HRT does not increase dementia risk in women, review finds

• There are several possible reasons as to why women are more likely to develop dementia, including a decrease of estrogen which may lead to brain issues.
• Some women take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat menopause symptoms, which over the years doctors have also debated whether or not it increases dementia risk.
• A new study reports finding no evidence that HRT either increases or decreases dementia risk in post-menopausal women.

Researchers estimate that in 2021, about 57 million people around the world were living with dementia.

Past studies show that women have a higher risk of developing dementia than men, making up about two-thirds of all cases.

There are several reasons as to why women are more likely to develop dementia, including longevity — as women tend to live longer than men — as well as a higher genetic risk, and the decrease of estrogen levels during menopause.

Some women opt to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — also known as menopause hormone therapy (MHT) — during menopause to help replace the estrogen they are missing, and potentially alleviate menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings, as well as brain issues like brain fog and problems concentrating.

Over the years, there has been conflicting research findings as to whether or not HRT increases a woman’s risk of developing dementia.

In November 2025, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced it would be removing “black box” warnings for HRT, which included dementia risk.

Now, a new study published in the journal The Lancet Healthy Longevity adds to the conversation by finding no evidence that HRT either increases or decreases dementia risk in post-menopausal women.