Blood proteomics of menopause map to brain aging and dementia risk
Study context
- Population
- Women aged 43–58 years staged by STRAW+10 (serum NULISAseq proteomics); validation in age-matched women (plasma Olink proteomics); four cohorts of older women (average age 60.7–72.1 years)discovery cohort
- Participants
- 80 women
- Comparison
- Pre- vs peri- vs postmenopausal women; menopause proteomic scores
- Outcome
- Proteomic changes of spontaneous menopause
Methodological detailsmulticohort, STRAW+10 staging, age-matched validation
- Multicohort
- STRAW+10 staging
- Age-matched validation
Performance
As reported in the abstract
- Spontaneous menopause characterized by dysregulation in inflammatory, synaptic, metabolic and Alzheimer's disease biologic processes, tracking more strongly with hormones than with age
Further findings
Validation in age-matched pre-/peri- and postmenopausal women (n = 2,814)
- Replicated proteomic shifts; broader menopause-related upregulation of inflammatory and catabolic processes plus accelerated organ and cell aging, including brain aging
Menopause proteomic scores in four cohorts of older women (total n = 11,925)
- Higher menopause proteomic scores associated consistently with cognitive aging and dementia risk
Original publication
Blood proteomics of menopause map to brain aging and dementia risk. Nat Med. Published 22 September 2026. doi:10.
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