Verified hormone therapy improves episodic memory performance in healthy postmenopausal women.

• Studies of hormone therapy (HT) and cognition have yielded conflicting results. The aim of this observational study was to examine the effect of estradiol, via serum verified HT (estradiol, estriol, progesterone) and endogenous estradiol, on 108 healthy postmenopausal women's cognitive performance. The results demonstrated that the 43 HT-users performed at a significantly higher level than non-users on episodic memory tasks and on a verbal fluency task, whereas HT-users and non-users did not differ on tasks assessing semantic memory and spatial visualization. In addition, there was a positive relationship between serum estradiol level and episodic memory performance, indicating that postmenopausal HT is associated with enhanced episodic memory and verbal fluency, independent of age and education. These observational results suggest that HT use may be sufficient to exert small, yet positive effects on female sensitive cognitive tasks. Hormone therapy compliance and formulation is discussed as confounding factors in previous research.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Fysiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Physiology (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Analysis of Variance

Cognition

drug effects

Estradiol

blood

therapeutic use

Estrogen Replacement Therapy

methods

Female

Humans

Longitudinal Studies

Memory

drug effects

Middle Aged

Neuropsychological Tests

statistics & numerical data

Observation

methods

Postmenopause

drug effects

physiology

Prospective Studies

Retrospective Studies

Space Perception

drug effects

Verbal Behavior

drug effects

estrogen replacement therapy

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)