Now Reading: Menopause hot flash signals brain change linked to Alzheimer’s
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Menopause hot flash signals brain change linked to Alzheimer’s
A top US professor says the menopausal hot flash is actually a 'brain hot flash' that may signal an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Dr Roberta Diaz Brinton of the University of…
The Story in Brief
A top US professor says the menopausal hot flash is actually a 'brain hot flash' that may signal an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Dr Roberta Diaz Brinton of the University of Arizona explains that oestrogen loss during menopause reduces the brain's ability to use glucose for energy by 20-25%, triggering a short-term starvation response. This shift forces the brain to use auxiliary fuels, generating heat that causes the hot flash. Over time, this long-term adaptation can lead to Alzheimer's. Brinton's team is developing a plant-based intervention called phytoserm for hot flashes, aiming to address women's concerns about hormone therapy and breast cancer risk.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that women get Alzheimer's simply because they live longer is being challenged by Professor Brinton's research. It is a welcome correction, but we must not jump to conclusions. Her claim that a hot flash is a 'brain hot flash' signalling auxiliary fuel use is intriguing, but the study is not yet published. The proposed plant-based intervention (phytoserm) also needs rigorous trials. The concrete test will be when her paper appears: if it confirms the brain heat mechanism, women have a new early warning sign. Until then, this is a hypothesis, not a prescription.
Source: timesnownews.com
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