Large-Scale Study Challenges Previous Research on Menopause and Brain Structure

Menopause stage doesn’t impact brain volume; age does, according to research presented at The Menopause Society's 2025 Annual Meeting, held October 21-25 in Orlando, Florida. Presenting author Katrina Wugalter, MA, a PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago, and her team examined the effects of menopause stage on brain volume in midlife women using a large dataset from the Human Connectome Project in Aging. Contrary to earlier studies, they found no significant differences in cortical or hippocampal volumes across menopause stages. While age-related declines in brain volume were present, menopause stage did not appear to accelerate this process. The study highlighted the greater importance of lifestyle factors—such as physical activity, diet, and sleep quality—in preserving brain health during midlife, rather than relying solely on menopause-specific treatments. Wugalter also emphasized the need for future research to investigate brain function and symptoms like vasomotor disturbances, which may have a more direct influence on cognitive performance.