Brain health
Longer estrogen exposure linked to better brain vessel health in older women
In an observational study of 352 women, longer reproductive spans and menopausal hormone therapy were associated with better brain-vessel measures, but cause and effect are unknown.
A study of 352 cognitively unimpaired women found that longer reproductive spans and use of menopausal hormone therapy were associated with fewer signs of damage to small blood vessels in the brain. The researchers, led by Karolinska Institutet, reported their findings in Neurology. The women were 70 at the initial brain MRI, and 286 took part in a follow-up exam 5 years later.
A longer reproductive span was associated with 8% lower odds of having two or more signs of cerebral small vessel disease (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.99), MedPage Today reported. Menopausal hormone therapy was also associated with lower small vessel disease burden and better white matter measures. Women who reported both oral contraceptive use during their reproductive years and menopausal hormone therapy had the most favorable vascular brain health profile. The researchers said hormone use was self-reported and lacked detailed treatment information. Because the study was observational, it cannot establish cause and effect or support recommending hormone therapy for prevention.
