Postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy and the risk of Alzheimer disease.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have examined the relation between postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and the risk of Alzheimer disease (AD). The findings have been inconsistent, since some studies have been interpreted as showing a protective effect while others have reported no effect.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether exposure to ERT is associated with a reduced risk of AD.


METHODS
Population-based nested case-control study.


METHODS
The United Kingdom-based General Practice Research Database.


METHODS
The base cohort consisted of women who were recipients of ERT (n = 112 481) and a similar cohort of women who did not use estrogens (n = 108 925). The 2 cohorts were restricted to women born on or before January 1, 1950. From the 2 cohorts, we identified and verified 59 newly diagnosed cases of AD and 221 matched control subjects.


METHODS
Prior and current use of ERT in cases compared with controls.


RESULTS
Among the 59 newly diagnosed cases of AD, 15 (25%) were current estrogen users, while among the controls, 53 (24%) were current users. The adjusted odds ratio comparing all current estrogen recipients with nonrecipients was 1.18 (95% confidence interval, 0.59-2.37). In estrogen users who took the drug for 5 years or longer compared with nonusers, the odds ratio was 1.05 (95% confidence interval, 0.32-3.44). Odds ratios were similar for estrogen recipients who received estrogens alone and recipients who received combined estrogen-progestin treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of ERT in women after the onset of menopause was not associated with a reduced risk of developing AD.
Seshadri
S
S
Framingham Heart Study and Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Zornberg
G L
GL
Derby
L E
LE
Myers
M W
MW
Jick
H
H
Drachman
D A
DA
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017698:Postmenopause; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012307:Risk Factors
D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins