Patches vs. pills: New findings on hormone therapy and brain function
Researchers tracked 7,251 postmenopausal women and found that estrogen patches improve different memory functions than pills. How you take estrogen changes which memories improve How postmenopausal women receive hormone therapy affects which type of memory improves, according to new research that tracked over 7,000 women in Canada. Those who used estrogen patches or gels showed better recall of past experiences, while women taking pills were better able to remember future tasks, such as appointments or medication schedules. The distinction matters because estrogen taken orally undergoes chemical breakdown in the liver, converting to a less potent form, estrone. "Estrone is not as effective at interacting with the estrogen receptor," explains study author Liisa Galea, PhD, from Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. In contrast, patches and gels bypass the liv...
