Menopause May Trigger Brain Changes Linked to Alzheimer's, US Expert Says

Menopause may trigger brain changes linked to Alzheimer's disease, as declining estrogen levels reduce the brain's ability to convert glucose into energy, potentially increasing risk later in life, a top US expert says. University of Arizona professor Roberta Brinton explains that estrogen boosts glucose use by 20-25 percent, and its decline cuts energy production by about 20 percent, prompting the brain to rely on fats as an alternative fuel, a shift that may persist for years. Brinton suggests hot flashes may signal brain energy adaptation, and recommends managing glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol to protect brain health, while noting an investigational plant-based therapy, PhytoSERM, aims to support cognition without breast tissue stimulation.