Hormone therapy is often used to help manage menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. A study published on August 27, 2025, in Neurology^® found that the way you use estradiol—a type of estrogen commonly used in hormone therapy—during and after menopause may linked to differences in memory skills later in life.

Study participants who used patches, gels, or creams applied to the skin had a better ability to remember past events than those who did not use hormone therapy. In contrast, those who took estradiol in pill form scored higher on tests that measured remembering to do tasks in the future compared to people who did not use hormone therapy.

Neither form of estradiol therapy appeared to affect the ability to plan or problem solve.

“Hormone therapy is a complex and personal decision,” said study author Liisa A. M. Galea, PhD. “Our findings suggest that the type of estradiol therapy used may be linked to different kinds of memory, which could help guide more individualized approaches to supporting brain health after menopause.”

The study does not prove that the way you use estradiol will improve or worsen your memory after menopause, it only shows a link between hormone therapy type and memory performance.

Notably, the study lacked diversity among participants and had limited information about hormone therapy dose, duration, or timing. Still, the findings add to ongoing conversations about menopause, hormone therapy, and long-term brain health.

If you’re considering hormone therapy, talk with your doctor about how different treatments might impact your memory skills.

Key Takeaways

• Study participants who used patches, gels, or creams applied to the skin had a better ability to remember past events than those who did not use hormone therapy.
• The study does not prove that the way you use estradiol will improve or worsen your memory after menopause.

Medically reviewed by Sarah Song, MD, MPH, FAAN