Archive · 10 Aug 2026
US Professor Reveals Menopause Brain Changes Linked to Alzheimer's
Menopause is a special time that happens to women as they get older and their bodies change.
A smart scientist named Brinton, a top professor in the United States, studies how the brain changes during menopause.
She found that these brain changes are linked to Alzheimer's disease, a sickness that makes people forget things.
Some women take medicine called menopausal hormone therapy to feel better.
But about 80 out of 100 women do not want that medicine because they are afraid it might cause breast cancer.
Brinton and her team listened to those fears and wanted to help women protect their brains and their breasts.
So they made a new medicine from natural plant molecules called phytoserm.
Phytoserm helps with hot flashes, which are sudden feelings of heat some women get during menopause.
It works through a special part of the body called estrogen receptor beta, which helps the brain but does not affect the breast.
Their goal is to help lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease while keeping women healthy during menopause.
A top US professor, Brinton, revealed brain changes during menopause linked to Alzheimer's disease.
About 80% of women choose not to receive menopausal hormone therapy due to fear of breast cancer.
Her team is developing a menopause-focused intervention to support brain health and address hormone therapy concerns.
The intervention, phytoserm, consists of natural plant-based molecules and is designed for hot flashes.
Phytoserm targets estrogen receptor beta, which acts like estrogen in the brain but not in the breast.
The team's Alzheimer's goal is two-pronged: reduce risk and develop a menopausal hot flash intervention.
- Who
- Brinton, a top US professor, and her research team
- What
- Revealed brain changes during menopause linked to Alzheimer's disease and developed a plant-based intervention called phytoserm
- When
- Not specified in the articles
- Where
- United States (the professor is identified as a US professor)
- Why
- To reduce women's risk of Alzheimer's disease while addressing fears about breast cancer tied to hormone therapy
Proponents of estrogen therapy
Women concerned about breast cancer risk
Menopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer risk
Proponents of estrogen therapy
Estrogen is beneficial, and the researchers told women 'how great estrogen is' for brain health and reducing Alzheimer's risk.
Women concerned about breast cancer risk
About 80% of women decline hormone therapy out of fear of breast cancer, and the researchers concluded they had to listen and address those breast health concerns.
- Researcher
- Brinton, a top US professor
- Condition studied
- Brain changes during menopause linked to Alzheimer's disease
- Intervention
- Phytoserm (phyto for plant, serm for selective estrogen receptor modulator)
- Mechanism
- Selectively targets estrogen receptor beta, acting like estrogen in the brain but not in the breast
- Women declining hormone therapy
- About 80% due to fear of breast cancer
- Ingredients
- Natural plant-based molecules
- Alzheimer's goals
- Two-pronged: reduce risk and provide a hot flash intervention