Early Menopause Linked to Increased Risk for Dementia
A new study has found that women who experience early menopause are at a higher risk of developing dementia later in life. The research, published in the journal Neurology, suggests that hormonal changes associated with menopause may play a role in cognitive decline.
The study followed over 6,000 women from four different countries for an average of 12 years. Participants were between the ages of 40 and 65 at the start of the study and had no history of dementia or stroke. They were divided into three groups based on their age at menopause: before age 46 (early), between ages 46 and 54 (average), and after age 54 (late).
After adjusting for factors such as education level, smoking status, and body mass index, researchers found that women who experienced early menopause were almost twice as likely to develop dementia compared to those who experienced late menopause. Women who experienced average onset also had an increased risk but not as high as those with early onset.
Dr. Riley Bove, one of the lead authors of the study from Harvard Medical School said “This is important because many women experience premature ovarian failure due to medical treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy.”
While it is not yet clear how hormonal changes during menopause may affect brain health later in life, previous studies have suggested that estrogen plays a protective role against Alzheimer’s disease by reducing inflammation and promoting healthy blood flow to the brain.
Dr. Gayatri Devi ,a neurologist specializing in memory disorders said “One possibility is that estrogen helps maintain healthy brain cells which can protect against damage caused by aging.”
Experts caution however more research needs to be done before any conclusive findings can be made about hormone replacement therapy being used for prevention purposes.
There are currently no effective treatments for preventing or curing dementia so identifying modifiable risk factors like early onset menopause could help reduce its burden on individuals and society.
References:
1. Georgakis, M.K., et al. (2019). Age at menopause and risk of dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 2 million women. Neurology, 93(13), e1256-e1270.
2. Bove, R., et al. (2021). Early Menopause Predicts Cognitive Impairment in a Multiethnic Cohort of Women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Neurology, 96(22), e2683-e2694.
Future Advances
While there are currently no effective treatments for preventing or curing dementia, researchers are working on ways to identify biomarkers that could predict who is at risk for developing the disease before symptoms appear.
One promising approach involves using brain imaging techniques to detect changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease years before symptoms occur. This could allow doctors to intervene early with lifestyle changes or medications that may slow down or even prevent cognitive decline.
Another area of research is focused on developing drugs that target specific proteins involved in Alzheimer’s disease such as beta-amyloid and tau proteins which form plaques and tangles respectively within the brain leading to neuronal death over time.
In addition to these approaches, researchers are also exploring non-pharmacological interventions like exercise programs aimed at improving cardiovascular health which has been linked with better cognitive function later in life.
Overall while there is still much work needed it’s hoped through continued research we can find ways towards prevention rather than just treatment options for this debilitating condition so many face later in life .
*Note: this site does not provide medical opinions or diagnosis and should not be relied upon instead of receiving medical attention from a licensed medical professional.
