Maturitas · Feb 11, 2026

Randomization to hormone therapy and changes in plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's pathology: The women's health initiative memory study

By Shadyab AH, Zhang B, LaCroix AZ et al.

The association of hormone therapy with Alzheimer's pathology among postmenopausal women is not well understood. We examined the association of randomized assignment to hormone therapy with changes in plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's pathology in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study. Rates of change in the biomarkers (p-tau217, p-tau181, Aβ42:Aβ40, GFAP, and NfL) over an average 15-year follow-up did not significantly differ for estrogen alone vs placebo or estrogen plus progestin vs placebo. These null associations do not support either a protective or a detrimental association of hormone therapy of the types tested in the Women's Health Initiative with long-term changes in plasma Alzheimer's biomarkers. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT00685009.

doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2026.108873 Open access PubMed 41678876 Interventions