Health

Study: Menopause Linked to Brain Gray Matter Loss

Can HRT protect against Alzheimer's disease or does it have no discernible effect?

Published JAN 27

Study: Menopause Linked to Brain Gray Matter Loss

Story

Above: An MRI scan of a brain showing early Dementia/Alzheimer's in London, U.K., on May 30, 2025. Image credit: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

The Facts

New research by the University of Cambridge has revealed a link between menopause and a loss of gray matter in the brain, highlighting a possible connection between the condition and the development of Alzheimer's later in life.
Cambridge Core
Independent
The Times (UK)
The study, which involved nearly 125,000 women, found that areas within the brain associated with memory, emotion and attention — namely the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex — decreased in volume following menopause.
Cambridge Core
University of Cambridge
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), however, was not found to prevent gray matter loss in post-menopausal women, though those treated with HRT demonstrated slightly faster reaction times compared to those who were not.
Cambridge Core
University of Cambridge
Separately, post-menopausal women reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, insomnia and tiredness compared to their pre-menopausal counterparts, with the highest levels of anxiety, depression and tiredness found in the HRT study group.
Cambridge Core
The study population was drawn from the U.K. Biobank, a cohort of 502,486 men and women recruited in the U.K. between 2006 and 2010. Within this research group, the average age for menopause onset was recorded at 49.5 years, while the average age for beginning HRT treatment was 49 years.
Cambridge Core
Commenting on the results, the researchers said that their findings may help explain why women, who account for two-thirds of those with Alzheimer's in the U.K., are reportedly more vulnerable to the disease, while emphasizing that a healthy lifestyle may mitigate the effects of menopause.
NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre
University of Cambridge
BBC News

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

HRT could prove vital in the fight against Alzheimer's in women. As research has shown, starting the treatment within five years of menopause can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's by as much as 32%, with observational studies showing a 22% lower dementia risk for all HRT users. Timing, therefore, is crucial, with early intervention offering the best chance of protecting brain function.

Healio

New Scientist

Narrative B

It's evident from the University of Cambridge's study that, at best, HRT fails to prevent the structural changes to the brain that leave women more vulnerable than men to cognitive decline. At its worst, it can exacerbate certain issues. This revelation makes lifestyle interventions even more critical as the only reliable defense against diseases like Alzheimer's later in life. More research is needed on the HRT variable.

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre

University of Cambridge