Title | Menopause impacts human brain structure, connectivity, energy metabolism, and amyloid-beta deposition. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2021 |
Authors | Mosconi L, Berti V, Dyke J, Schelbaum E, Jett S, Loughlin L, Jang G, Rahman A, Hristov H, Pahlajani S, Andrews R, Matthews D, Etingin O, Ganzer C, de Leon M, Isaacson R, Brinton RDiaz |
Journal | Sci Rep |
Volume | 11 |
Issue | 1 |
Pagination | 10867 |
Date Published | 2021 06 09 |
ISSN | 2045-2322 |
Keywords | Adult, Aged, Aging, Alzheimer Disease, Amyloid beta-Peptides, Apolipoprotein E4, Biomarkers, Brain, Brain Mapping, Energy Metabolism, Female, Gray Matter, Humans, Male, Menopause, Middle Aged, Neuroimaging, Postmenopause, Premenopause |
Abstract | All women undergo the menopause transition (MT), a neuro-endocrinological process that impacts aging trajectories of multiple organ systems including brain. The MT occurs over time and is characterized by clinically defined stages with specific neurological symptoms. Yet, little is known of how this process impacts the human brain. This multi-modality neuroimaging study indicates substantial differences in brain structure, connectivity, and energy metabolism across MT stages (pre-menopause, peri-menopause, and post-menopause). These effects involved brain regions subserving higher-order cognitive processes and were specific to menopausal endocrine aging rather than chronological aging, as determined by comparison to age-matched males. Brain biomarkers largely stabilized post-menopause, and gray matter volume (GMV) recovered in key brain regions for cognitive aging. Notably, GMV recovery and in vivo brain mitochondria ATP production correlated with preservation of cognitive performance post-menopause, suggesting adaptive compensatory processes. In parallel to the adaptive process, amyloid-β deposition was more pronounced in peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women carrying apolipoprotein E-4 (APOE-4) genotype, the major genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease, relative to genotype-matched males. These data show that human menopause is a dynamic neurological transition that significantly impacts brain structure, connectivity, and metabolic profile during midlife endocrine aging of the female brain. |
DOI | 10.1038/s41598-021-90084-y |
Alternate Journal | Sci Rep |
PubMed ID | 34108509 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC8190071 |
Grant List | R01AG13616 / NH / NIH HHS / United States UL1TR002384 / / NIH/NCATS UL1TR002384 / R01 AG035137 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG057931 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P01 AG026572 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P01AG026572 / NH / NIH HHS / United States |
Related Institute:
MRI Research Institute (MRIRI) Brain Health Imaging Institute (BHII)