Memory decline after menopause linked to loss of estrogen production in brain

A Northwestern Medicine preclinical study found that women experience unique sensitivity to loss of estrogen in the brain during aging, which occurs in the extracellular matrix—the space between brain cells—and may explain why women are nearly twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer's disease. The research, conducted on male and female mice, suggests that estrogen loss, aging, and female sex are closely linked to problems in this critical brain region responsible for memory and cell communication. These findings could lead to new treatment approaches focused on restoring the brain's supportive environment rather than solely targeting amyloid protein buildup, as current Alzheimer's therapies do.