Early Menopause Can Result in Earlier Onset Dementia

Research published in the Journal of Alzheimer Disease reported on a study of women with Down Syndrome, who are known to have an early onset of menopause. The results of the research can be translated to apply to the general population. 

Women with Down Syndrome have an earlier onset of menopause compared to women in the general population, 44 years of age and 52 years of age, respectively. 

The findings show a strong relationship between the age of menopause onset and the age at which dementia is diagnosed.   Women with Down Syndrome with an early onset of menopause also appear to suffer from dementia at an early age. In addition, my study shows that these women also die younger.

Alzheimer’s disease is the major cause of illness and death among people with Down Syndrome. In particular, the factors affecting the onset of dementia and death are studied. The health development found within this group is in fact an accelerated version of the developments found in the general population. The research results can therefore be translated to similar results for the general population. 

Women should definitely start consider long-term care insurance in their 50s explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.  Because of the need to health qualify for this protection, some women may want to start looking at this even earlier.

A first step in the development of Alzheimer is the build up of so-called amyloid in the brain. The deposition of this amyloid occurs under influence of a certain gene, higher levels of which are found in people with Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder in which there are three copies of chromosome 21. This chromosome has various genes that play a role in neurological diseases. The most important of these is the gene that is responsible for the production of the protein amyloid. 

As it appears, not only can a relationship with the age of onset of dementia be determined but also a relationship between early onset of menopause and dying young.

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