Menopause

04 Sep

Posted at 20:55h in Endocrinology, Hormone Therapy, Menopause

In July 2002, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) published initial findings from a large-scale randomized clinical trial evaluating hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women. National news outlets quickly broadcast alarming, sensationalized headlines claiming that hormone replacement therapy significantly increased the risk of invasive breast cancer, heart attacks, stroke, and blood clots. Almost overnight, millions of women worldwide abruptly stopped taking their prescribed hormone medications, while medical practitioners drastically curtailed HRT prescriptions. For over two decades, pervasive fear surrounding hormone replacement therapy dominated clinical practice, leaving an entire generation of menopausal women to suffer through unmitigated hot flashes, night sweats, bone density loss, severe sleep disruption, cognitive decline, mood disturbances, and metabolic dysfunction. According to the North American Menopause Society, hormone therapy remains one of the most effective treatments for menopausal symptoms, and current evidence supports its safety and efficacy for appropriately selected women, particularly when initiated in early menopause.

However, subsequent extensive scientific re-analyses of the original WHI trial data over the past twenty years have exposed fundamental methodological flaws in how the study was designed, conducted, and publicly reported. The average age of WHI study participants was 63 years old — over a decade older than the typical age of natural menopause onset in North America. Most trial participants possessed underlying baseline cardiovascular risks and were administered older synthetic oral hormone formulations (conjugated equine estrogens and synthetic medroxyprogesterone acetate) rather than modern, body-identical hormones. Today, leading global medical societies recognize that therapeutic timing and hormone selection are paramount. When initiated during perimenopause or early menopause, bioidentical hormone replacement may represent a safe, transformative, and highly effective pillar of comprehensive menopause management.

[caption id="attachment_75895" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Scared a Generation Off Hormone Therapy.jpg Photo by Nguyễn Tiến Thịnh [/caption]

13 Aug

Posted at 11:59h in Menopause, Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is often discussed as a condition of older women, which is accurate about when it appears and misleading about when it forms. The disease develops over decades. By the time a diagnosis arrives, much of the decisive period has passed. This covers why women are more vulnerable, what happens at each stage of life, and the risk factors that have nothing to do with age.

Key Takeaways:

  • Peak bone mass is reached in the twenties, and the amount you build then determines what you have to lose later.
  • Osteoporosis is roughly four times more common in women than in men, driven largely by estrogen loss at menopause.
  • Around 42 percent of postmenopausal women have osteopenia, the stage before osteoporosis.
  • Several medications and medical conditions accelerate bone loss independently of age.
  • Bones respond to mechanical loading throughout life, which is why exercise remains relevant at every stage.
preventing-osteoporosis-responsa

20 Jul

Posted at 12:29h in Menopause

For some women, aging and menopause go hand in hand. When women start seeing changes like unexplained weight gain, hair thinning, grey hair, aching joints, wrinkles, and painful sex, they know that these signs aren't only reminding them of menopause — they're also a reminder of the fact that they're aging. Staying healthy during this time becomes an essential part of a woman's life.

In this article, we're going to simplify what you need to do to stay healthy when you're going through menopause. For more on managing this transition naturally, see this overview of managing menopause symptoms naturally through hormones and lifestyle. But first, let's understand its different stages.

[caption id="attachment_75079" align="aligncenter" width="500"]staying healthy during menopause Photo by www.kaboompics.com[/caption]

