The U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce weighs the risks and benefits of screening and therapies aimed at preventing illness.  Based on the revised analysis by the Women’s Health Initiative study, the taskforce found limited evidence that hormone replacement protects against bone fractures and no evidence that hormone replacement reduces the risk of heart disease.  “It also found that for most menopausal women taking home therapy, the risk of developing dementia later in life actually rose a bit.”

The Women’s Health Initiative studied more than 160,000 women over a 15-year period.  That study initially linked hormone replacement therapy with a higher rate of invasive breast cancer.  Since then, more analyses of the study occurred.

In summary, based on subsequent analysis, for those women who are past menopause and healthy, the taskforce recommendation is to avoid taking hormone replacement therapy if you are taking the hormones with the goal of avoiding dementia, bone fractures or heart disease. 

So, it appears that the best way to avoid dementia and the need for memory care in Vancouver WA is to stay active physically and mentally, eat healthily and hope you have good genes.