A study from the University of Cambridge has linked menopause to changes in brain structure and mental health. By looking at data from nearly 125,000 women in the UK Biobank, researchers found that post-menopausal women had less grey matter in key parts of the brain. They also reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, and trouble sleeping.

While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) did not stop these changes in the brain or mental health, it was linked to a slower decline in reaction speeds. Brain scans showed a loss of grey matter in areas like the hippocampus, which plays a major role in memory. Because these same areas are affected by Alzheimer's disease, the findings may help explain why women face higher rates of dementia.