Study Finds Later-Onset Menopause Linked to Lower Heart Disease Risk

New Delhi: A new study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation Research suggests that women who experience menopause later in life have healthier blood vessels, which may lower their risk of heart disease. Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder found that women who stop menstruating at age 55 or later are significantly less likely to suffer heart attacks or strokes in their postmenopausal years.

While women generally have a lower risk of heart disease than men for most of their lives, studies indicate that their risk increases sharply after menopause, eventually surpassing that of men. This latest research provides fresh insights into why later-onset menopause offers a protective effect on vascular health.

“Our study identifies a physiological benefit to later-onset menopause and is one of the first to pinpoint the specific mechanisms behind these advantages,” said lead author Sanna Darvish, a PhD candidate in the Department of Integrative Physiology at the university.

The research team assessed the vascular health of 92 women in the U.S., focusing on a key measure called brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). This metric evaluates how well the main blood vessel in the upper arm expands in response to increased blood flow, which is an indicator of overall vascular function.

Results showed that all postmenopausal women had significantly poorer arterial function than premenopausal women. The study confirmed that menopause accelerates the decline in vascular health, but about 10% of women who experience menopause later in life seem to be partially shielded from this effect.

Senior author Matthew Rossman explained that women in the late-onset menopause group had 24% worse vascular function compared to premenopausal women, whereas those in the normal-onset group experienced a 51% decline. Even five years or more after menopause, the late-onset group retained 44% better vascular function than those who underwent menopause at a typical age.

The study linked this health advantage to better-functioning mitochondria, the energy-producing structures in cells. Women who experienced menopause later had mitochondria that generated fewer harmful free radicals, which contribute to oxidative stress and vascular damage.

Moreover, blood analysis revealed that women in the late-onset group had more favorable levels of 15 different lipid or fat-related metabolites, suggesting improved metabolic health.

“Our findings suggest that women who undergo menopause later may have a natural protection against vascular dysfunction and oxidative stress,” Rossman noted.

The study's findings could pave the way for new heart disease prevention strategies, including dietary or lifestyle interventions aimed at improving vascular health in postmenopausal women. Given that heart disease remains the leading cause of death among women, these insights could be crucial in shaping future treatments and health recommendations.