07 Aug

Posted at 11:53h in Author Interviews, Education, Health Care Workers, Menopause, University of Pittsburgh
[caption id="attachment_70198" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Before Starting a Career in Health Source[/caption] Ever watched a nurse steady a patient’s arm during an injection, answer a family’s questions, juggle documentation, and still keep calm—then thought, I could do that? It’s a common spark. Health careers are high-impact, in demand, and offer the kind of work that feels meaningful. But behind the scrubs and steady hands is a world that asks more than most people expect. In this blog, we will share what you need to know before stepping into a health career. Start With the Structure, Not the Aesthetic Everyone sees the outside first—neatly pressed uniforms, digital charts, exam gloves, badges swinging from lanyards. What’s less obvious is the scaffolding beneath. Health work is layered. Each role connects to others, and each tier carries specific responsibilities, training, and legal scope. If you're picturing your future in health, the first thing to understand is where you want to start, how far you want to go, and what that pathway actually involves. Titles aren’t interchangeable. The difference between a nurse who administers medication and one who diagnoses conditions is more than experience—it’s formal licensing, state-defined boundaries, and years of education. This is where questions like LPN vs nurse practitioner become more than trivia. A Licensed Practical Nurse supports care under the supervision of RNs or physicians, usually after completing a year-long program. A Nurse Practitioner, on the other hand, holds a graduate degree, can assess and diagnose independently in many states, and often carries a caseload similar to a primary care provider. Understanding the distinctions early can save years of missteps. Every job in the system matters, but they’re built on different skill sets. If you want flexibility, long-term growth, or eventual autonomy, you need to plan for that at the start—not halfway through your training. This doesn’t mean locking in a decision forever. It means knowing what each credential unlocks, so you can move with purpose, not guesswork.

06 Aug

Posted at 18:03h in Menopause
[caption id="attachment_70194" align="aligncenter" width="500"]do-all-women-experience-perimenopause Photo by Kindel Media[/caption] Perimenopause, the transitional phase preceding menopause, is a chapter that many women embark on in their late 30s to early 40s. Commonly associated with a range of symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and irregular periods, perimenopause signals the body's shift towards the eventual cessation of menstruation. This article explores perimenopause, exploring who experiences it, why, and how to get the relief you may want.

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause, often referred to as the menopausal transition, marks the time when a woman's body begins the journey towards menopause. The hormonal fluctuations during this period can lead to various physical and emotional changes.  While menopause signifies the end of a woman's reproductive years, perimenopause typically lasts several years, with symptoms gradually becoming more pronounced over time. The primary difference between perimenopause and menopause is that menopause officially occurs when a woman has gone twelve consecutive months without a menstrual period, meaning women can still get pregnant while experiencing perimenopause.

16 Dec

Posted at 22:50h in Endocrinology, Hormone Therapy, Menopause
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment method that helps people with symptoms of menopause. This medication is taken to replace the estrogen that your body stops producing during menopause. Once your hormone levels rise, you may find relief from your symptoms. Hormone therapy also prevents osteoporosis and reduces the risk of fracture in postmenopausal women. To know whether you should consider taking HRT is a decision that you need to discuss with your healthcare provider. Hormone-replacement-image-1 There may be risks associated with using types of hormone therapy. These risks depend on the type of HRT, the dosage, and how long it is taken. Hormone replacement therapy should be designed for each person to ensure the benefits outweigh the risks.

17 Oct

Posted at 19:07h in Menopause
[caption id="attachment_64076" align="aligncenter" width="500"]hot-flashes-mood-swings Source[/caption] Puberty is often depicted in pop culture. Tweens coming of age are widely shown on television and in films, books, and music. But what about menopause?  Discussions on menopause weren’t nearly as common—at least, not until recently. For years, this significant life transition for women has flown under the radar, treated as a hush-hush topic, or simply ignored.  But now, the stigmas surrounding menopause are dissolving. Celebs like Sofia Vergara, Olivia Munn, Tyra Banks, and Angie Harmon have shared their experiences firsthand, bringing more visibility to a long-overdue conversation. Menopause is something every woman will experience in her 40s or 50s.  This natural stage of aging brings about all sorts of changes—hot flashes, mood swings, hair shedding, and more. The good news is that there are ways to manage the symptoms. Some of them are discussed here. 

