January 28, 2026

A research team from the University of Cambridge has found that menopause is associated with a decrease in gray matter, which plays a very important role in brain function, memory, emotions and movement.

They point out that this effect is not reduced by hormone treatments usually taken for menopause.

Menopause is a special stage in a woman’s life. The cessation of menstruation, which begins between the ages of 10 and 16, is known as menopause. Many women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, and experience:

Frequent hot flashes and sweating, rapid heartbeat

Changes in menstrual periods (heavy or scanty bleeding, irregular bleeding)

Joint and limb pain

Mental confusion, irritability, depression, and general sadness

These are just a few of the changes they experience during this time.

Menopause has previously been found to cause a decline in cognitive ability (the ability to understand thoughts, experiences, and feelings).

These effects include memory, attention, and language difficulties.

The new study analyzed data from 125,000 women, and 11,000 of them underwent MRI scans to identify changes in their brains.

The research team points out that the changes they observed in the brain were mostly located in the hippocampus (the area that functions to store memories), the entorhinal cortex (the part that exchanges information between the hippocampus and the rest of the brain), and the anterior cingulate cortex (the part that helps manage emotions, make decisions, and maintain attention).

Professor Barbara Sahakian, one of the leaders of this research, says that the changes in the brain caused by menopause were located in the areas where the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear. Therefore, she states that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease may be increased in women.

She suggests that women are more likely to develop dementia than men, and that the changes in the brain caused by menopause may be responsible for this increased risk.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can help to reduce this impact, says researcher Dr. Christella Langley. “As well as the physical changes, women also face significant psychological changes during this time. It is important that we recognise that women are struggling with this change and sometimes find it very difficult. There is no need to be ashamed to talk openly about the complications they are facing and seek support,” she added.

Read more about menopause – Menopause or cessation of menstruation

Download the book ‘Menopause and the Sweet Middle Age’ published by the Sri Lanka Menopause Association.