To arrive at this observation, Lisa Mosconi and her team followed 85 women and 36 men, aged 52 years on average and without cognitive impairment. All had the same family history of dementia, similar scores on memory tests and measures such as blood pressure.
Through brain imaging, the researchers assessed the risk of each participant to present biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease such as levels of amyloid plaques, volumes of gray and white matter or the speed of glucose metabolism.
The role of menopause
As a result, although in good health, women had on average 30% more amyloid plaque buildup, 22% less glucose metabolism, and about 11% less gray and white matter. A situation which, according to the authors, is associated with menopause. According to them, estrogens play a protective role. And so, at the time of menopause and hormonal fall, this protection would be less effective.
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