04 Oct

Posted at 08:44h in Hormone Therapy, Menopause
  Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has long been used to manage the disruptive symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances, particularly those caused by menopause in women and low testosterone in men. As the body ages, hormone levels naturally fluctuate, often leading to uncomfortable symptoms that can negatively impact one’s quality of life. HRT offers a solution by replenishing key hormones, providing relief from symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, and low energy. [caption id="attachment_63720" align="aligncenter" width="357"]middle-aged-men-women-hormone-therapy Source[/caption] Hormone replacement therapy involves supplementing the body with hormones that it no longer produces in adequate quantities. For women, this typically means replacing estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that regulate many aspects of the female reproductive system. For men, HRT usually focuses on replenishing testosterone, which naturally declines with age.   While the primary goal of HRT is to relieve symptoms, it can also improve long-term health. Estrogen, for example, helps protect against bone loss, and testosterone replacement in men can prevent muscle atrophy. But before diving into the benefits of HRT, it's important to understand why hormone levels fluctuate and how these changes affect the body.

31 Jul

Posted at 13:32h in Menopause
Menopause, a natural stage in a woman's life, often comes with a range of physical and emotional symptoms. While these can be challenging, many women find relief through natural approaches. By understanding the underlying causes and implementing lifestyle changes, it's possible to manage menopause symptoms effectively.

Understanding Menopause Symptoms

Menopause, marked by the cessation of menstrual periods, occurs due to declining estrogen levels. This hormonal shift can lead to a variety of symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, irritability, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. These symptoms can significantly impact a woman's quality of life.

25 Apr

Posted at 21:13h in Menopause
Menopause isn't merely a biological process—it's a journey that marks a new chapter in a woman's life. It comes with its share of whispers and shadows, often stirring a mix of emotions from relief to apprehension. As the familiar rhythm of your body shifts, it can feel like you’re navigating a path bristling with unknowns, each step echoing with the beats of change. Imagine embracing this transition not just with endurance, but with empowerment. Menopause, with all its intricacies, isn't the end of youth but a rebirth of freedom and strength. Let's redefine what it means to walk through this phase, equipped with knowledge and wrapped in understanding.

Understanding Menopause

[caption id="attachment_61607" align="alignleft" width="150"] Photo by Freepik Photo by Freepik[/caption] From menstrual cycle regularity to temperature regulation, understanding these hormonal changes is essential as they underlie myriad experiences during menopause.

Hormonal Changes

As you approach menopause, your body begins a natural shift in hormone production, primarily estrogen and progesterone. These changes are the conductors behind the scenes, orchestrating everything from your menstrual cycle regularity to the temperature of your skin. Understanding these hormonal ebbs and flows is crucial, as they are pivotal in what you experience during menopause.

17 Jul

Posted at 21:01h in Author Interviews, Endocrinology, Hormone Therapy, Menopause
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_60619" align="alignleft" width="92"]Jerilynn C Prior MD FRCPC (on behalf of all authorsProfessor of Endocrinology / Department of Medicine University of British Columbia  Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research www.cemcor.ca BC Women’s Health Research Institute Vancouver BC Canada Dr. Prior[/caption] Jerilynn C Prior MD FRCPC (on behalf of all authors Professor of Endocrinology / Department of Medicine University of British Columbia Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research www.cemcor.ca BC Women’s Health Research Institute Vancouver BC Canada MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Night sweats and hot flushes/flashes (together called vasomotor symptoms, VMS) disturb women who are still menstruating (in perimenopause) are at least as much or more than  menopausal women (without flow for a year or more)1. However, although studies have investigated various treatments for perimenopausal hot flushes/flashes, none have proven effective in these women who are also likely to be having heavy flow, breast tenderness, and premenstrual symptoms related to high and variable estrogen levels. These include randomized controlled trials (RCT) of the birth control pill2, and gel estrogen in women using a progestin-releasing IUD3. Neither showed that therapy was more effective than placebo; both studied too few participants to provide a clear answer. Meanwhile, major medical organization guidelines recommend menopausal hormone therapy (MHT, usually of estrogen with a progestin) for any women younger than 60 years old who are bothered by night sweats and hot flushes 4-6. However, there are no scientific RCT studies showing MHT is effective for perimenopausal night sweats and hot flushes. Giving more estrogen to someone whose own estrogen levels are often high, also did not make clinical sense. We previously performed an RCT showing that oral micronized progesterone (progesterone) was effective for menopausal hot flushes and also improved sleep7. Given that progesterone levels in perimenopausal women are declining, we considered that perimenopausal progesterone therapy for night sweats needed testing.

