A British study. HRT affect on Alzheimer’s only affects those with ApoE4 gene.
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is typically characterised by the build-up of abnormal proteins in the brain, including beta-amyloid (Aβ) and tau. A study conducted by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) found that average levels of a biomarker - phosphorylated tau by amyloid beta-42 - were similar across both HRT users and non-users.
However, alarmingly, they discovered that women using HRT who carried at least one APOE e4 gene had levels of the same biomarker over 60 per cent higher. The researchers concluded that these elevated biomarker levels likely indicate an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s-related pathology, and thus dementia, in these women.
Interestingly, HRT was not linked to higher biomarker levels in the absence of the APOE e4 gene. LJMU suggests that if their findings are confirmed in further studies, it would imply that women with the APOE e4 gene variant should be advised against using HRT.
Counterpoint: Dr Marie Anne Ledingham, a consultant clinical adviser to NICE, commented in November: “The risks (of dementia) are very low in the population, and HRT can provide huge benefits at a very difficult point in many women’s lives.”