Menopause
Menopause linked to loss of grey matter in the brain, study finds
Menopause is linked to grey matter loss in key brain regions, along with increased anxiety, depression and sleep problems, new research suggests.
The study also found that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) does not appear to mitigate these effects, though it can slow the decline in reaction times.
Grey matter is brain tissue that contains nerve cell bodies and helps process information, control movement and manage memory and emotions.
Dr Christelle Langley from the University of Cambridge department of psychiatry said: “Most women will go through menopause, and it can be a life-changing event, whether they take HRT or not.
“A healthy lifestyle – exercising, keeping active and eating a healthy diet, for example – is particularly important during this period to help mitigate some of its effects.
“We all need to be more sensitive to not only the physical, but also the mental health of women during menopause, however, and recognise when they are struggling.
“There should be no embarrassment in letting others know what you’re going through and asking for help.”
Researchers analysed data from UK Biobank of almost 125,000 women, who were classified into three categories: pre-menopause, post-menopause who have never used HRT, or post-menopause who have used HRT.
Participants answered questionnaires about their experience of the transition, self-reported mental health, sleep patterns and overall health.
Some took part in tests of cognition, including tests of memory and reaction times. Around 11,000 participants also underwent MRI scans, allowing the researchers to examine brain structure.
Post-menopausal women were more likely than those pre-menopause to have sought help from their GP or a psychiatrist for anxiety, nerves or depression, and to score more highly on questionnaires for symptoms of depression.
They were also more likely to have been prescribed antidepressants.
Although women in the HRT group had greater anxiety and depression compared with the non-HRT group, further analysis showed these differences were already present before the transition began.
The researchers suggest that in some cases, a woman’s GP may have prescribed HRT in anticipation of symptoms worsening.
Women post-menopause were more likely to report insomnia, get less sleep, and feel tired.
Those on HRT reported feeling the most tired of all three groups, even though there was no difference in sleep duration between these women and those not on the medication.
In both groups of women post-menopause, the researchers found significant reductions in grey matter volume.
These differences occurred particularly in the hippocampus, which is responsible for forming and storing memories; the entorhinal cortex, a gateway for passing information between the hippocampus and the rest of the brain; and the anterior cingulate cortex, which helps manage emotions, make decisions and focus attention.
Post-menopausal women who were not on HRT had slower reaction times than those yet to start the transition or who were on HRT.
However, there were no significant differences between the three groups when it came to memory tasks.
Dr Katharina Zühlsdorff from the department of psychology at the University of Cambridge said: “As we age, our reaction times tend to get slower – it’s just a part of the natural ageing process and it happens to both women and men.
“You can imagine being asked a question at a quiz – while you might still arrive at the correct answer as your younger self, younger people would no doubt get there much faster.
“Menopause seems to accelerate this process, but HRT appears to put the brakes on, slowing the ageing process slightly.”
Professor Barbara Sahakian, the study’s senior author from the department of psychiatry, added: “The brain regions where we saw these differences are ones that tend to be affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
“Menopause could make these women vulnerable further down the line.
“While not the whole story, it may help explain why we see almost twice as many cases of dementia in women than in men.”
Digital diagnostics company Medichecks has acquired specialist menopause health platform and clinic My Menopause Centre.
The deal is part of Medichecks’ move into clinical services and follows its earlier purchase of Leger Clinic, creating what the company describes as a hormone health offering for women and men across the UK.
Medichecks and My Menopause Centre will combine digital services with clinical governance. The acquisition aims to enhance Medichecks’ ability to deliver integrated testing, diagnosis and ongoing clinical support.
The combined group plans to grow its specialist hormone health services, supporting patients across the UK with clinical care throughout different stages of their hormone health journey.
Helen Marsden, co-founder of Medichecks, said: “At Medichecks, our mission is to make healthcare more accessible, evidence-based and patient-centred.
“Helen and Clare have built an outstanding, clinically credible platform that is transforming menopause care for women across the UK.
“Medichecks now owns two CQC Outstanding-rated clinics, the only clinics in their respective sectors to achieve this rating, and we are deeply committed to delivering safe, compassionate and patient-centric care.
