The transition to menopause marks an important difference between older men and women. During this stage of life, hormone levels, such as oestrogen and progesterone, decrease drastically in women. But what does this mean for brain health and the risk of dementia?
Estrogen's protective role for the brain
Oestrogen is known for its protective properties for the brain. For example, the hormone can block certain harmful effects of substances involved in Alzheimer's disease. This has led some scientists to suspect that the more a woman is exposed to oestrogen in her lifetime, the lower her chances of developing dementia.
There are several factors that influence estrogen exposure, such as:
- an early onset of menstruation
- going through at least one pregnancy (during which oestrogen levels increase significantly)
- a later onset of menopause
On the other hand, a very early menopause, for example due to surgical treatments for cancer, can increase the risk of dementia later in life.
The link between menopause and the onset of dementia
What we also now know is that the diseases that cause dementia often begin to develop some 10 to 20 years before the first symptoms appear. For many women, this moment coincides with their menopause. It is therefore tempting to associate the loss of oestrogen - the hormone that protects the brain - with the onset of processes that eventually lead to dementia.
A complex and under-researched link
Although the link between gender, menopause and dementia risk is intriguing, it remains a very complex issue. Until recently, menopause has hardly been seen by researchers as an important factor in the development of dementia. We are only at the beginning of research into this relationship and much more study is needed before we can draw definitive conclusions.
Conclusion: time for more research
Menopause appears to play an important role in dementia risk, but the exact relationship remains unclear. What we do know is that the decrease in oestrogen may be a critical factor. More research is needed to understand how we can use this insight to better protect women from dementia in their later years.
