Womens Health Initiative (WHI) memory study

Introduction

4532 women, age > 65

Testing with mini mental status exam (MMSE) annually

Treatment group

• Conjugated estrogens 0.625 mg QD
• medroxyprogesterone 2.5 mg QD

vs placebo.

Study stopped prematurely in 2002 because risks outweighed benefit.

Results:

• 6.7% vs 4.8% declined > 2 standard deviations on MMSE
• 31% increase in ischemic stroke (another arm of study)

More general terms

• clinical trial