Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS)

Principal Investigator: Linda Van Horn, PhD, RD

As part of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), an ancillary study focusing on memory is under way. The study is designed to assess the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the development and progression of dementia in approximately 8,073 women who are 65 years of age or older, who are also participating in the HRT Trial of the WHI. The study is divided into four phases.

• Phase I: Participants complete a primary screening assessment of cognitive function (modified Mini Mental State (3MS) Exam) at baseline and annually thereafter for five years.

• Phase II: Assessment is conducted by a certified technician including neuropsychological and brief neuropsychiatric assessments.

• Phase III: Standardized interview with a neurologist following review of phases II and II.

• Phase IV: Laboratory data are collected on the women identified as having all cause dementia. It is anticipated that about 60% of these women will be diagnosed with Alzheimer related dementia and the rest will have other dementia categories. The overall hypothesis is that the development of dementia will be delayed in women who are on active HRT compared to placebo.