03 Apr

Posted at 21:27h in Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, Gender Differences, JAMA, Menopause
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_60274" align="alignleft" width="150"]Rachel Buckley, PhD​Assistant Professor Department of Neurology Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School Dr. Buckley[/caption] Rachel Buckley, PhD ​Assistant Professor Department of Neurology Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: While a fair amount of studies have focused on the effects of menopause and hormone therapy on risk of dementia, far fewer studies have tested their association with the biology of Alzheimer’s disease, namely amyloid and tau. This is critical to know given that it still remains unclear what might be the driving mechanism of the menopause transition on risk for dementia. This is what our study set out to investigate. This study is one of the first to report a link between women’s age at menopause and tau in the brain, which we measured with positron emission tomography neuroimaging. We found that in multiple areas of the brain that tend to be most likely to show higher tau in women than men, women with earlier age at menopause and elevated levels of amyloid showed higher levels of tau than those who reported an average age at menopause (~50 years in the United States). Women who reported premature menopause (<40 years at menopause onset) exhibited a much higher risk of tau in the brain. This supports the notion that longer exposure to estrogen throughout life might be protective against Alzheimer’s disease.

09 Nov

Posted at 16:34h in Aging, Author Interviews, JAMA, Menopause, USPSTF
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_59720" align="alignleft" width="150"]James Stevermer, M.D., M.S.P.H. Vice chair for clinical affairs Professor of family and community medicine University of Missouri Medical director of MU Health Care Family Medicine–Callaway Physicians Dr. Stevermer[/caption] James Stevermer, M.D., M.S.P.H. Vice chair for clinical affairs Professor of family and community medicine University of Missouri Medical director of MU Health Care Family Medicine–Callaway Physicians, Dr. Stevermer joined the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force in January 2021. MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: As people get older, they are more at risk for many chronic conditions like heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and diabetes. It’s unclear how much menopause—which typically occurs around age 50—contributes to this risk. Although we all want to stay healthy as we age, the Task Force does not recommend that people who have already gone through menopause use hormone therapy to prevent chronic health problems.

05 Aug

Posted at 10:47h in Author Interviews, Heart Disease, Menopause

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Jean Shin Department of Family Medicine Korea University College of Medicine Seoul,Republic of Korea

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Younger age at menopause is a possible risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, data on the association among premature menopause, age at menopause, and the risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation are lacking. We aimed to examine the association of premature menopause and age at menopause with the risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. 

07 Mar

Posted at 21:26h in AHA Journals, Blood Pressure - Hypertension, Dental Research, Menopause
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_58844" align="alignleft" width="200"]Michael J. LaMonte, PhD, MPH Research Professor (epidemiology) Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health School of Public Health and Health Professions Women’s Health Initiative Northeast Regional Center University at Buffalo – SUNY Buffalo, NY 14214   Dr. LaMonte[/caption] Michael J. LaMonte, PhD, MPH Research Professor (epidemiology) Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health School of Public Health and Health Professions Women’s Health Initiative Northeast Regional Center University at Buffalo – SUNY Buffalo, NY 14214 MedicalResearch.com:  What is the background for this study?  What are the main findings? Dr. LaMonte:  The rationale for this study was based on existing study results showing
  • (1) oral bacteria are involved with conversion of dietary nitrate (e.g., from leafy greens and beets) to nitric oxide which is a chemical involved keeping arteries healthy and maintaining blood pressure;
  • (2) rinsing the mouth with antiseptic solution (mouthwash) kills oral bacteria and results in rapid increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure; and
  • (3) a very limited amount of epidemiological data suggest that the oral bacteria found beneath the gums (responsible for gingivitis and periodontal disease) are associated with blood pressure and history of hypertension in middle-aged adults.
Thus, we conducted our study to determine whether oral bacteria (beneath the gums) would be predictive of developing hypertension among women who were without this condition at the time the bacteria were measured. Because the bacteria (exposure) would be known to precede development of hypertension (disease), an association seen in our study would be strongly suggestive of a role for oral bacteria in the development of high blood pressure. Our primary result was for statistically significant higher risks of developing hypertension associated with 10 bacterial species, and significantly lower risks of developing hypertension associated with 5 bacterial species. Our findings were evident even after we accounted for differences in demographic factors, lifestyle factors, and clinical factors, and generally were of consistent magnitudes we examined across subgroups of older and younger women, white and black women, normal weight and overweight/obese women, those with normal or slightly elevated blood pressure at study enrollment, and those who were using or not using menopausal hormone therapy at baseline. Therefore, while our observational study evidence for an association is not equivalent to causation, the robustness of the associations between oral bacteria and hypertension risk supports a need to further understand this relationship, ideally with a clinical trial design that would provide definitive evidence to support or refute causation. 

