Alzheimer's Disease

Frequently Asked Questions

26. Can estrogen be used to treat Alzheimer's disease? - cont'd

Clinical trials to test estrogen, however, have not shown that it can slow the progression of Alzheimer's in women who have already been diagnosed with the disease. And one study found that women over the age of 65 who used estrogen with a progestin were at greater risk for dementia, including Alzheimer's. The study also showed that older women who used only estrogen could increase their risk of developing dementia. (Answer continues on next page.)