While menopause is a very natural phase that every woman goes through, it beckons certain discomforts like night sweats, hot flashes and mood swings.
But a new study published in the journal PLOS One suggests that these symptoms may be more than just uncomfortable — they could signal how likely you are to develop dementia.
Researchers assessed the data of 896 participants with an average age of 64 who typically went through menopause at around 49.
After adding up the number of symptoms — including night sweats, trouble sleeping, changes in mood, hot flashes, weight gain and “brain fog” — they found that women who reported more of these symptoms had greater cognitive impairment, which is considered a precursor for Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
This led the authors to conclude that more menopause symptoms may be associated with experiencing worse cognitive and behavioral decline in later life. Both of those are risk factors for dementia.
“Estrogen-based hormone therapy may contribute to mitigating clinical symptoms, particularly behavioral symptoms,” they said.
This corroborates with previous research, such as a 2022 study that found women who go through menopause before the age of 40 are 35% more likely to develop dementia than those who experience it later in life.
Around twice as many women have Alzheimer’s disease than men.
Experts believe that while some of this may be because women simply live longer on average, the decline in estrogen levels that occurs during menopause could also play a role, given that estrogen is essential for cognitive function.
But lifestyle factors are also significant, and this new study’s authors believe that knowing that there’s a link between menopause and Alzheimer’s disease “can allow time for more preventative interventions.”
“These interventions not only include addressing hormonal status, but also comprise managing vascular risk factors, reducing inflammation from Western diet and environmental toxins, optimizing gut health and gut biome diversity and supporting social interactions,” they said.
Studies have shown six lifestyle habits — exercising, not drinking or smoking, getting enough sleep, socializing and having hobbies — can slash your risk of developing dementia.
Recent research also suggests anti-depressants could actually speed up the rate of cognitive decline.
Meanwhile, people in Ikaria, Greece — an island with shockingly low rates of dementia — swear by tea, coffee and a slight twist on the Mediterranean diet as their secret to staying sharp in old age.