12 May

Posted at 00:13h in Author Interviews, Heart Disease, Menopause, Osteoporosis
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_57338" align="alignleft" width="120"]Yeonyee E. Yoon, MD, PhD Associate Professor Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center  Seoul National University Bundang Hospital South Korea Dr. Yoon[/caption] Yeonyee E. Yoon, MD, PhD Associate Professor Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center Seoul National University Bundang Hospital South Korea  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Although atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has been traditionally considered to affect men predominantly, it is nearly common in women. ASCVD is the leading cause of death in both men and women globally, and the population-adjusted risk of ASCVD mortality in women is significantly greater than that in men. Nevertheless, the current focus on the 10-year ASCVD risk estimated by a risk-scoring algorithm such as the Pooled Cohort Equation has shown unsatisfactory accuracy in women. Therefore, new strategies beyond the conventional risk stratification algorithm are needed to improve identification for women at high risk for ASCVD. ASCVD and osteoporosis are major age-related diseases contributing to significant morbidity and mortality in women, and previous epidemiologic studies have suggested a potential association between these diseases. Given that millions of women are screened for osteoporosis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), potential associations between low bone mineral density (BMD) and ASCVD in women would provide an opportunity to improve the risk stratification of women without any additional costs. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the evaluation of BMD provides independent and incremental prognostic values for ASCVD prediction in women. 

05 May

Posted at 23:13h in Author Interviews, Lancet, Menopause, Orthopedics, Osteoporosis, UCLA
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_57332" align="alignleft" width="118"]Carolyn Crandall, M.D. Professor, Medicine Health Sciences Clinical Professor,  UCLA Dr. Crandall[/caption] Carolyn Crandall, M.D. Professor, Medicine Health Sciences Clinical Professor, UCLA MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Previously-published studies had not examined in detail the risk of subsequent fractures after initial fractures in a large national sample of women in the us. Clinical guidelines mostly emphasize initial hip and spine fractures, but they do not emphasize fractures of other types.  We hypothesized that subsequent fracture risk would be higher after initial fracture even at locations other than the hip or the spine.

10 Apr

Posted at 16:13h in Author Interviews, Fertility, JAMA, Menopause
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Duke Appiah, Ph.D., MPH Assistant Professor,Public Health Texas Tech University  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Reports from several countries point towards increasing trends in age at natural menopause. However, epidemiological report from the United States on the long-term trends in age at natural menopause or reproductive life span among a nationally representative sample of women is lacking. Understanding changes in the timing of age at natural menopause and length of the reproductive life span and their associated factors are important. For instance, earlier age at natural menopause is reported to be associated with cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases and osteoporosis while later onset of menopause has been associated with the occurrence of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Similarly, longer durations of reproductive life span are associated with reduced morbidity and mortality.

