May 26th 2009
Scientists have found up to 20 genetic variations that bring forward the menopause for a woman, a European conference was told. The variations were found in four different places on two chromosomes, 19 and 20.The findings came from an analysis of the genes of more than 10,000 women in Britain, the USA, the Netherlands, Iceland and Italy. Researcher Lisette Stolk, from Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands, said: "We know that ten years before menopause women are much less fertile, and five years before many are infertile.
"In Western countries, where women tend to have children later in life and closer to menopause, age at menopause can be an important factor in whether or not a particular woman is able to become a mother." A second study published last night warns that women approaching the menopause may suffer loss of learning ability.In the journal Neurology, researchers say the problem surfaces during the period just before the menopause begins - but it is only temporary. The researchers say the problem might be treated by using hormone supplements. Researcher Dr Gail Greendale said: "The good news is that the effect of perimenopause on learning seems to be temporary. Our study found that the amount of learning improved back to premenopausal levels during the postmenopausal stage."
