Generally, a lot of women aren’t too thrilled about receiving boots from their aunt. I mean, she tends to be messy and shows up unexpectedly every month.
However, recent studies indicate that having a longer gap between your first and last period could actually offer significant health benefits later on.
Interestingly enough, this seems to have less to do with what’s happening down there.
In a study conducted by researchers at Auckland University, brain scans from over 1,000 postmenopausal women revealed some fascinating findings.
Women who had their first period earlier or spent more years in postmenopause showed noticeably slower signs of brain aging.
“These results back up the idea that estradiol—the primary form of estrogen during a woman’s reproductive years—plays a protective role for the aging brain,” stated Dr. Eileen Ruders, the lead researcher.
Previous animal research indicates that estradiol can enhance neuroplasticity, reduce inflammation, and improve communication among brain cells.
It’s worth noting that women face a disproportionate impact from Alzheimer’s disease, with about two-thirds of its roughly 7 million cases in the U.S. being women, according to the Alzheimer’s Disease Association.
Typically, girls in the U.S. start their periods around age 12, although it’s possible to start as early as 8 or as late as 16, according to a Mayo Clinic report.
The phase when a woman can menstruate and become pregnant is called the reproductive stage, which concludes with menopause—diagnosed when a woman hasn’t had a period for 12 months.
The average age for U.S. women to reach menopause is around 51, but it can occur anytime from the 30s to mid-50s, as noted by the Women’s Health Office.
Factors like genetics, lifestyle, and specific medical issues can influence when menopause starts. For instance, smoking might lead one to experience early menopause, while having multiple pregnancies could delay its onset.
It’s well-known that the years leading up to menopause can be uncomfortable, often marked by hot flashes and other symptoms.
“These findings create vital conversations as we contemplate hormone therapy during menopause, opening doors for targeted research on women’s brain health,” mentioned Alicia Nowacca, a doctoral student at the University of Auckland who didn’t participate in the study.
While this new research supports the idea that estradiol may be protective for brain health, Lueders cautioned that the effects are modest, and direct measurements of estradiol levels are still lacking.
Moreover, she pointed out that various factors including genetics, lifestyle, and overall well-being also contribute to brain aging.
Looking ahead, Ruder advocates for future studies to directly measure hormone levels and seek a more diverse group of participants, allowing for a deeper understanding of how estradiol and various factors influence women’s brain health.
