They don’t call it “the change” for nothing.
Well-known signs like hot flashes and night sweats often seize the menopause spotlight — but the universal biological process can also trigger internal changes.
While menopause has been previously linked to cognitive decline, it’s still unclear to many, including healthcare experts, exactly how much this condition can affect female brains.
Now, a new study from the University of Cambridge in the UK has found that menopause can be linked to loss of grey matter in the brain, poorer mental health and sleep disturbances.
Published Monday in Psychological Medicine, the research included data from 125,000 UK women who were pre-menopause or post-menopause.
The post-menopause group either used hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or did not.
Both groups had significant reductions in the volume of their grey matter — brain tissue that plays an important role in memory, movement and emotions.
These reductions also occurred in regions responsible for forming and storing memories, passing information throughout the brain, making decisions and focusing attention.
Researchers did find an important difference between those who were using hormonal therapy and those who weren’t.
Post-menopausal women not on HRT had slower reaction times than those who were.
“As we age, our reaction times tend to get slower — it’s just a part of the natural aging process, and it happens to both women and men,” Katharina Zühlsdorff from the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge said in a statement.
“Menopause seems to accelerate this process, but HRT appears to put the brakes on, slowing the aging process slightly.”
The research also found that the post-menopausal women were more likely to get less sleep, feel tired and struggle with insomnia, with those on hormone therapy feeling the most tired of all three groups.
While other methods beyond hormone treatments — including exercising, keeping active and eating a healthy diet — can help mitigate some effects of menopause, it’s still important to acknowledge all the signs.
“We all need to be more sensitive to not only the physical, but also the mental health of women during menopause,” said Christelle Langley from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge.
