Mysterious RNA led scientists to a hidden layer of cancer

 

The journey began with T3p, a small RNA molecule detected in breast cancer but not in normal tissue. When it was first described in 2018, it stood out as unusual. That initial finding launched a six-year effort to systematically identify similar orphan non-coding RNAs (oncRNAs) across major cancer types, determine which ones actively contribute to disease, and test whether they could help monitor patients using simple blood tests.

In our newly published study, we describe how this work progressed from analyzing large cancer genome datasets to developing machine learning models, conducting large-scale functional experiments in mice, and ultimately confirming the clinical relevance of these RNAs in nearly 200 breast cancer patients using blood samples.

Cancer-Specific OncRNAs Are Widespread

One of the first major discoveries was that this phenomenon was not limited to breast cancer. By examining small RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas across 32 different cancer types, we identified approximately 260,000 cancer-specific small RNAs. We refer to these molecules as oncRNAs, and they were present across every cancer type analyzed.

Their distribution was not random. Each cancer type displayed its own distinct oncRNA expression pattern. Lung cancers, for example, showed a different set of oncRNAs compared with breast cancers. Using these patterns, machine learning models were able to classify cancer types with 90.9% accuracy. When tested in a separate group of 938 tumors, classification accuracy remained high at 82.1%.

Differences also emerged within individual cancers. Basal breast tumors showed oncRNA patterns distinct from luminal tumors, suggesting additional subtypes that may not yet be fully defined. These findings indicate that oncRNAs reflect fundamental aspects of cancer cell state. Patterns of oncRNA presence and absence function as "digital molecular barcodes" that capture cancer identity at multiple levels, including tumor type, subtype, and cellular state.

Some OncRNAs Actively Drive Tumor Growth

Although oncRNAs serve as powerful biomarkers, we also wanted to understand whether some of them directly influence cancer progression. Specifically, we asked whether cancer cells could use these newly emerged RNA molecules to activate oncogenic pathways.

To test this, we created screening libraries containing about 400 oncRNAs from breast, colon, lung, and prostate tumors. These RNAs were introduced into cancer cells using lentiviral vectors. In half of the cases, we increased oncRNA expression. In the other half, we reduced expression using "Tough Decoy" constructs. The modified cells were then implanted into mice to determine which oncRNAs enhanced tumor growth.

Roughly 5% of the oncRNAs produced clear biological effects in xenograft mouse models. Two breast cancer oncRNAs were examined more closely. One triggered epithelial-mesenchymal transition, an essential step in cancer progression and metastasis. The other activated E2F target genes, promoting cell proliferation. Both significantly accelerated tumor growth and increased metastatic colonization in independent cell line models.

When we examined patient tumor data, we found that tumors expressing these same oncRNAs displayed similar pathway changes. Observing consistent biological patterns in TCGA samples and experimental models strengthened our confidence in the findings.

Cancer Cells Release OncRNAs Into the Bloodstream

Perhaps the most clinically important discovery was that cancer cells actively release many of these oncRNAs into the bloodstream. Tracking these circulating RNAs provides insight into how patients are responding to treatment.

We analyzed cell-free RNA from 25 cancer cell lines across 9 tissue types and found that about 30% of oncRNAs are actively secreted. To confirm their clinical relevance, we studied serum samples from 192 breast cancer patients enrolled in the I-SPY 2 neoadjuvant chemotherapy trial. Blood samples were collected before and after treatment, and we calculated the change in total oncRNA burden (ΔoncRNA below).

That single measurement proved highly informative. Patients with high residual oncRNA levels after chemotherapy had nearly 4-fold worse overall survival. This association remained significant even after accounting for standard clinical indicators such as pathologic complete response and residual cancer burden.

This was our most ambitious goal. Although we knew oncRNAs could be detected in blood, it was uncertain whether they would provide meaningful information in real patient samples. Detecting such a strong signal from just 1 milliliter of serum was unexpected.

A New Approach to Monitoring Minimal Residual Disease

These findings address a significant clinical challenge. Monitoring minimal residual disease in breast cancer using markers such as cell-free DNA is difficult because tumors often release very little DNA into the bloodstream, particularly in early stages. RNA-based monitoring may offer an advantage because cancer cells actively secrete RNA rather than passively shedding DNA.

What Comes Next for OncRNA Research

Important biological and clinical questions remain. How do functional oncRNAs exert their effects? Do they interact with proteins or with other RNAs? Could tracking oncRNA changes in real time guide treatment decisions? Might they help detect recurrence earlier or improve patient stratification? Answering these questions will require more extensive research and larger prospective clinical trials.

At the same time, translation is already underway. The discovery that oncRNAs generate cancer-specific signals in blood is moving toward clinical application. We are collaborating with the biotech company Exai Bio (Hani is a co-founder) to develop oncRNA-based diagnostics. The company has been building artificial intelligence models and assembling diverse datasets to improve cancer detection and classification.

