study we’re referring to focused on a specific gene found to increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia: AP0E4, or Apolipoprotein E4. Anywhere from 15-25% of the population in the United States carries this gene.

And while having this gene doesn’t automatically mean a person will develop Alzheimer’s, it increases the risk, particularly in women.  Women with this gene will also have more severe memory and cognitive decline than men.

The study reviewed data from 1,178 women involved in the European Prevention of Alzheimer’s Dementia Initiative. All these women were over 50 and had no dementia at the start of the study, which tracked their brain health over time.

Researchers looked at the results of cognitive tests and brain volumes in these women, recorded by MRI scans. They found that HRT is associated with better memory, cognitive function, and larger brain volumes in women with the APOE4 gene. The results were better than those who didn’t have the gene or those who were not on HRT.

The research also found that HRT was most effective when given during perimenopause. When given, during this time of a woman’s life, it led to brains that appeared several years younger.

This is only the first of many more studies to be done, but it’s a promising development. We’ve known for years that optimal hormone balance can dramatically improve memory and cognitive abilities. Now, it may also be able to prevent dementia in women — a major benefit! 

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) Can Help You Live a Longer, Happier, Healthier Life!

The providers at Forum Health Las Colinas, have years of experience in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). We want you to remain healthy and maintain optimal hormonal balance so your overall wellness is the best it can possibly be!

Restoring hormonal balance has many positive health benefits besides improving memory and cognition as we age. That’s why we offer extensive laboratory testing to specifically identify which hormones might need regulating — as well as other factors that may affect your hormone balance. This testing also looks at other health markers, which provide a whole-body picture so that you can achieve optimal hormone balance.

We will prescribe only bioidentical hormones produced to exacting standards in qualified compounding pharmacies. These products are designed to mirror the hormones naturally produced by the body.

The effects of aging and hormone imbalance can be counterbalanced with the right tools, medical guidance, and lifestyle changes. With the assistance of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for women and proper nutrition, we work with you to sustain a lifetime of wellness!

Learn more about Bioidentical Hormones for women. 

Our Providers are BHRT Experts

Dr. Kyler Elwell

Dr. Kyler Elwell-Silver is a board-certified physician who is passionate about medicine and deeply committed to patient care. After years of practicing conventional medicine in a successful career as an obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Elwell reached a point where she felt the need to explore a different approach and decided to transition to functional medicine. The increasing number of inquiries about functional medicine and the desire to provide comprehensive care beyond the limitations of 15-minute appointments prompted her to do some soul-searching and make a change. With her expertise in functional medicine, dedication to continued learning, and genuine passion for patient care, Dr. Kyler Elwell-Silver is a valuable addition to our functional medicine practice, providing comprehensive and personalized care that addresses the root causes of illness and promotes optimal health and well-being.

Nurse Practitioner Debbie Bluestein

Nurse Practitioner Debbie Bluestein has been a Nurse Practitioner since 1998. She has done extensive study and training in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy and Optimization. She has been working with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy since 2011.

Debbie uses a functional medicine approach to anti-aging, using hormones, diet, exercise, nutraceuticals, and supplements. She is passionate about helping people feel their best and achieve optimal health. Debbie believes in using a very individualized approach to achieve optimal hormone balance for each patient.

Read more about Debbie Bluestein here. 

Physician Assistant Kam Neal

Physician Assistant Kam Neal has loved medicine her entire life. She is a certified Physician Assistant and licensed by the Texas Medical Board.

Kam felt frustrated working in a traditional medical model, not seeing her patients feel any better. Her experience with hormone imbalances after having children and being told “everything is normal” led her to functional medicine and an optimal wellness model.

Kam loves working with each patient to find the root cause of their illness while teaching them about their health. Her goal is for every patient to feel informed and empowered to take charge of their health.

Read more about Kam Neal here. 

We Want to Help You!

Our providers at Forum Health Las Colinas understand that all hormones work synergistically with each other. We also want to keep your overall health in mind, and our extensive lab panels check other key health markers.

We can give a much more thorough idea of what’s going on within your body and mind. Also, we are always willing to work with your other health providers as needed.

So many other factors can affect your endocrine system and long-term health. Because we always look at the big picture, we are able to help not only alleviate your symptoms but also get you to feel like your old self again.

We want to ensure that you’re healthy for a long time to come! That’s why we all spend plenty of time with you to get to know you and your specific concerns. Lab results don’t always give us the full picture. Your diagnostic testing may show that you are in the “normal” range, but you are still not feeling good.

We offer our services in a warm, compassionate, and safe environment.