Your brain and menopause: what the science tells us.

A recent study sought to provide more understanding of the impacts to our brain processes caused by the menopause transition (MT) that includes pre-, peri- and post-menopausal stages.
Women of all ages can attest to what can occur at these various stages, from increased brain fog, issues with memory and concentration, and other difficulties. 

And this study’s overall results affirm that human menopause is a dynamic neurological transition, which significantly influences “the brain structure, connectivity, and metabolic profile during midlife endocrine aging of the female brain.”
 
Through multi-modality neuroimaging, scientists looked at what they noted were substantial differences in brain structure, connectivity and energy metabolism” at all MT stages. The effects involved brain regions responsible for higher order cognitive processes and were specific to menopausal endocrine aging rather than chronological aging. They noted that brain biomarkers stabilized post-menopause and gray matter volume (GMV) recovered in key brain regions for cognitive aging. Other findings showed amyloid-B deposits were more pronounced in peri- and post-menopausal women carrying the APOE-4 gene, which as we’ve discussed in other articles has been determined to be a major genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
 
It’s important to communicate any concerns you may be experiencing at any age – as this study shows us, our brain’s health can be affected by various endocrine changes throughout women’s lifetimes. So be proactive and talk to your doctor if you have questions and feel free to reach out to us if we can help. 
 
Learn more about the APOE gene and your brain at: https://www.suzannegazdamd.com/scientifically-speaking1/the-apoe-gene-and-its-role-in-cognitive-decline