Is this why dementia affects more women? How menopause alters the brain

• Researchers at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom studied how menopause affects the brain.
• The study included both women who used hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat menopause symptoms and those who did not.
• Menopause was linked to lower gray matter volume in brain regions associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
• While the HRT group had slightly improved reaction time, HRT did not appear to reverse menopause-related brain changes overall.

Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs, and individuals can no longer become pregnant. This transition is often linked to symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats but scientists are learning that menopause may impact more than reproductive health.

Growing evidence suggests menopause could have lasting effects on the brain, including contributing to cognitive issues.

The researchers in the current study wanted to explore this further, including whether HRT can mitigate these effects.

The study findings appear in Psychological Medicine.