Translational research depends on many contributors. When analyzing tens of thousands of samples computationally, it is easy to forget that each one represents a person who volunteered for research, donated blood, and hoped their participation would help others. Honoring those contributions through careful and rigorous science motivates our entire team.

We believe oncRNAs represent a newly recognized class of cancer-emergent molecules that function both as drivers of disease and as biomarkers. By making this resource openly available, we hope to accelerate progress and open new avenues of research in cancer biology.

 

Journal Reference:

1. Jeffrey Wang, Jung Min Suh, Brian J. Woo, Albertas Navickas, Kristle Garcia, Keyi Yin, Lisa Fish, Taylor Cavazos, Benjamin Hänisch, Daniel Markett, Gillian L. Hirst, Lamorna Brown-Swigart, Laura J. Esserman, Laura J. van ‘t Veer, Hani Goodarzi. Systematic annotation of orphan RNAs reveals blood-accessible molecular barcodes of cancer identity and cancer-emergent oncogenic drivers. Cell Reports Medicine, 2026; 102577 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102577 

Courtesy:

Arc Institute. "Mysterious RNA led scientists to a hidden layer of cancer." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 February 2026. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260216084527.htm>.

 

 

This new blood test could detect cancer before it shows up on scans

 

Scientists have designed a powerful light based sensor capable of detecting extremely small amounts of cancer biomarkers in blood. The innovation could eventually allow doctors to identify early warning signs of cancer and other diseases through a routine blood draw.

Biomarkers such as proteins, fragments of DNA, and other molecules can signal whether cancer is present, how it is progressing, or a person's risk of developing it. The difficulty is that in the earliest stages of disease, these markers exist in extremely low concentrations, making them hard to measure with conventional tools.

"Our sensor combines nanostructures made of DNA with quantum dots and CRISPR gene editing technology to detect faint biomarker signals using a light-based approach known as second harmonic generation (SHG)," said research team leader Han Zhang from Shenzhen University in China. "If successful, this approach could help make disease treatments simpler, potentially improve survival rates and lower overall healthcare costs."

In Optica, Optica Publishing Group's journal for high-impact research, Zhang and his team reported that the device detected lung cancer biomarkers in patient samples at sub-attomolar levels. Even when only a few molecules were present, the system produced a clear and measurable signal. Because the platform is programmable, it could potentially be adapted to identify viruses, bacteria, environmental toxins, or biomarkers linked to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

"For early diagnosis, this method holds promise for enabling simple blood screenings for lung cancer before a tumor might be visible on a CT scan," said Zhang. "It could also help advance personalized treatment options by allowing doctors to monitor a patient's biomarker levels daily or weekly to assess drug efficacy, rather than waiting months for imaging results."

Amplification Free Optical Sensing Technology

Most current biomarker tests require chemical amplification to increase tiny molecular signals, which adds time, complexity, and expense. The researchers aimed to create a direct detection strategy that eliminates those additional steps.

The system relies on SHG, a nonlinear optical phenomenon in which incoming light is converted into light with half the wavelength. In this design, SHG takes place on the surface of a two dimensional semiconductor called molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂).

To precisely position the sensing components, the team built DNA tetrahedrons, which are small pyramid shaped nanostructures formed entirely from DNA. These structures hold quantum dots at carefully controlled distances from the MoS₂ surface. The quantum dots intensify the local optical field and boost the SHG signal.

CRISPR-Cas gene editing technology was then incorporated to recognize specific biomarkers. When the Cas12a protein detects its target, it cuts the DNA strands that anchor the quantum dots. This action triggers a measurable drop in the SHG signal. Because SHG produces very little background noise, the system can detect extremely low biomarker concentrations with high sensitivity.

"Instead of viewing DNA only as a biological substance, we use it as programmable building blocks, allowing us to assemble the components of our sensor with nanometer-level precision," said Zhang. "By combining optical nonlinear sensing, which effectively minimizes background noise, with an amplification-free design, our method offers a distinct balance of speed and precision."

Successful Lung Cancer Testing in Human Serum

To evaluate real world performance, the researchers focused on miR-21, a microRNA biomarker associated with lung cancer. After confirming that the device could detect miR-21 in a controlled buffer solution, they tested it using human serum from lung cancer patients to simulate an actual blood test.

"The sensor worked exceptionally well, showing that integrating optics, nanomaterials and biology can be an effective strategy to optimize a device," said Zhang. "The sensor was also highly specific -- ignoring other similar RNA strands and detecting only the lung cancer target."

The next goal is to shrink the optical system. The researchers aim to develop a portable version that could be used at the bedside, in outpatient clinics, or in remote areas with limited medical resources.

