STUDY: Women with severe menopause symptoms may be at greater risk of dementia
THE STUDY …
A recent study suggests a troubling link between severe menopause symptoms and an increased risk of dementia in women. Researchers from the University of Calgary and the University of Exeter found that women experiencing a higher number of menopause symptoms—such as hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings—performed worse on cognitive tests and showed more signs of neuropsychiatric issues later in life. Published in the journal Plos One, the findings indicate that these symptoms might serve as an early warning sign for brain health decline, prompting calls for further investigation into how menopause impacts long-term cognitive function.
Aimee Spector, a professor at University College London, noted that while cognitive changes during menopause could stem from factors like depression or physical health conditions, they don’t necessarily predict dementia. Similarly, Dr. Sheona Scales from Alzheimer’s Research emphasized that the research doesn’t confirm that women with severe symptoms will develop dementia, highlighting the need for more robust, long-term studies.
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One intriguing aspect of the research is the potential role of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The study found that HRT, often used to alleviate menopause symptoms, was associated with fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms in later life, though it didn’t significantly improve cognitive function. This has led researchers to speculate about whether HRT could mitigate some risks, though evidence remains inconclusive. Dr. Zahinoor Ismail from the University of Calgary described the connection between menopause and Alzheimer’s as “fascinating,” urging greater awareness of how early interventions might influence dementia prevention. As women constitute two-thirds of dementia cases in some countries, experts stress the urgency of exploring these links further to better support brain health through and beyond menopause.