Effects of hormone replacement therapy on health of heart, brain

Short-term menopause symptoms like hot flashes, which are brought on by variations in reproductive hormones, are well-known to many people. They might not be aware, however, that over time, menopause may compromise the health of the heart and the brain. In the United States, atherosclerosis, or the formation of plaque in arteries, is the main cause of death, and it almost always affects women after menopause. Postmenopausal women are much more likely than premenopausal women to suffer from memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Now, Keck Medicine of USC has launched a clinical trial to study the effect of a novel hormone replacement therapy on postmenopausal cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. “Data supports the concept that estrogen, a hormone that the ovaries stop producing after menopause, protects both the heart and brain from damage,” said Howard N Hodis, MD, director of the USC Atherosclerosis Research Unit, internal medicine specialist with Keck Medicine and lead researcher of the study. “Our study seeks to determine whether estrogen-containing hormone therapy can prevent or slow atherosclerosis progression and cognitive impairment in women after menopause.”