23 Mar

Posted at 15:23h in Author Interviews, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, Endocrinology, Insomnia, Menopause, Sleep Disorders, Weight Research
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_57017" align="alignleft" width="200"]Leilah K. Grant, PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Medicine Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School Dr. Grant[/caption] Leilah K. Grant, PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Medicine Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: The prevalence of obesity increases in women around the age of menopause which increases the risk of diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Changes in hormones, like estrogen, are thought to contribute to weight gain during menopause, but other common symptoms of menopause such as sleep interruption may also play a role. While short sleep is known to adversely affect metabolism, little is known about the metabolic consequences of the type of sleep disruption most common in menopausal women – increased nighttime awakenings (i.e., sleep interruption) caused by hot flashes, but no change in overall sleep duration. We therefore did this study to see how an experimental model menopause-related sleep interruption would affect metabolic outcomes that may contribute to weight gain. 

15 Mar

Posted at 22:40h in Author Interviews, Gender Differences, Menopause, Urology
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_56949" align="alignleft" width="150"]Lin Yang, PhD Research Scientist/Epidemiologist Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research  Cancer Care Alberta | Alberta Health Services | Canada Adjunct Assistant Professor Departments of Oncology and Community Health Sciences University of Calgary | Canada  Dr. Lin Yang[/caption] Lin Yang, PhD Research Scientist/Epidemiologist Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research Cancer Care Alberta | Alberta Health Services | Canada Adjunct Assistant Professor Departments of Oncology and Community Health Sciences University of Calgary | Canada  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Urinary incontinence disproportionately affects women. Urinary incontinence results in significant physical, social, and psychological adverse consequences that impair women’s quality of life and contribute to considerable healthcare costs. At the moment, the contemporary prevalence and recent trends in urinary incontinence in US women are unknown. More importantly, there is a growing awareness that urinary incontinence is not part of normal aging, but very little information is available to inform prevention strategies. Therefore, we were also interested in exploring correlates of urinary incontinence in a population-based sample of US women.

04 Mar

Posted at 01:47h in Author Interviews, Heart Disease, MD Anderson, Menopause, University of Pittsburgh, Weight Research
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_56828" align="alignleft" width="160"]Samar El Khoudary, PhD, MPH, BPharm, FAHA Associate Professor of Epidemiology University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Dr. El Khoudary[/caption] Samar El Khoudary, PhD, MPH, BPharm, FAHA Associate Professor of Epidemiology University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Research increasingly shows that it isn’t so important how much fat a woman is carrying, which doctors typically measure using weight and BMI, as it is where she is carrying that fat. To investigate this, we looked at 25 years of data on 362 women from Pittsburgh and Chicago who participated in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) Heart study. The women, who were an average age of 51, had their visceral adipose tissue—fat surrounding the abdominal organs—measured by CT scan and the thickness of the internal carotid artery lining in their neck measured by ultrasound, at a few points during the study. Carotid artery thickness is an early indicator of heart disease.

05 Jun

Posted at 11:58h in Author Interviews, Endocrinology, Environmental Risks, JCEM, Menopause
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_54464" align="alignleft" width="118"]Ning Ding MPH Ning Ding[/caption] Ning Ding MPH, PhD candidate [caption id="attachment_54465" align="alignleft" width="141"]Sung Kyun Park Sc.D, MPH Dr. Sung Kyun Park[/caption] Sung Kyun Park Sc.D, MPH Associate Professor Department of Epidemiology University of Michigan School of Public Health Ann Arbor, MI 48109  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals’, are a family of synthetic chemicals used in a wide variety of nonstick and waterproof products and firefighting foams. The main issue is that PFAS are everywhere. It has been estimated that 110 million Americans, 1 out of three, may consume drinking water contaminated with PFAS. PFAS are very persistent and once PFAS enter the body, they don't break down and build up in the body over time.

