Atherosclerosis, the accumulation of plaque in arteries, is a leading cause of death in the U.S., and almost always occurs in women after menopause. Cognitive concerns such as memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are dramatically more common in postmenopausal than premenopausal women. “Data supports the concept that estrogen, a hormone that the ovaries stop producing after menopause, protects both the heart and brain from damage,”
Now, Keck Medicine of USC has launched a clinical trial to study the effect of a novel hormone replacement therapy on postmenopausal cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline.
“Our study seeks to determine whether estrogen-containing hormone therapy can prevent or slow atherosclerosis progression and cognitive impairment in women after menopause.”
“Data supports the concept that estrogen, a hormone that the ovaries stop producing after menopause, protects both the heart and brain from damage,” said Howard N. Hodis, MD, director of the USC Atherosclerosis Research Unit, internal medicine specialist with Keck Medicine and lead researcher of the study. “Our study seeks to determine whether estrogen-containing hormone therapy can prevent or slow atherosclerosis progression and cognitive impairment in women after menopause.
A key aspect of the study is that it is designed for women who are postmenopausal for six years or less.
“We have studied previous data and conducted clinical trials showing that timing of when a woman starts hormone therapy is crucial,” said Hodis, who is also a professor of medicine and population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “There appears to be a limited window of time wherein women benefit from hormone replacement therapy. Beyond six years of menopause, prevention appears to be too late. (PB/Newswise)
