Why is Dementia More Common in Women? Exploring the Link with Menopause

Did you know that women have a higher risk than men of being diagnosed with dementia? 65% of those with dementia are females. One of the leading theories for why women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease is linked with the production of oestrogen, which reduces over age and throughout every stage of menopause.

Oestrogen has a nuanced relationship with the brain, with many researchers believing that it may protect against Alzheimer’s through its impact on the hippocampus. Responsible for memory and certain types of learning, oestrogen helps to build connections in this part of the brain, and also impacts the way certain chemicals send and receive signals throughout the brain (which are also linked to problems caused by Alzheimer’s disease).

‘Menopause impacts human brain structure, connectivity, energy metabolism, and amyloid-beta deposition,’ concluded 2021 research by a team of scientists investigating the link between menopause and Alzheimer’s.

While considering the link between a routine health experience for all women and Alzheimer’s may be uncomfortable, understanding how menopause impacts our risk of chronic diseases is crucial in evaluating which treatment options will be of the best support.

 

Menopause and oestrogen production 

Oestrogen is a hormone produced by all women, but the way it’s produced (and the amount of it produced) is impacted through each stage of menopause. Before menopause, oestrogen is largely produced by the ovaries.

As peri-menopause begins, the ovaries stop making oestrogen, most often occurring when women are in their late 40s and early 50s. Once menopause has occurred and a woman is in a post-menopause state, monthly periods stop altogether. The body then makes a small amount of oestrogen by changing androgens (produced by the adrenal glands) into oestrogen, but no more production of oestrogen takes place in the ovaries.

Oestrogen is a significant female hormone that plays a key role in many of our developmental and daily bodily functions. As one of the main female sex hormones, it’s vital to puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, bone strength and more.

The reduction of naturally occurring oestrogen throughout peri-menopause and menopause can have multiple disruptive impacts on everyday health and wellbeing. Symptoms of menopause can include hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, mood swings, a reduced sex drive, vaginal dryness, irritability, weight gain and more. It’s perhaps not surprising, then, that the reduction of oestrogen can have an impact on so many vital brain functions, as well as the more overt impacts of menopausal symptoms and changes.

 

Oestrogen: the brain’s defender

Alzheimer’s is the result of a build-up of a protein known as amyloid-β, as well as tau proteins. Studies have found that oestrogen can help to protect the brain from Alzheimer’s by blocking the harmful effects of these proteins, which are believed to cause brain cells to become damaged or die.

Amyloid-β may contribute to Alzheimer’s by increasing the production of free radicals. When too many free radicals are present, they can cause damage to brain cells. Our bodies naturally defend against an overload of free radicals through the presence of antioxidants, with numerous studies demonstrating that higher oestrogen levels can reduce the number of free radicals produced by cells. As oestrogen may cause the body to produce more antioxidants, it may play a significant part in protecting brain cells from the damage of excess free radicals.

When women’s oestrogen levels sharply drop after menopause, this may make them more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s, leading to the higher rates of Alzheimer’s in women than in men.

 

Protecting your body against chronic diseases post-menopause

While research continues to evolve quickly and consistently in the area of menopausal treatments and medication options, years of studies have identified that hormone therapy has helped to reduce the long-term risk for women of osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Dr Roberta Diaz Brinton of Arizona University led a study that analysed the health insurance records of close to 400,000 women over 45 over a decade-long period. This study discovered that women on transdermal oestrogen had a 73% reduction in dementia, with results continuing to improve the longer women stayed on HRT.

‘Our research has shown that the greater risk for Alzheimer’s in women is not because they live longer than men, but because the disease can start earlier in women, at midlife during their menopausal transition,’ stated Dr Brinton. ‘The critical factor is starting treatment when you have menopausal symptoms.’

By replacing hormones that were previously naturally produced within the body at the point when they start to reduce, women may find that they’re able to increase the protection their brain receives through the continued presence of oestrogen. Dr Brinton believes that giving hormone replacement therapy years after the oestrogen receptors have shut down is most likely too late. Menopausal symptoms are a key indicator for when women should consider hormone therapy treatment or oestrogen replacement – ideally, early in their menopause experience.

 

Finding support for your menopausal journey

If you’re experiencing menopausal symptoms and are looking to support your body through continued hormonal changes, bioidentical hormone therapy may be a vital part of your holistic treatment approach. Through the introduction of additional hormones that experience reduced natural production throughout menopause, you can reduce or alleviate a wide range of menopause symptoms, as well as potentially protecting yourself from increased risks of chronic diseases.

The Australian Menopause Centre supports women from all across Australia as they journey through peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause. With customised treatment plans based on individual needs and circumstances, our expert medical practitioners bring decades of hands-on experience into each of our clients’ journeys and experiences.

Learn more about how we can support your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing through an obligation-free initial consultation. You don’t need to suffer alone – make menopause symptoms a thing of the past with cutting-edge treatment plans and individualised support.