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Going Through Menopause Before Age 45 Might Raise the Risk of Dementia Later On
The preliminary research, presented at a conference for the American Heart Association (AHA) earlier this month, shows that women in the study who experienced very early or premature menopause (menopause before the age of 40), had a 35% higher risk of developing any kind of dementia later in life than women who entered menopause at the standard age, around 50 years old. Women who entered menopause at age 45 or earlier were 1.3 times more likely to develop dementia before age 65, known as early-onset dementia.
The Impact of Early Menopause on Dementia Risk
Alzheimer's diseasea specific type of dementia, and the most common cause of it disproportionately affects women. Two-thirds of Americans diagnosed with the disease are women, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The new research provides clues as to why the disease affects certain populations differently specifically linked to early menopause and the hormonal changes that go along with it.
Compared to women who entered menopause around 50 years old, those who started menopause before age 40 were 35% more likely to get diagnosed with any type of dementiaincluding Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, or dementia of other causes. Meanwhile, women who experienced menopause before age 45 were 1.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia before the age of 65 (early- onset dementia). The results held true even after they were adjusted for other factors, including race, cigarette and alcohol use, body mass index, and underlying diseases.
The researchers did not determine a cause for the potential link between early menopause and increased risk of dementia, but they noted that estrogen levels may be the culprit. "We know that the lack of estrogen over the long term enhances oxidative stress, which may increase brain aging and lead to cognitive impairment," Dr. Hao said in the press release.
"Hormone receptors, specifically for estrogen, are present in the brain," Alyssa Dweck, MD, a practicing gynecologist in Westchester County, New York, and chief medical officer of Bonafide, told ishonest.com. "It seems reasonable that sudden or gradual decline in estrogen levels, due to menopause and regardless of age, might influence cognition," Dr. Dweck, who was not involved in the research, added.
Other Known Risk Factors for Dementia
There's currently no known effective ways to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease or related dementiasbut there are ways to help reduce your overall risk of developing the diseases.
Knowing the risk factors you can't change are a good start: Agewhich is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and related dementiasand genetic disposition are two things that can greatly affect a person's likelihood of developing the cognitive issues, according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Race and gender also influence a person's risk of diseaseregarding dementia, African Americans, American Indians, and Alaska Natives have the highest rates, as do women.
"Further research is needed to assess the added value of including the timing of menopause as a predictor in existing dementia models," Dr. Hao said in the press release. "This may provide clinicians with a more accurate way to assess a woman's risk for dementia."