Are you worried about getting hot flashes? Well, chances are you could be heading towards an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. A common symptom of menopause, uncomfortable symptoms such as that, can be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease.
A new study finds that the symptom of hot flashes can be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease. The authors presented the evidence at the 2023 annual meeting of the menopause society in Philadelphia.
The study takes the previous studies on brain health and hot flashes further, building on the conclusion by one study published last year. The latter indicated that those who experience hot flashes have a brain biomarker that is linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
The white matter hyperintensities are the brain biomarkers that the study indicated were found predominantly in individuals experiencing menopause.
The co-author of the 2022 study, Rebecca Thurston, shared that hot flash that occur while sleeping are linked to “poor cognition” indicating that their brain health is deteriorating. The recent study explored the relationship between hot flashes and Alzheimer’s disease.
The research was necessary as women make up at least two thirds of the people experiencing Alzheimer’s disease. However, Thurston clarified that those who get hot flashes during menopause should not be concerned.
In addition, the new study discussed the ways in which they can lower their risk of developing the disease. Individuals who start their menopause abruptly may experience hot flashes more severely than those who get it gradually.
In people who get their menopause abruptly, the hypothalamus may regulate the body temperature to be so extreme that it may seem like an extreme response. This extreme response can include extreme sweating to cool down the body.
The investigation between hot flashes and Alzheimer’s disease examines vasomotor symptoms in nearly 250 people who have a uterus. The study also included participants aged between 45-67 years who were in their late-perimenopausal or postmenopausal phase, with at least one ovary.
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