Aside from typical aging changes, there is some evidence
that menopause on its own may have a connection to brain health. A brain
imaging study of 2021, indicated differences in the brain’s
structure, connectivity, and energy process before, during, and after the menopausal
transition. The study was led by Lisa Mosconi, Ph.D., director of the Weill
Cornell Women's Brain Initiative. Findings showed that the brain changes were
specific to menopausal ovarian aging rather than chronological aging.
The researchers also looked at the buildup of amyloid
plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, and compared the brains of women and men
carrying APOE ε4, which is a genetic variant associated
with increased risk for this disease. Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women
were found to have more buildup than males and premenopausal women.
But what’s contributing to menopause-related changes in
brain health? The good possibility is that the certain menopausal symptoms,
particularly hot flashes and night sweats (called vasomotor symptoms), may be
key factors.
“Research continues to link menopausal symptoms to brain
health,” said Rebecca C. Thurston, Ph.D., an MsBrain principal
investigator and Pittsburgh Foundation Chair in Women’s Health and Dementia at
the University of Pittsburgh. MsBrain is an NIA-funded study of
menopausal symptoms and brain aging in women involving diverse participants,
including African American, Asian, and white. The study is assessing vasomotor
symptoms, cardiovascular health, sleep, cognition, brain function and
structure, and more.
Their preliminary research informing MsBrain has
shown vasomotor symptoms to be associated with poorer verbal memory (word
encoding and word recognition) and altered brain activity during the memory
task. These symptoms, especially night sweats, were also associated with
greater lesions in the brain called white matter hyperintensities.
Menopause itself may be a dynamic neurological transition.
Many menopausal symptoms, including vasomotor and sleep problems, are tied to
the nervous system. Associated changes could have implications for dementia
risk. Vasomotor symptoms and poor sleep are linked to greater risk of
cardiovascular disease. And cardiovascular disease, as well as white matter
hyperintensities, are risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular
dementia.
Importantly, women face a
disproportionate burden of Alzheimer’s disease relative to men. Further, the
neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s are laid down beginning at midlife.
Thus, the identification of modifiable risk factors at midlife is
critical.
— Rebecca C. Thurston, Ph.D.,
University of Pittsburgh
Thurston and team have finished data collection for the
first part of MsBrain and are processing the data. Though their results
pertaining to vasomotor symptoms are not final, the early findings from MsBrain
have underscored the importance of sleep to white matter hyperintensities and
to connectivity between brain regions in women.
During the second stage of the MsBrain research, will invite
160 of the 230 participants back from MsBrain I to repeat assessments.
“We need to understand whether
women with more persistent symptoms over midlife show the greatest declines in
brain health over time,” Thurston said. “Further, we need to better understand
the mechanisms linking menopausal symptom to brain aging.”
Promising links to explore include sex hormones,
cardiovascular health, and cellular energy, which are important to brain
health.
Next steps
The momentum continues in this exciting area of research and
NIA-funded scientists are investigating the many remaining questions, including
menopause associations of cognitive, brain, and cardiovascular health in women
at midlife and beyond.
“We still need to understand the
long-term health consequences of midlife aging and the menopausal transition in
women, including racial and ethnic differences,” Dutta explained. “As we learn
more about the long-term health consequences, there is a need for ongoing
research on the social and biological factors influencing the menopausal
experience so that we can develop better strategies to promote healthy aging
for women of all races and ethnicities.”
What can you do?
Menopause is different for all women, but there are actions
you can take.
- Talk
with your doctor and get treatment for your symptoms,
including hot flashes, sleep, changes in sexual function, and mental
health.
- Ask
your doctor about being screened for osteoporosis and how
to get enough calcium to help keep bones healthy and possibly prevent
fractures.
- Get
a mammogram every two years between ages 50 and 74, and
ask your doctor about other recommended screenings based on your age and
health.
- Watch
your eating and be physically active to mitigate increased risk of
cardiovascular disease after menopause.
- Spend
time with friends and participate in activities you enjoy.
Sources and Additional Information:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/research-explores-impact-menopause-womens-health-and-aging
https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/research-explores-impact-menopause-womens-health-and-aging