Results from a cross-sectional study published in Neurology revealed that post-menopausal women are more likely to have small brain lesions linked to cognitive impairment or stroke risk than men of the same age.

According to the study on white matter, hyperintensities volume accelerated in both men and women, although acceleration was more rapid in women. 3,410 people were involved, among which 1,973 of them were female and 59.1% of them postmenopausal, ranging in age from 45 to 95.

The study discovered that there is a sex-dependent relationship between the increase in WMH burden and ageing. Similar-aged premenopausal women and men did not have different WMH burdens. Compared to men of the same age, postmenopausal women′s WMH burden was more significant and accelerated faster. Additionally, it was observed that premenopausal women of comparable age had less WMH than postmenopausal women. Additionally, despite not being menopausal, women with uncontrolled hypertension exhibited a larger WMH burden than men. Effects of uncontrolled hypertension on WMH that were specific to gender were unrelated to menopause. 

The study stressed the significance of sex-specific medication and more careful treatment for older women, particularly those with vascular risk factors. (MedPage Today June 30, 2022)