05 Feb

Posted at 21:15h in AHA Journals, Author Interviews, Heart Disease, Menopause, Race/Ethnic Diversity, University of Pittsburgh
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_36295" align="alignleft" width="160"]Samar R. El Khoudary, PhD, MPH, BPharm, FAHA Associate Professor, Epidemiology PITT Public Health Epidemiology Data Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA 15260  Dr. El Khoudary[/caption] Samar R. El Khoudary, M.D., M.P.H. Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Saad Samargandy, M.P.H. Ph.D. Student University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Research findings suggest that women experience adverse changes in multiple clinical measures of their cardiovascular health during the menopause transition period. We were interested in evaluating the timing of critical changes in arterial stiffness and investigating potential racial differences in how arterial stiffness progresses during the menopause transition. Arterial stiffness refers to the elasticity of arteries and it measures the rate at which blood flows through arteries. Stiffer arteries can lead to dysfunction in how well the heart pumps and moves blood, and damage to the heart, kidneys and other organs. We used a subset of data from SWAN Heart, an ancillary study that enrolled women from Pittsburgh and Chicago between 2001 and 2003 and included two examinations of early markers of cardiovascular health over time. Ultimately, 339 women were included in this study, 36% black and the rest white.

28 Oct

Posted at 14:43h in Author Interviews, Exercise - Fitness, Heart Disease, Hip Fractures, JAMA, Menopause
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_51934" align="alignleft" width="140"]Jean Wactawski-Wende PhD Dean, SUNY Distinguished Professor Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health School of Public Health and Health Professions University of Buffalo Dr. Wactawski-Wende[/caption] Jean Wactawski-Wende PhD Dean, SUNY Distinguished Professor Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health School of Public Health and Health Professions University of Buffalo MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?  Response: This study included data from the Women’s Health Initiative, a prospective study of postmenopausal women from across the United States. We assessed physical activity in 77,206 women over an average of 14 years of follow-up. Approximately 1/3 of these women (average age 63.4 years) had at least one fracture occur. Higher physical activity levels were associated with  lower risk of hip and total fracture. Even levels of activity that were moderate, including regular walking and doing household chores, were beneficial. 

25 Sep

Posted at 11:21h in Author Interviews, Cognitive Issues, Menopause
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: John Bark, PhD Student Behavioral Neuroscience Program Department of Psychology University of Illinois at Chicago  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: 80% of women undergoing menopause experience vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.   40-60% of women in menopause experience sleep problem.  Both of these symptoms of menopause have been associated with cognitive difficulties, but to my knowledge, this is the first study to use objective assessments of sleep and vasomotor symptoms to understand their effects on the brain.

18 Sep

Posted at 11:04h in Author Interviews, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Menopause
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr Sopio Tatulashvili Avicenne Hospital Bobigny, FranceDr Sopio Tatulashvili Avicenne Hospital Bobigny, France MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Diabetes and pre-diabetes are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Early screening and the treatment of glucose metabolism disorders could lower the risk of further complications. Furthermore, type 2 diabetes can be prevented. For this purpose, it is of major importance to better identify the risk factors of type 2 diabetes. Hormonal factors are increasingly suspected to play a role in the etiology of type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the associations between various hormonal factors and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes in the large prospective female E3N (Etude Épidémiologique de Femmes de la Mutuelle Générale de L’Education Nationale) cohort study. Based on a very detailed set of information available in 83,799 women from the large prospective E3N cohort study followed for 22 years, we have been able to clarify the relationships between various hormonal factors and type 2 diabetes risk.  

