Published September 28, 2023, in Nature Communications and in EurekAlert!
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES HEALTH SCIENCES – A new study from UCLA Health reveals how hormonal changes during menopause may contribute to memory loss and brain atrophy, highlighting a potential path to treatment.
Led by neurologist Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, researchers found that loss of ovarian hormones in midlife female mice caused cognitive decline, brain shrinkage in the hippocampus (a key memory center), and damage to supporting brain cells. Crucially, the study identified estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in astrocytes as a protective factor for brain function. Both aging and the loss of estrogen were critical to cognitive deficits.
When researchers activated ERβ with a targeted treatment, mice showed improved memory and reversal of brain damage. Gene expression analyses also connected these findings to changes seen in postmenopausal women, underscoring the relevance to human health.
This work marks an important step toward therapies aimed at protecting cognition during menopause.
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About UCLA Health: UCLA Health is among the nation’s top academic medical systems, recognized for clinical excellence, leading-edge research, and innovation in patient care. Its Department of Neurology is internationally known for advancing understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, multiple sclerosis, and women’s brain health. Through research and discovery, UCLA Health scientists are shaping the future of medicine across every stage of life.
About CleopatraRX™: CleopatraRX™ is a women’s health company dedicated to improving brain health during menopause through targeted hormone replacement therapy. Its patented PearlPAK® treatment is the only menopause treatment designed to target cognition. With a personalized approach and integrated telehealth delivery, CleopatraRX is reshaping how women manage cognitive symptoms during midlife and beyond.
About Nature Communications: Nature Communications is a leading open-access journal published by Nature Portfolio. Covering all areas of the natural sciences, it publishes high-impact research of broad significance across biology, chemistry, physics, and medicine. Known for its rigorous peer-review process and global reach, Nature Communications connects researchers and readers with discoveries that advance science and improve lives.