Research

Ageing anxiety may accelerate biological ageing in women, with fears about worsening health linked to faster epigenetic ageing, according to new research. The study found that greater anxiety about growing old was associated with accelerated epigenetic ageing, as measured by the DunedinPACE clock, based on biological markers in blood samples. Epigenetic changes are shifts in [...]

Following a Mediterranean diet is linked to a lower risk of stroke in women, a large cohort study suggests. Women with the highest adherence were 18 per cent less likely to experience any stroke, including a 16 per cent lower risk of ischaemic stroke and a 25 per cent lower risk of haemorrhagic stroke. Ischaemic [...]

High brain oestrogen may raise women’s PTSD risk if severe stress strikes during high oestrogen phases, causing memory problems and stronger fear responses, new research has revealed. The study found that exposure to several simultaneous stressors can lead to persistent memory problems, difficulty recalling events and stronger reactions to trauma reminders. Tallie Baram [...]

A study of 17,494 people has revealed a gap between perimenopause symptoms people expect and those they report, with fatigue and exhaustion far outranking hot flushes. While 71 per cent associated perimenopause with hot flushes, those reporting perimenopause cited exhaustion (95 per cent) and fatigue (93 per cent) far more often. Among more than 12,000 [...]

The US ranks sixth for perimenopause knowledge, behind the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands, research by the Mayo Clinic and period tracker Flo has revealed. Perimenopause is the transition leading up to a woman’s last menstrual cycle and includes the 12 months afterwards, after which menopause is established as hormone levels change. It [...]

Seven in 10 UK mothers feel overloaded and almost half have a mental health issue such as anxiety or depression, new research finds. A survey of mothers' experiences in 12 European countries also found most of those in Britain still do the majority of household tasks and caregiving alone, and that the UK was among [...]

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 [...]

A woman's insulin levels in midlife are linked to when menopausal hot flushes begin and how long they last, new research suggests. The study found that higher insulin levels at age 47 predicted younger onsets of hot flushes and night sweats, as well as longer durations of these symptoms. Researchers drew on data from a [...]

Postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy lost 35 per cent more weight while taking tirzepatide, a new study suggests. The research reviewed data from 120 participants with overweight or obesity who received tirzepatide, marketed in the UK at Mounjaro, for weight management for 12 or more months. Those using the drug alongside hormone replacement therapy [...]

Almost a third of women are considering leaving their jobs due to menopause symptoms, with 7 per cent already having quit, new research shows. A survey of 2,000 UK working women aged 40-65 found just under half have changed how they work to cope, including reducing hours, cutting responsibilities, or turning down promotions and training. [...]