The menopause is an important stage in women's lives, during which the ovaries stop producing eggs and hormones such as oestrogen decrease. This can lead to health problems such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Scientists are therefore trying to better understand why the menopause occurs and how the process is regulated.
A scientist at the Buck Institute is now focusing on studying various animal species to discover how they cope with the ageing of their reproductive system. Because only humans and a few whale species go through a true menopause, she is looking for genetic and molecular differences that might offer protection against premature menopause.
By comparing the genes of long-lived animals that do not experience the menopause, she hopes to find mechanisms that can preserve fertility and health at a later age for longer. Think of improved DNA repair or other cellular-level adaptations that counteract ageing. This knowledge could lead to new treatments with fewer risks than current hormone therapies.
This approach of learning from nature could in future give women more options to decide for themselves when they have children and go through the menopause. This is an important step towards a healthier and more pleasant transition into the second half of life.
Source: Buck Institute
