Dutch researchers have observed that the natural shrinkage of the brain temporarily pauses during menopause, according to a report by NU. The finding is based on brain scans of roughly one thousand women and marks one of the first detailed looks at how the female brain changes across key life stages.
The study, covered by NU, NOS, de Volkskrant, and Amsterdam UMC, tracked structural changes in the brain during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. While brain volume generally decreases with age, the scans showed that this process stalls for a period during menopause. The researchers described the brain as remaining notably stable during this phase, per de Volkskrant.
According to NOS, this is the first time scientists have had a clear view of the female brain across these major hormonal transitions. The work was conducted by a team affiliated with Amsterdam UMC, which published its findings on the institution’s website. The project’s scale—using data from a thousand women—allowed for a more precise map of when and how brain structure shifts.
