title: Effects of hormone therapy on cognition and mood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Results of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) and Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) suggested that hormone therapy (HT) may be detrimental to cognitive health. This article reviews clinical studies that address issues relevant to those results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search of Pubmed and Web of Science was conducted using the search terms HT and cognition, HT and mood. Clinical and observational studies were selected if they were published after the year 2000. Theories of HT mechanisms of action, pharmacology, biology, and observational and clinical trials are discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although observational and clinical trials show conflicting findings, methodologic considerations must be acknowledged. HT formulation and dose, route of administration, timing of initiation, length of treatment, and health of participants all contribute to inconsistencies in results. Transdermal estradiol and micronized progesterone administered at time of menopause are generally associated with cognitive and affective benefit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the present time, results from existing studies are equivocal regarding the benefits of HT on cognition and affect. Future studies, such as the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS), should address methodologic inconsistencies to provide clearer answers to this important question.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin. Electronic address: barbara.fischer@va.gov.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), Madison, Wisconsin; Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Carey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gleason
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), Madison, Wisconsin; Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asthana
mesh_terms: D015984:Causality; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens
keywords: Hormone therapy; cognition; mood