A longitudinal brain scan study published in Nature Communications found that the transition to menopause is associated with a temporary slowing of cortical grey matter loss, a pattern that contrasts with the accelerated grey matter reduction seen during puberty and pregnancy. The research, led by cognitive neuroscientist Sophie van ‘t Hof at Amsterdam University Medical Center, is the first to examine whole-brain grey matter change across the menopause transition.
The study repeatedly scanned the brains of more than 1,000 participants at various life stages, including puberty, pregnancy, and the pre- and post-menopausal periods, over several years. During puberty and pregnancy, cortical grey matter loss accelerated, a pattern consistent with the brain reorganising its tissue in response to significant hormonal changes, including steep rises in oestrogen and progesterone.
The menopause transition showed the opposite pattern. Rather than accelerating, the gradual age-related decline in total cortical volume and grey matter appeared to slow or pause during the transition period. Participants who moved from a pre-menopausal to a menopausal state during the study did not show the same grey matter declines as those who remained consistently pre- or post-menopausal throughout. These findings were consistent regardless of age, hormone replacement therapy use, or number of pregnancies.
The brain changes during the menopause transition tended to occur in regions known to be influenced by oestrogen, suggesting a possible hormonal connection, though the study cannot establish causation. Hormone levels were not directly measured, and participants self-reported their menopausal stage. The authors describe the findings as preliminary and call for further research, noting that fewer than 6% of neuroscience studies are conducted exclusively in female participants.
Source: Cassella C. Menopause May Temporarily Alter Your Brain’s Normal Aging, Scans Reveal. ScienceAlert, 20 September 2026. Primary study: Van ‘t Hof S et al. Nature Communications (2026).
