AI Generated Image
Common Health Factor in Women May Raise Dementia Risk, Study Finds
Newsweek • • health
Key Points:
- A new study published in JAMA Network Open links earlier menopause to faster cognitive decline, increased Alzheimer's risk, and brain structure changes over nearly 20 years of tracking thousands of women.
- Women experiencing menopause 10 years earlier had about 1.8 fewer Alzheimer's-free years and showed faster accumulation of brain white matter damage, particularly with natural menopause rather than surgical menopause.
- Experts emphasize that earlier menopause is associated with, but does not cause, Alzheimer's, and caution against using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) solely to prevent dementia.
- The findings highlight menopause as a significant biological transition that could provide insights into long-term brain health and underscore the importance of managing other modifiable dementia risk factors over decades.
- Women with premature ovarian insufficiency may face greater risk due to longer estrogen deficiency and are typically advised to consider HRT until the average menopause age of 51.
