Earlier menopause may accelerate brain ageing, study finds

Earlier menopause may be linked to faster memory decline and changes in brain structure later in life, according to a study reported by ERR.

Researchers in the United States analysed health data from more than 2,600 older women, tracking their memory, brain function and physical changes in the brain for up to 18 years.

The strongest association was with white-matter lesions. When natural menopause began five years earlier, the volume of these lesions was about 15 percent greater over the following decade.

The analysis also found that menopause beginning 10 years earlier was associated with almost two fewer years of life without Alzheimer’s disease. Participants received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis at an average age of 88.4, suggesting that links between menopause timing and changes in brain structure and function can emerge over decades.

Researchers said the findings may be explained in part by the decline in female sex hormones, especially estrogen, during menopause. Estrogen helps regulate brain energy, memory, learning and mood, and protects memory-related brain regions. They said menopause timing could help doctors assess dementia risk in middle age and plan preventive measures.

The study was published in JAMA Network Open.