Earlier menopause linked with cognitive decline, Alzheimer's onset

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Cognitive decline may be more rapid and Alzheimer's may develop earlier among women who experience menopause earlier, according to US scientists. The team studied the health records of more than 2,500 older US women, looking for links between earlier menopause and brain volume shrinkage (atrophy). They found no link with brain volume, but did find that earlier menopause was linked with faster cognitive decline and earlier onset of Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest early menopause has long-term effects on brain aging, the team says, and it could be a way of identifying women in mid-life who are most at risk of dementia later for early intervention.

News release

From: JAMA

Age at Menopause and Brain Atrophy Among Older Women

In this cohort study of older women, earlier menopause was associated with less favorable functional and structural neurological outcomes, with associations persisting and intensifying decades after the menopausal transition. These findings position menopause age as a midlife-identifiable marker for risk stratification, offering a window for targeted prevention before structural or cognitive changes become apparent.

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conference: JAMA Network Open

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Organisation/s: University of California San Francisco, USA

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