According to new data presented at The Menopause Society 2023 Annual Meeting, hot flashes may be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease in menopausal women, especially when they occur during sleep.
More than 80 percent of women will experience this symptom of menopause, which is characterized as the sudden feeling of warmth or intense heat in the upper body, usually over the face, neck, and chest. But researchers found that for women who experience hot flashes and night sweats simultaneously, there might be more serious health concerns for them post-menopause.
The data showed that intense hot flashes are associated with an increase in the C-reactive protein, which is a marker of inflammation and future heart disease, and a blood biomarker that might predict a later diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Behind the data
The study consisted of nearly 250 women between the ages of 45 and 67 who were experiencing symptoms of menopause. They wore one device that monitored their quality of sleep for three nights, and a sweat monitor to record their hot flashes for one night. Following this test, researchers drew blood to examine for specific proteins. What they found was that women who experienced more frequent hot flashes were linked to blood biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease and potential heart disease.
Researchers noted that hot flashes weren’t a cause of Alzheimer’s disease or heart disease, merely an indicator of the possibility of developing either disease in the future. And due to the sleep measurements taken during the testing phase, researchers were able to rule out the role of poor sleep as a cause for Alzheimer’s.
“This is the first study to examine physiologically measured hot flashes in relation to inflammation and adds evidence to a growing body of literature suggesting that hot flashes may signify underlying vascular risk,” lead author Mary Carson, a clinical and bio-health doctoral student in the department of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, told CNN in a statement.
Of individuals who have Alzheimer’s, two in three are women. Some research suggests that this may be caused by decreasing estrogen levels during menopause, and other studies have shown that hot flashes are associated with changes in brain function and a decrease in memory.
Researchers noted the importance of open communication between patients and their doctors about their symptoms, as documenting early signs of hot flashes could lead to prevention of the onset of Alzheimer’s. They also added that each case is unique, and for those experiencing hot flashes should speak with their doctor about steps they can to ensure quality treatment of symptoms.
How to treat hot flashes
While hot flashes and night sweats are a common symptom of perimenopause and menopause, they can cause disrupted sleep and affect your quality of life. There’s no need to suffer through them: There are a range of prescription and nonprescription treatments that you can try. Talk to your health care provider to find the one that’s right for you.
Menopause Hormone Therapy, the use of prescription hormones to replenish declining levels of estrogen in the body, is one of the most effective treatments for hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms of menopause, like vaginal dryness. MHT may also lower your risk of bone loss, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s. Other prescription medications that can help include certain types of antidepressants, as well as a new FDA-approved medication to treat hot flashes.
If your hot flashes are not severe, lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol and caffeine, may be enough to control them. The North American Menopause Society also recommends the following strategies to make sleep easier:
Reduce stress throughout the day, and specifically at night time to help promote restful sleep.
Practice exercises like meditation or yoga during the day to aid in stress relief.
Dress in light, breathable clothes while you sleep.
Use layered bedding that can be easily removed during the night.
If you do wake throughout the night, turn the pillow often so that your head is always resting on a cool surface.
Try different techniques for getting back to sleep, such as meditation, paced respiration, or getting out of bed and reading until you become sleepy.
And if a hot flash does start while you’re sleeping, try “paced respiration”, a slow, deep, abdominal breathing. It’s breathing through your nose and out through your mouth, at a much slower pace than normal, roughly five to seven times per minute.