Study of 1,095 Scans Finds Puberty and Pregnancy Shrink Gray Matter as Menopause Shows No Loss
Updated
Updated · Nature.com · Sep 8
Study of 1,095 Scans Finds Puberty and Pregnancy Shrink Gray Matter as Menopause Shows No Loss
3 articles · Updated · Nature.com · Sep 8
Summary
A longitudinal MRI analysis of 1,095 females found puberty and pregnancy were linked to significant cortical gray matter reductions, while women transitioning through menopause showed no significant total or cortical volume loss.
Monthly decline during menarche reached about 0.13% in total gray matter and 0.16% in cortex, while first and second pregnancies showed roughly 0.11% to 0.12% losses; matched control groups did not show the same transition-specific pattern.
Across 74 cortical regions, puberty and pregnancy diverged in more than half, with 33 regions showing a stepwise pattern in which pubertal decline exceeded pregnancy, which exceeded menopause.
The overlap was concentrated in prefrontal, parietal and temporal association cortices, suggesting shared remodeling during hormonal increases, while menopause stood apart by showing attenuation rather than acceleration of cortical volume change.
Researchers said the findings point to distinct forms of female brain plasticity across the lifespan, though they cautioned that menopause status was self-reported and scanner differences across cohorts limit direct cross-cohort comparisons.