Menopause Linked to Alzheimer’s-Like Changes in Women’s Brains UK Study Finds

By Blessing Nweke

The menopause is associated with changes in the brain similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s disease, according to a large UK study that sheds new light on why women face a higher risk of dementia than men.

Researchers analysed health data from nearly 125,000 women, including MRI brain scans from around 11,000 participants. The study, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, found a loss of grey matter in key brain regions involved in memory, learning and emotional regulation during and after menopause.

The areas most affected were the hippocampus, which plays a major role in learning and memory; the entorhinal cortex, essential for forming memories and spatial navigation; and the anterior cingulate cortex, which helps regulate attention and emotions. These regions are also among the first to be affected in Alzheimer’s disease.

Professor Barbara Sahakian of the University of Cambridge, the study’s senior author, said the findings could help explain why almost twice as many women as men develop dementia. “Menopause could make these women vulnerable further down the line,” she said, adding that while it is not the only factor, it may be an important piece of the puzzle.

The researchers also examined the impact of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and found it did not appear to prevent grey matter loss. Women using HRT were more likely to report poor mental health, although many had existing mental health difficulties before starting treatment.

Grey matter consists of neuronal cell bodies and is crucial for processing information, while white matter connects different regions of the brain. Both are essential for normal brain function.

Experts caution that the study does not prove menopause-related brain changes directly cause dementia, as participants were not followed long term. However, charities say the findings add to growing evidence that hormonal changes during menopause may influence brain health, underlining the importance of awareness, support and healthy lifestyle choices to reduce dementia risk.