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Early menopause risks the development of aneurysms in the brain
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
The data obtained by the scientists confirm the previously expressed hypothesis that the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysm is associated with fluctuations in estrogen levels.
A team from Rush University Medical Centre conducted a retrospective analysis of case records as part of the Contraceptive Use and Reproductive Health Study (CARES), funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). They analyzed 76 cases of cerebral aneurysms in postmenopausal women. It was shown that the risk of aneurysms is inversely proportional to the age of menopause onset – the earlier menopause begins, the higher the risk. In general, a later age at menopause onset reduced the risk of aneurysms by 21% (p-0.046).
The article, published by the study authors in the Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery, also indicates that every four additional years of delay in menopause reduced the risk by about the same 20-21%. However, in this case, we can only talk about a trend, since the differences between the two groups of patients studied were not statistically significant.
It is known that when intact cerebral aneurysms are detected, the standard approach to treatment is to stop smoking and prescribe drugs that regulate blood pressure. Surgical intervention can reduce the risk of cerebral hemorrhage, but does not affect the pathogenesis of the disease. The data obtained by scientists confirm the previously expressed hypothesis that the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysm is associated with fluctuations in estrogen levels. This assumption is also supported by the fact that the risk of aneurysms is reduced in patients who have ever used hormone replacement therapy.
The authors of the study, led by Michael Chen, a PhD candidate, hope that their research will contribute to the development of alternative therapeutic approaches to treating cerebral aneurysms in the future.
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