Neurology · Obstetrics & Gynecology · 1 h ago
Menopause-associated blood protein changes linked to cognitive ageing and dementia risk
An observational study profiled serum proteins in 80 women aged 35–60 years across menopausal stages who were not using menopausal hormone therapy. Menopause-associated protein changes tracked more closely with sex hormones than age, with additional cohorts linking the proteomic pattern to less favourable cognitive outcomes.
- Initial study included 80 women not using menopausal hormone therapy.
- Protein changes aligned more strongly with sex hormones than age.
- Additional cohorts linked the proteomic pattern to poorer cognitive outcomes.
- Associations do not establish causality or hormone therapy benefits.
Menopause-associated serum protein changes were linked to cognitive ageing and dementia risk in research summarized by Nature Reviews Neurology. The study included 80 women aged 35–60 years in premenopausal, perimenopausal or postmenopausal stages, none using menopausal hormone therapy. Proteomic profiling identified changes involving inflammatory, synaptic, metabolic and Alzheimer disease-related processes. These changes aligned more strongly with sex hormones than with chronological age. Validation in additional cohorts showed a consistent association between the menopause-associated proteome and less favourable cognitive outcomes. The findings suggest a biological link between menopausal changes and brain health, but the reported associations do not establish causality or demonstrate benefits from hormone therapy. The available preview provides no effect estimates, validation-cohort sizes or detailed cognitive outcome definitions, limiting assessment of clinical significance.
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Nature Reviews Neurology: Menopause-associated proteomic changes link to brain ageing and dementia risk ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.