25 Jul

Posted at 18:49h in Author Interviews, JAMA, Menopause, Weight Research
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_50383" align="alignleft" width="128"]Yangbo Sun  MD, PhD Department of Epidemiology University of Iowa Dr. Yangbo Sun[/caption] Yangbo Sun  MD, PhD Department of Epidemiology University of Iowa [caption id="attachment_44215" align="alignleft" width="130"]Wei Bao, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Epidemiology College of Public Health University of Iowa Dr. Wei Bao[/caption] Wei Bao, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology College of Public Health, University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Obesity has become a serious health problem in the United States. Body mass index (BMI) which is calculated as weight (kg)/height (m)2, is the standard measure used to define obesity in clinical and public health guidelines. However, BMI does not distinguish body shape or body fat distribution. Meanwhile central obesity, characterized by relatively high abdominal fat distribution, has been associated with higher risk of mortality, independent of BMI. So for example, two persons with the same BMI of 24 which is considered as “normal weight”, might have different abdominal fat distribution, thus they might be facing different risk of developing disease and mortality. In the most recent obesity management guidelines, measuring central obesity was recommended among people who are either overweight or have class I obesity (BMI 25.0-34.9 kg/m2), but not among people of normal weight. This might send those people with normal weight but with high abdominal fat as well as those public and clinical professionals a wrong message that these people are free of any particular obesity-related risk, while in fact, they are at elevated risk of mortality and might need risk reduction interventions, such as lifestyle modifications and other interventions. So we did this study to evaluate the mortality risk among this neglected group of people. We found that women with normal weight central obesity were at increased risk of mortality.

05 Jul

Posted at 22:44h in Aging, Author Interviews, Cognitive Issues, Gender Differences, Hormone Therapy, JAMA, Menopause, Weight Research
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_50128" align="alignleft" width="144"]Rachel Zsido PhD student Department of Neurology  International Max Planck  Rachel Zsido[/caption] Rachel Zsido PhD student Department of Neurology International Max Planck MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: We integrated measures of brain network structure, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), serum estradiol levels, and cognitive performance from 974 participants in order to shed light on potential mechanisms underlying cognitive health. We believe it is imperative to assess sex-specific risk trajectories in brain aging and cognitive decline, especially given the known sex differences in both VAT accumulation patterns and estradiol fluctuations across the lifespan. Thus, we aimed to answer three questions in men and in women: 1) Does visceral adipose tissue exacerbate the association between age and brain network structure, 2) Does estradiol mitigate the negative association between VAT and brain network structure, and 3) What does this imply for healthy cognitive aging in men and women? 

11 Jan

Posted at 14:42h in Author Interviews, BMJ, Endocrinology, Heart Disease, Hormone Therapy, Menopause, Thromboembolism
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_46894" align="alignleft" width="120"]Yana Vinogradova, PhD Research Fellow Department of Primary Care School of Medicine University of Nottingham University Park, Nottingham Dr. Vinogradova[/caption] Yana Vinogradova, PhD Research Fellow Department of Primary Care School of Medicine University of Nottingham University Park, Nottingham MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?   Response: The study targeted middle age women going through menopause.  This is the stage of life when women naturally reach the end of their reproductive life and their hormones gradually decrease.  Some women experience unpleasant effects such as hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, memory and concentration loss, headaches.  Quality of life may be severely affected.  Hormone replacement therapy uses a class of drugs, which, like all drugs, have side effects.   VTE is a serious side effect which can have a lethal outcome. There are different preparations of hormones available for such women.  Some of them were extensively studied in a large American Trial Women’s Health Initiative and showed the risk of VTE to be twice as high for women who took them.  However, these well-studied drugs are mostly prescribed in America.  The more popular drugs in Europe and the UK have been much less studied, so it was unclear how they compared. 

02 Jan

Posted at 17:44h in Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Chemotherapy, Menopause, Mental Health Research
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_46764" align="alignleft" width="128"]Nicole J. Gervais, Ph.D. Postdoctoral fellow | Einstein lab University of Toronto, Department of Psychology Toronto, ON Dr. Gervais[/caption] Nicole J. Gervais, Ph.D. Postdoctoral fellow | Einstein lab University of Toronto, Department of Psychology Toronto, ON  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?   Response: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) including letrozole are given as an adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer. Women taking this drug have reported a number of symptoms including hot flashes, memory complaints and mood changes. However, not all studies report memory issues. This might be due to the fact that studies in this population are hampered by confounds, such as chemotherapy/radiotherapy, stress and disease stage, all of which can also adversely impact memory. These confounds make it challenging to observe the independent effects of AIs on memory. By using a non-human primate model, we were able to examine the effects of aromatase inhibition on these symptoms as well as brain function without these confounding effects.