A recent study investigating into the cognitive effects of hormone therapy on memory, language and concentration in menopausal women, found no such effects.
"We report, for the first time, that drospirenone combined with estradiol has no overall effect on the cognitive performance of postmenopausal women examined over a 26-week period," commented Professor Susan Davis, Director of the Women's Health Research Program in the Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in a university news release .
Published in the journal Menopause, Sonia Davison, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, and colleagues examined the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) E2D in women, using a combination of hormones estradiol and drospirenone. HRT over a six-month period in early postmenopausal women aged between 49 and 55 years. Results show significant improvement in menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, and sexual function. The investigators also noticed a lowered blood pressure and weight compared to those who were treated with a dummy pill, instead of HRT. "The mental rotation task was associated with increased blood oxygen level-dependent signalling in the placebo group in both occipital lobes and in the left superior parietal lobe after 26 weeks, with no changes over time seen in the treatment group. The total menopausal symptom and sexual function domain scores improved after treatment in women randomized to E2D compared with the placebo group," the investigators report.
Brain-imaging (MRI) scans of the women for cognitive assessment were normal. The women were able to perform mental tasks as usual, during the course of the treatment or later. The results showed no adverse effects in terms of cognitive performance of early postmenopausal women, when estradiol, a form of oestrogen combined with drospirenone, a progestin, were administered. "Functional magnetic resonance imaging results showed no difference between the groups for verbal fluency or mental rotation task performance at baseline."
According to Professor Davis, "there had long been debate about the safety of hormone replacement therapies and the potential adverse effects on cognitive function in women. "These findings are reassuring for women," Professor Davis said. Memory and mood complaints are common in women after menopause due to estrogen deficiency: lack of clarity of thought and memory or word-finding difficulties.
"Although hormone replacement therapy is no quick fix to the challenge of menopause, it does show that the E2D treatment can be useful in the overall management of menopause, and without adversely effecting cognitive ability," Professor Davis observed.
"E2D has no detrimental effect on cognitive performance in early postmenopausal women. E2D significantly improves menopausal symptoms, sexual function, systolic blood pressure, and weight," the researchers conclude.
