Cognitive effects of short-term use of raloxifene: a randomized clinical trial.

Author(s): Buckwalter JG, Geiger AM, Parsons TD, Handler J, Howes J, Lehmer RR

Affiliation(s): Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Pasadena, California, USA.

Publication date & source: 2007-11, Int J Neurosci., 117(11):1579-90.

Publication type: Comparative Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Two questions regarding findings from the Women's Health Initiative are (1) What is the effect of various hormonal regimens including selective estrogen receptor modulators? and (2) Is the negative effect on cognitive functioning related to the older age (65+ years) of the women? This study addresses these two questions in a short-term randomized trial of the effects of raloxifene versus alendronate on cognition. The study found only one significant interaction where the raloxifene and alendronate group changed differently across the two testing occasions. Hence, raloxifene does not have any impact, positive or negative, on short-term cognitive functioning when compared to alendronate.