Menopause Hormone Therapy, the APOEe4 gene and cognition.; V0.4
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does the cognitive impact of Menopause Hormone Therapy over 9 months differ by APOEe4 genotype? A prospective cohort study.
IRAS ID
353536
Contact name
Claire Lancaster
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sussex
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
Two-thirds of those living with Alzheimer's Disease are women. Hormonal changes during menopause in mid-life may impact brain health, especially in those at higher genetic risk for Alzheimer's Disease. Cognitive symptoms, often called brain fog, are common in menopause. Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) is a widely used treatment for menopause symptoms and may help protect against cognitive decline. However, research investigating this has found mixed results and more studies are needed to understand if MHT’s effects depend on other factors such as people’s genetics.
This study will investigate how MHT impacts cognition over 9 months in mid-life, and whether this is different in those who carry the APOEe4 gene, which is linked to a higher risk of future Alzheimer's Disease. The study will recruit 220 females aged 40-60 who are being newly prescribed MHT in the UK. They will hear about the study in primary care settings (e.g., in a GP consultation) and through community advertising. Participants will be asked to complete an online questionnaire and cognitive tasks (taking approximately 1 hour) three times during the study: before starting MHT, then again after 3 months and 9 months. They will also post a saliva sample so the researchers can determine if they have the APOEe4 gene - these results will only be used in the fully anonymised analysis of group-level outcomes and won’t be shared with participants.
Researchers will look at the results across the 9 months to see if MHT impacts cognitive performance, and whether the impact is different in people with the APOEe4 gene compared to those without. The findings from this study will help clarify whether MHT can support cognitive health in mid-life, and who may benefit the most. The study will also lay the groundwork for future studies on the longer-term cognitive impact of MHT.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/SC/0140
Date of REC Opinion
23 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion