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Although published findings conflict, estrogen seems to have a beneficial effect on cognitive function. In contrast, breast cancer diagnosis has been associated with diminished cognitive function that has been attributed to the effects of adjuvant therapy. Investigators at a single U.S. institution compared medical histories, verbal intelligence, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function in 264 menopausal breast cancer patients before receiving adjuvant therapy (mean age, 61) with 95 healthy age- and education-matched control women (mean age, 59). Women in the control group had a higher mean estimated verbal intelligence than those with breast cancer. Mean cumulative duration of oral contraceptive (OC) use was 5.0 years in the control gro…