Severe menopause symptoms linked to higher dementia risk

A new study from the University of Calgary found that women experiencing more menopause symptoms have a higher risk of developing dementia. The research analyzed data from 896 postmenopausal women, linking severe symptoms to cognitive decline. The study showed that women with greater menopausal symptoms scored higher on cognitive tests, indicating more severe decline. Hormone therapy was not linked to cognitive function but was associated with fewer mild behavioral impairment symptoms. Researchers noted limitations, including the study's cross-sectional nature, which only identifies associations rather than direct causes. Future research will aim to track participants over time and explore the effects of different hormone therapies on brain health.