Menopause Linked to Alzheimers-Like Brain Changes

A new study from the University of Cambridge has linked menopause to structural changes in the brain that resemble those seen in Alzheimer's disease, potentially explaining why women develop dementia at higher rates than men. Published in Psychological Medicine, the research analyzed data from nearly 125,000 women in the UK Biobank, including questionnaires on menopause experiences, mental health, sleep, and cognition tests, as well as MRI scans from about 11,000 participants.

The study divided participants into three groups: premenopausal women, postmenopausal women who never used hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and postmenopausal women who had used HRT. Researchers found significant reductions in grey matter volume in both postmenopausal groups compared to premenopausal women. Grey matter, which contains nerve cell bodies, processes information, controls movement, and manages memory and emotions. The changes were particularly evident in the hippocampus, which forms and stores memories; the entorhinal cortex, which relays information to the hippocampus; and the anterior cingulate cortex, involved in emotions, decision-making, and attention.