Girls who’ve gone via menopause could have extra of a mind biomarker referred to as white matter hyperintensities than premenopausal ladies or males of the identical age, in keeping with a brand new examine revealed within the June 29, 2022, on-line concern of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
White matter hyperintensities are tiny lesions seen on mind scans that grow to be extra widespread with age or with uncontrolled hypertension. These mind biomarkers have been linked in some research to an elevated danger of stroke, Alzheimer’s illness and cognitive decline.
White matter hyperintensities improve because the mind ages, and whereas having them doesn’t imply that an individual will develop dementia or have a stroke, bigger quantities could improve an individual’s danger. Our examine examined what position menopause could have on quantities of those mind biomarkers. Our outcomes suggest that white matter hyperintensities evolve in another way for women and men, the place menopause or components that decide when menopause begins, resembling variations within the getting older course of, are defining components.”
Monique M. B. Breteler, MD, PhD, examine creator from German Heart of Neurodegenerative Illnesses (DZNE), in Bonn, Germany, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology
The examine concerned 3,410 individuals with a mean age of 54. Of these, 58% have been ladies, and of the ladies, 59% have been postmenopausal. Additionally, 35% of all individuals had hypertension and of these, half had uncontrolled hypertension.
All individuals had MRI mind scans. Researchers appeared on the scans and calculated the quantity of white matter hyperintensities for every participant. Common whole quantity for these mind biomarkers was 0.5 milliliters (ml). Common whole mind quantity was 1,180 ml for males and 1,053 ml for girls. Common whole white matter quantity, the world of the mind the place white matter hyperintensities may be discovered, was 490 ml for males and 430 ml for girls.
After adjusting for age and vascular danger components resembling hypertension and diabetes, researchers discovered that postmenopausal ladies had extra of those mind biomarkers when in comparison with males of comparable age. In individuals 45 and older, postmenopausal ladies had a mean whole white matter hyperintensities quantity of 0.94 ml in comparison with 0.72 ml for males. Researchers additionally discovered that the rise in mind biomarkers accelerated with age and at a sooner price in ladies than in males.
Premenopausal ladies and men of the same age didn’t have a distinction within the common quantity of white matter hyperintensities.
Researchers additionally discovered that postmenopausal ladies had extra white matter hyperintensities than premenopausal ladies of comparable age. In a bunch of individuals ages 45 to 59, postmenopausal ladies had a mean whole quantity of white matter hyperintensities of 0.51 ml in comparison with 0.33 ml for premenopausal ladies.
There was no distinction between postmenopausal and premenopausal ladies utilizing hormone remedy. Breteler mentioned this discovering means that hormone remedy after menopause could not have a protecting impact on the mind.
Unrelated to menopausal standing, ladies with uncontrolled hypertension had larger quantities of this mind biomarker in comparison with males.
“It has been recognized that hypertension, which impacts the small blood vessels within the mind, can result in a rise in white matter hyperintensities,” mentioned Breteler. “The outcomes of our examine not solely present extra analysis is required to analyze how menopause could also be associated to the vascular well being of the mind. In addition they reveal the need to account for various well being trajectories for women and men, and menopausal standing. Our analysis underscores the significance of sex-specific medication and extra attentive remedy for older ladies, particularly these with vascular danger components.”
A limitation of the examine was that researchers didn’t know the precise age of menopause onset or whether or not some individuals have been perimenopausal.
The examine was funded by the German Heart for Neurodegenerative Illnesses (DZNE).
Lohner, V., et al. (2022) The Relation Between Intercourse, Menopause, and White Matter Hyperintensities: The Rhineland Research. Neurology.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000200782.
