Hormone therapy linked to tau accumulation, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease among older women: Study

The study, which was led by first author Gillian T. Coughlan, PhD, of MGH’s Department of Neurology, compared brain imaging from 73 women who had used hormone therapy an average of 14 years prior and 73 age-matched women who had not. Participants were between ages 51 and 89 at the beginning of the study. Participants had PET scans for amyloid beta over a mean 4.5-year period and for tau over a 3.5-year period.

The authors note that they cannot definitively conclude whether the influence of chronological age is due to changes in guidelines on HT prescribing or simply due to a higher tau-PET signal typically observed at more advanced ages. Current clinical guidance is that HT should be initiated within 10 years following a woman’s age at menopause to avoid adverse effects.

“Our data indicate that HT may influence tau accumulation as a function of age, with implications for cognitive decline,” said Coughlan. “We hope that our study will help to inform AD risk discussions relating to women’s reproductive health and treatment.”

Reference:

Gillian T. Coughlan et al. ,Associations between hormone therapy use and tau accumulation in brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease.Sci. Adv.11,eadt1288(2025).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adt1288