In 1966, Robert Wilson published the controversial book "Feminine Forever", in which he listed memory loss as a symptom of menopause (Wilson, 1966). While at the time this claim was not backed with methodical scientific verification, many studies now support the assertion that memory changes occur in women concordant with menopause, relating to accompanying ovarian hormone changes. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2020, the population of women between 45 and 64 years old will reach approximately 41 million, and will represent 25% of the entire female population in the U.S. This is a marked increase from the 32 million reported for the year 2000 (U.S. Census Bureau. 2004, "U.S. Interim Projections by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin," (http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/usinterim proj/) Internet release date: March 18, 2004). This increasing number of menopausal women will consequently need to make decisions about the use of hormone therapy to treat not only menopausal symptoms, but potentially, to maintain a healthy brain. Recognizing this is critically important, now more than ever, given that women are living approximately one-third of their lives in a menopausal hypo-ovarian hor mone state.
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