Healio (9/15, Gawel) reports a meta-analysis of more than 50 clinical trials and observational studies presented at the American Neurological Association Annual Meeting 2025 found that the “risks for developing Alzheimer’s disease can increase or decrease depending on when women begin hormone replacement therapy.” Patients in the meta-analysis included “women who used estrogen alone, estrogen and progestin, or estrogen and a selective estrogen receptor modulator after menopause, as well as those who took a placebo or did not receive any treatment.” Researchers observed a “38% increase in risk for Alzheimer’s disease among women who began hormone replacement therapy at age 65 years or older, especially among those who used progestin.” Meanwhile, “women who began therapy around the time of their menopause saw a 22% reduction in risk, based on data from 45 observational studies of real-world outcomes. This increased to a 32% reduction for those who began within 5 years of menopause, based on an analysis of the observational studies and the randomized controlled trials.”

Related Links:

— “Hormone replacement therapy timing linked to Alzheimer’s disease risks,”Richard Gawel, Healio , September 15, 2025

Healio (9/15, Wursta) reports a study found that “patients with autoimmune conditions and chronic inflammation may be at twice the risk for mental health disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety vs. the general population.” The researchers “examined data from the Our Future Health research cohort, which included 1,563,155 participants…in the United Kingdom. Among the cohort, 37,808 patients had lifetime diagnoses of one of six autoimmune conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, Graves’ syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis.” The researchers observed that “patients with an autoimmune condition demonstrated significantly higher rates of depression (28.8% vs. 17.9%), bipolar disorder (28.4% vs. 17.8%) and anxiety (29.3% vs. 18%) compared with healthy participants. The researchers additionally found risk for mental health issues in this patient group remained higher even after controlling for variables such as income, history of chronic pain and history of social isolation.” The study was published in BMJ Mental Health.

Related Links:

— “Anxiety, bipolar disorder risks nearly twice as high in patients with autoimmune disease,”Max R. Wursta, Healio , September 15, 2025

MedPage Today (9/12, Firth) reported a study found that “use of medication for opioid use disorder (OUD) in jail was strongly associated with lower risks for overdose, death, and re-incarceration after release into the community.” Researchers observed that “among 6,400 individuals with probable OUD, those who opted to take medication for it had a 52% lower risk of fatal overdose after release and a 56% lower risk for death from any cause compared with those who went untreated.” Furthermore, “receiving medication while in jail was also associated with a 24% lower risk of nonfatal overdose and a 12% lower risk of re-incarceration.” Researchers also observed that “within 30 days of release, medication recipients were more likely to receive treatment for OUD compared to individuals who did not receive treatment (60.2% vs 17.6%). At 6 months after release, 58% of those who started in jail were still receiving treatment.” The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

The American Journal of Managed Care (9/11, McNulty) says a study found that “nearly 8 in 10 adults with alopecia areata (AA) report experiencing stigma,” underscoring the “profound psychosocial burden experienced by adults with AA in the United States, including feelings of embarrassment, negative judgment, or being treated differently because of their condition.” Researchers observed that 79.2% of respondents with AA “reported some form of internalized or external stigma. Three in 4 (74.6%) respondents reported embarrassment due to AA, 66.8% felt judged negatively by others, and 58.7% said they were treated negatively because of their condition. The takeaways of these findings are consistent with previous research, including a study assessing attitudes toward AA among people without the condition.” The survey “also revealed notable rates of comorbid mental health conditions” and that 42% of respondents “said they were dissatisfied with their current hair growth, with dissatisfaction rising sharply with severity.” The study was published in The Journal Of Dermatology.

Related Links:

— “Patients With Alopecia Report High Rates of Internal, External Stigma,”Rose McNulty, The American Journal of Managed Care, September 11, 2025

Healio (9/11, Leiser) reports, “Sociodemographic factors may influence cancer survivors’ ability to access pharmacologic treatment for mental health conditions, according to” research. The data indicated that “use of medication for depression or anxiety varied significantly based on race and ethnicity, as well as insurance status.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “‘Not doing enough’: Study reveals gaps in cancer survivors’ access to mental health care,”Mark Leiser, Healio , September 11, 2025