A new study suggests that going through menopause later in life may offer important benefits for brain health.
Researchers from the University of Auckland analyzed brain scans from more than 1,000 postmenopausal women. They found that women who had more years between their first period and menopause showed slower signs of brain aging.
That means women who started menstruating earlier or entered menopause later tended to have healthier-looking brains in older age.
“These findings support the idea that estradiol — the main form of estrogen during a woman’s reproductive years — may help protect the brain as it ages,” said Dr. Eileen Lueders, who led the study.
Estradiol is a hormone that rises during puberty and remains high throughout the reproductive years. It drops sharply during menopause. In animal studies, estradiol has been shown to improve brain function by boosting neuroplasticity, reducing inflammation, and improving communication between brain cells.
Women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimer’s disease. In the U.S., nearly two-thirds of the 7 million people with Alzheimer’s are women, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
The new findings add to growing evidence that hormone changes around menopause may affect brain health. Past research has linked the drop in estradiol levels during menopause to a higher risk of dementia.
Researchers believe hormone therapy in the years leading up to or following menopause could help lower that risk in some women. However, they caution that more research is needed.
“This study encourages more conversation about hormone therapy during menopause,” said Alicja Nowacka, a PhD student at the University of Auckland who was not involved in the research. “It also highlights the need for more focused studies on women’s brain health.”
While the results are promising, Lueders noted that the effects seen were small. Estradiol levels were not directly measured in the study, and other factors like genetics, lifestyle, and overall health also affect brain aging.
She emphasized the need for future research to include more diverse participants and to measure hormone levels directly. This could help scientists better understand how estradiol and other factors influence aging in the female brain.
In the U.S., most girls begin menstruating around age 12, although it can start as early as 8 or as late as 16. Menopause typically occurs around age 51 but can vary from the 30s to the mid-50s or later. Factors like genetics, smoking, and pregnancy history can influence when a woman enters menopause.
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. It is officially diagnosed when a woman goes 12 months without a period. The years leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause, are often marked by symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep problems.
Though menopause can be uncomfortable, this study suggests that experiencing it later in life may have long-term advantages for brain health.
Related topics:
