Does early menopause increase dementia risk? Some studies suggest yes, linking it to higher chances of dementia and smaller brain areas key for memory, while others call for more research especially in certain regions.
Menopause happens when a woman’s periods stop, usually around age 50. Early menopause means it comes before age 49. Researchers have looked at how this timing might affect the brain later in life. One key study found women with early menopause had an 80 percent higher risk of dementia compared to those who hit menopause at age 50 or 51. Over 10 years, 93 women in the group got diagnosed with dementia, and early menopause stood out as a big factor. These women also had smaller hippocampi, the brain part that helps with memory and is often hit first in Alzheimer’s disease. You can read more in this study from the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease at https://www.psypost.org/lifetime-estrogen-exposure-associated-with-better-cognitive-performance-in-women/.
Why might this happen? Estrogen, a hormone that drops in menopause, seems to protect the brain. Women with more lifetime estrogen exposure, like later menopause or hormone therapy, showed better thinking skills and bigger brain volumes. Having children also linked to larger brains, with moms of three or more having less shrinkage in Alzheimer’s-prone spots.
Not all studies agree on fixes like hormone therapy. A big review of over 1 million women by UCL researchers found no clear link between menopause hormone therapy and dementia risk, even after early menopause. They saw tiny signals in some groups but nothing strong or consistent. This matches WHO guidelines not to use hormone therapy just to prevent dementia. Check the full review at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/dec/menopause-hormone-therapy-does-not-appear-impact-dementia-risk or https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/no-evidence-links-menopause-hormone-therapy-to-dementia-risk.
Early menopause might raise dementia odds because of less estrogen time, but hormone therapy does not seem to change that risk based on top reviews. Studies note limits like self-reported ages and few trials in diverse groups. Research in low-income countries shows early menopause as a possible risk but needs more work, as noted on PubMed at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41434897/?fc=None&ff=20251225110642&v=2.18.0.post22+67771e2. Other factors like body clock issues also play into dementia but are separate from menopause.
Sources
https://www.psypost.org/lifetime-estrogen-exposure-associated-with-better-cognitive-performance-in-women/
https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/no-evidence-links-menopause-hormone-therapy-to-dementia-risk
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/dec/menopause-hormone-therapy-does-not-appear-impact-dementia-risk
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260103155026.htm
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41434897/?fc=None&ff=20251225110642&v=2.18.0.post22+67771e2
https://www.optometryadvisor.com/news/menopause-hormone-therapy-does-not-impact-risk-for-mci-dementia/
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20251222/Menopause-hormone-therapy-not-linked-to-dementia-risk-in-women.aspx
