A study done by University of Michigan Health System indicates that short term periods of hormone replacement therapy may help women retain memory function after menopause.

Women in the study were between ages 50 and 60. The study cycled either hormone replacement therapy or a placebo with 4 weeks on and then 4 weeks off. After that, they were given the opposite treatment of what they had been taking in the first four weeks.

Brain activity was measured during mental tasks using functional MRI. The study found that even short term HRT had the effect of improving visual memory, and could be beneficial to women transitioning to menopause.

Hormone replacement therapy may improve trip down memory lane