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Overall,156(12.5%)women reported taking oestrogen after onset of menopause.The age of onset of Alzheimer's disease was significantly later in women who had taken oestrogen than in those who did not and the relative risk of the disease was significantly reduced(9/156[5.8%] oestrogen users vs 158/968[16.3%]nonusers;0*40[95%CI 0*22-0*85],p<0.01), even after adjustment for differences in education,ethnic origin,and apolipoprotein-E genotype.Women who had used oestrogen for longer than 1 years had a greater reduction in risk;none of 23 women who were taking oestrogen at study enrollment has developed Alzheimer's disease.Oestrogen use in postmenopausal women may delay the onset and decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease.Prospective studies are needed to establish the dose and duration of oestrogen required to provide this benefit and to assess its safety in elderly postmenopausal women. |
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