"Yet despite that, research into what happens during this natural cessation of menstruation and why is limited. Scientists know that menopause can cause a myriad of neurological symptoms, from hot flashes to poor sleep to depression. But what is going on in people's brain during this period is still murky. Now new research offers clues to a link between menopause and changes in the brain's gray matter, as well as anxiety and depression."
"Using brain scans from 10,873 people in the U.K., the researchers found that postmenopausal participants showed lower volumes of gray matter in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus, which are involved in storing and retrieving memories, and in the anterior cingulate, which is involved in emotional regulation. The researchers also looked at whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a frontline but still rarely prescribed treatment for symptoms of menopause, might ameliorate some of these changes."
Brain scans from 10,873 U.K. participants show postmenopausal people have lower gray matter volumes in the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, and anterior cingulate. The entorhinal cortex and hippocampus contribute to memory storage and retrieval, while the anterior cingulate supports emotional regulation. People treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) exhibited lower gray matter volumes in some regions and higher rates of anxiety and depression compared with those not treated. The findings do not establish causation between menopause, HRT, brain structural changes, or mood symptoms. Overall, the results indicate menopause-related brain changes that correlate with cognitive and emotional symptoms.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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