Brain health depends on several factors. Sleep, exercise, diet and blood pressure can all influence how the brain functions as we age.
According to the American health publication Prevention, research suggests that hormonal changes in women may also play a role.
Neurologist David Perlmutter told the publication that a healthy lifestyle can help protect the brain. This includes regular exercise, good sleep and social interaction.
Researchers studied women
In a study published in the scientific journal JAMA Network Open, researchers analysed data from 2,603 older women.
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Most of the women were in their 70s and still had relatively good memory function.
The researchers examined several factors, including the women's memory, their risk of Alzheimer's disease and signs of brain damage.
The study found an association, but the researchers emphasise that the findings do not prove that one factor directly causes the other.
Timing may be crucial
The findings showed that women who experienced menopause earlier tended to experience a faster decline in memory.
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Women who entered menopause five years earlier also had approximately 15 per cent more damage to the brain's white matter over a ten-year period.
According to the researchers, this may be linked to declining levels of oestrogen, a hormone that helps support nerve cells in the brain.
Early menopause may be associated with a higher risk of memory problems and Alzheimer's disease later in life.
However, this does not mean that women who experience early menopause will necessarily develop dementia.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.