“We’re proud to continue the founders’ legacy while supporting the next stage of growth, ensuring more women can access high-quality menopause care when they need it most.”
The CQC, or Care Quality Commission, is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
The acquisition supports Medichecks’ plans to make hormone healthcare more accessible by delivering integrated testing, diagnosis and ongoing clinical support for patients across the UK.
Helen Normoyle, co-founder and chief executive of My Menopause Centre, said: “We set out to build something resilient, clinically credible and scalable, not just fast.
“Our mission has always been to make menopause care compassionate, accessible and grounded in evidence. Medichecks shares that vision.
“Their digital platform, commitment to clinical excellence and patient-centred care make them the ideal partner to take My Menopause Centre into its next chapter.
“This milestone reflects not only a strong product, but a remarkable team and community.
“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built and excited to see My Menopause Centre grow further under Medichecks’ leadership.”
Menopause specialist Dr Mary Claire Haver has been appointed as the first chief agewell officer at virtual care clinic Midi Health.
In the role, Dr Haver will work with Midi’s clinical team to develop the AgeWell platform, described as a proactive health model that integrates perimenopause and menopausal care with metabolic health, bone density, brain health and cardiovascular risk assessment.
The platform aims to provide preventative care targeting what the company describes as the primary drivers of female mortality and disability: heart disease, bone loss and cognitive decline.
Joanna Strober, chief executive and co-founder of Midi Health, said: “Longevity care has historically ignored women’s biology, especially during the critical windows of midlife and menopause.
“At Midi Health, we are committed to extending healthspan, not just lifespan, and making that care accessible to millions of women as a core pillar of their health.
“By collaborating with Dr Haver, we are ensuring women continue to have access to care designed for their bodies, their hormones, and their real lives.”
Dr Haver is board-certified in obstetrics and gynaecology, a Menopause Society certified practitioner, a certified culinary medicine specialist and an adjunct associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at The University of Texas Medical Branch.
After a career in academic medicine, Dr Haver founded The Pause Life, described as a science and education-based resource for women navigating perimenopause and the menopause transition.
Through her books, unPaused podcast and digital platform, she has provided education on midlife health.
Dr Mary Claire Haver said: “I have spent my career advocating for women to receive the science-backed, no-nonsense guidance they deserve.
“I chose to partner with Midi Health because they are the only platform with the scale and medical rigour to deliver the kind of care women deserve, regardless of their zip codes.
“Together, we are setting a new standard for proactive, preventative care that meaningfully extends both lifespan and healthspan for women.”
Mira has integrated with Oura, letting users see sleep, readiness and temperature trends alongside hormone readings in the Mira app.
The integration lets Mira users view Oura sleep, readiness and temperature trends next to hormone data to show how hormonal shifts affect daily wellbeing. Oura members must consent to share their data with Mira.
Oura is a smart ring that tracks sleep patterns, heart rate and body temperature.
Sylvia Kang, chief executive and founder of Mira. said: “Hormones affect nearly every system in the body, yet are rarely measured or contextualised with daily health signals.
“By bringing these data streams together in one app, Mira and Oura help women move beyond isolated metrics to understand patterns.
“By connecting hormone data with daily health signals, we’re giving women insights they can act on, whether managing fertility, navigating perimenopause, or addressing hormonal imbalances.”
The integration supports several health journeys.
In perimenopause and menopause, users can track temperature and sleep with hormone changes to spot disruptions and improve rest.
For fertility and menstrual cycle awareness, combining hormone data with temperature and wellness signals can help confirm ovulation and clarify cycle patterns.
Users can also link fatigue or poor sleep with hormonal shifts to inform clinical discussions.
Dr Chris Curry is clinical director of women’s health at Oura.
Curry said: “Hormonal changes play a critical role in how women feel each day and are a through line that connects so many aspects of health, from first periods, to menstrual cycles, pregnancy, perimenopause and beyond.
“By combining Mira’s lab-grade hormone data with Oura’s continuous biometrics, we’re helping women see how hormonal shifts show up in their everyday lives.
“This integrated view supports our goal of always supporting body literacy.”
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