{
  "id": 6322952,
  "title": "Menopause-linked brain changes may differ from those in puberty and pregnancy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/menopause-linked-brain-changes-may-differ-from-those-in-puberty-and",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-08T20:20:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-menopause-linked-brain-differ-puberty.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New research reveals that brain changes during menopause differ from those during puberty and pregnancy, according to a study published in Nature Communications. Using brain imaging data from over 200 participants, the study found that puberty and pregnancy both involve reductions in cortical gray matter volume, while menopause is characterized by stable gray matter volume during the transition. The study, led by Sophie van t Hof and colleagues, analyzed structural MRI data collected at multiple points during transitions through puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. The results suggest that puberty and pregnancy trigger similar reductions in total and cortical gray matter in regions such as the prefrontal, parietal, and temporal association cortices. In contrast, menopause does not show notable reductions in brain volume, indicating potentially distinct underlying mechanisms. The study highlights the need for further research to determine the causal relationship between sex steroid hormone levels and brain structural changes during these major hormonal transitions. Limitations of the study include reliance on self-reported menopausal status and the absence of directly measured hormonal data.",
  "summary": "Changes in the female brain during menopause contrast sharply with those seen during pregnancy and puberty, according to brain imaging research published in Nature Communications. The study, which included more than 200 participants, suggests that puberty and pregnancy are both associated with reductions in cortical gray matter volume, while menopause is characterized by relatively stable gray…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}