Menopause Study Reveals Brain Changes Linked to Dementia Risk
A groundbreaking UK study involving 125,000 women has found that menopause causes structural changes in the brain that mirror the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The research, published in Psychological Medicine, suggests that the loss of grey matter in areas responsible for memory and emotion may explain why women face a higher risk of dementia than men.
The Impact on Memory Regions
The study utilized 11,000 MRI scans to identify thinning in the hippocampus (learning) and the entorhinal cortex (spatial navigation). Interestingly, the study found that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) did not appear to stop this specific loss of grey matter, though it remains effective for treating physical symptoms like hot flushes.
Prof. Barbara Sahakian of Cambridge University noted that these brain regions are the first to be hit by Alzheimer’s. The findings highlight a desperate need for more sensitive mental health support for women undergoing the "brain fog" and cognitive shifts of menopause, urging a move away from the stigma of "menopause masking."
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