Menopause and neurological disorders: a roadmap for research.

Authors

Riley Bove, Ruth Dobson

Published in

Nature reviews. Neurology. Aug 10, 2026. Epub Aug 10, 2026.

Abstract

Menopause is under-recognized as a biological and sociocultural contributor to brain health, and scientific understanding of the impact that the menopausal transition has on the brain is minimal. This knowledge gap is particularly detrimental for women who live with neurological conditions. We lack sufficient data to understand the experience of women with established neurological conditions during perimenopause, the mechanisms associated with postmenopausal changes in disease course and how to improve management of neurological conditions in a sex-specific way. Furthermore, approximately two thirds of women experience cognitive concerns during the menopausal transition. Although earlier menopause is associated with a greater risk of cognitive decline, the influence of the menopausal transition on subsequent risk of neurological conditions remains unclear. In this Roadmap, we identify key areas in which research is limited and highlight historical and scientific challenges that have hindered progress in understanding brain health in the context of menopause. To address these challenges, we consider existing knowledge and propose priorities and future research directions to advance our understanding of the relationship between menopause and neurological health and disease.

PMID:
42575966
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 11 Aug 2026.

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