Health · Medical Research · 22 hrs ago
Menopause hormone therapy linked to fewer signs of brain vessel damage
Women who had used menopause hormone therapy had fewer signs of small-vessel damage in brain scans at about age 70, a study found.
The research involved 352 women born in 1944 in Gothenburg, Sweden, who had MRI scans between 2014 and 2016.
The team compared their scans with their reproductive and hormone histories, rather than giving participants any treatment.
Women whose menopause came later showed a similar, but weaker, pattern.
Damage to small brain vessels is linked to higher chances of stroke and dementia, although it may cause no symptoms.
The study shows a link, not proof that hormone therapy prevents damage, and the findings do not say what treatment women should use.
Women who had used menopause hormone therapy showed fewer signs of damage to small brain blood vessels at age 70.
The study found a similar but weaker pattern among women whose menopause came later.
Researchers compared hormone histories with brain scans but did not give participants hormones, so the findings show links and do not prove cause and effect.
Small vessel damage becomes more common with age and is linked to higher chances of stroke and dementia.
The study included 352 women born in 1944 who were part of the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Studies.
- Who
- Researchers led by Giulia Lorenzon and Anna Marseglia studied 352 women born in 1944.
- What
- Menopause hormone therapy use was linked to fewer signs of small brain blood vessel damage at age 70.
- When
- The brain scans were taken between 2014 and 2016, at about age 70. The article was published on November 8, 2026.
- Where
- Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Why
- Researchers compared women’s hormone and reproductive histories with brain scans to examine links with brain vessel health later in life.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The birth control pill caught on in Sweden.
Hormone therapy use rose sharply in Sweden as the women reached menopause.
The 352 women born in 1944 had MRI brain scans at about age 70.
- Participants
- 352 women born in 1944
- Location
- Gothenburg, Sweden
- Brain scans
- 2014–2016, at about age 70
- Menopause hormone therapy use
- About 61% of the women
- Birth control pill use
- About 73% of the women
What people are saying
Our results suggest that hormonal exposure across different periods of a woman’s life may have cumulative effects also on the cerebrovascular health in later life.
The findings suggest that the brain’s blood vessels may play an important role in the link between estrogen and brain aging.