Research project The aim of our research is to better understand how menopausal hormone therapy affects the ageing brain. In the long term, our findings may help pave the way for more personalized treatments during menopause.
Menopausal hormone therapy usually contains both estrogen and a progestogen. Some progestogens can influence signalling systems in the brain and may therefore also affect important cognitive functions such as memory and concentration. Using advanced brain imaging methods, we investigate how hormone therapy affects the brain and cognition. We compare women who use continuous hormone therapy with women who have never used it. We also examine whether women at increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease may be particularly sensitive to the effects of treatment.
Around 60–80% of women experience troublesome symptoms during menopause, including hot flushes and difficulties with sleep, mood, memory and concentration. For about one third, these symptoms have a substantial impact on quality of life. The most effective treatment currently available for menopausal symptoms is menopausal hormone therapy, or MHT. MHT usually combines estrogen with a progestogen, a hormone with effects similar to progesterone.
Progestogens are included to protect the lining of the uterus from the growth-stimulating effects of estrogen. However, research suggests that some progestogens can also affect signalling systems in the brain, particularly the GABA system, which acts as one of the brain’s main inhibitory systems. These effects may be relevant for both memory and the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
In our research project, we use advanced brain imaging with simultaneous PET and MRI to study how progestogens affect the brain’s GABA system, brain function and memory. We compare women who use continuous menopausal hormone therapy after menopause with comparable women who have never used MHT. We also investigate whether women at increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease—based on genetic factors and Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers in the blood—may be especially sensitive to the effects of MHT.
Ultimately, our goal is to better understand how sex hormones influence the ageing brain and to contribute to more effective and individually tailored treatments in the future.