Journal Reference:

1. Bowen Du, Xilin Tian, Siyi Han, Yi Liu, Zhi Chen, Yong Liu, Linjun Li, Zheng Xie, Lingfeng Gao, Ke Jiang, Qiao Jiang, Shi Chen, Han Zhang. Sub-attomolar-level biosensing of cancer biomarkers using SHG modulation in DNA-programmable quantum dots/MoS2disordered metasurfaces. Optica, 2026; 13 (2): 319 DOI: 10.1364/OPTICA.577416 

Courtesy:

Optica. "This new blood test could detect cancer before it shows up on scans." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 February 2026. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260216044002.htm>. 

 

 

 

Scientists discover brain switches that clear Alzheimer’s plaques

 

Scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan have identified two brain receptors that help regulate the breakdown of amyloid beta, the protein that builds up in Alzheimer's disease. Their findings suggest it may be possible to develop future medications that are both safer and more affordable than today's antibody based treatments.

Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia and is marked by sticky clumps of amyloid beta (Aβ) forming plaques in the brain. Normally, an enzyme called neprilysin helps clear away Aβ. However, neprilysin activity declines with aging and during the progression of the disease. The research team discovered that two somatostatin receptors, SST1 and SST4, work together to control neprilysin levels in the hippocampus, a region essential for memory. The findings were published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

Boosting the Brain's Natural Defense System

The researchers conducted experiments using genetically modified mice and laboratory grown cells. When both SST1 and SST4 receptors were missing, neprilysin levels dropped. As a result, amyloid beta accumulated and the mice showed memory problems.

The team also tested a compound designed to activate these two receptors. In mice with Alzheimer's-like brain changes, stimulating SST1 and SST4 increased neprilysin levels, reduced amyloid beta buildup, and improved behavior. Importantly, the treatment did not cause serious side effects.

"Our findings show that the brain's own defence against amyloid beta can be strengthened by stimulating these receptors," says Per Nilsson, docent at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet.

Toward Safer and More Affordable Alzheimer's Drugs

Many of the most advanced Alzheimer's therapies currently rely on antibodies. While these treatments can target amyloid, they are extremely expensive and may trigger significant side effects in some patients.

"If we can instead develop small molecules that pass the blood-brain barrier, our hope is that we will be able to treat the disease at a significantly lower cost and without serious side effects," says Per Nilsson.

SST1 and SST4 belong to a large family of proteins known as G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are common drug targets because they are well understood and often respond to medications that can be produced at lower cost and taken in pill form.

The project brought together researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan, and several other international universities. Funding was provided by organizations including the Swedish Research Council, the Hållsten Research Foundation, the Alzheimer's Foundation and the private initiative Innovative ways to fight Alzheimer´s disease -- Leif Lundblad Family and others and RIKEN. The researchers report no conflicts of interest.

Journal Reference:

1. Per Nilsson, Karin Sörgjerd, Naomasa Kakiya, Hiroki Sasaguri, Naoto Watamura, Lovisa Johansson, Makoto Shimozawa, Satoshi Tsubuki, Zhulin Zhou, Raul Loera-Valencia, Risa Takamura, Misaki Sekiguchi, Aline Pegel, Stefan Schulz, Takashi Saito, Nobuhisa Iwata, Bengt Winblad, Takaomi C Saido. Somatostatin receptor subtypes 1 and 4 regulate neprilysin, the major amyloid-β degrading enzyme in brain. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2025; 109 (2): 651 DOI: 10.1177/13872877251392782 

Courtesy:

Karolinska Institutet. "Scientists discover brain switches that clear Alzheimer’s plaques." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 February 2026. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260215225555.htm>. 

 

 

Scientists found a sugar that could defeat deadly superbugs

Researchers in Australia have developed a promising new strategy to combat deadly bacteria that no longer respond to antibiotics. The team engineered antibodies that lock onto a sugar found only on bacterial cells, an approach that could support a new generation of immunotherapies for multidrug resistant infections acquired in hospitals.

The study, published in Nature Chemical Biology, shows that an antibody created in the laboratory was able to eliminate a normally fatal bacterial infection in mice. It works by binding to a distinctive bacterial sugar and alerting the immune system to destroy the invading pathogen.

The project was co led by Professor Richard Payne of the University of Sydney, working with Professor Ethan Goddard Borger at WEHI and Associate Professor Nichollas Scott from the University of Melbourne and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.

Professor Payne is also set to lead the newly announced Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Advanced Peptide and Protein Engineering. This center will build on discoveries like this one to speed the transition from basic research to applications in biotechnology, agriculture, and conservation.

"This study shows what's possible when we combine chemical synthesis with biochemistry, immunology, microbiology and infection biology," Professor Payne said. "By precisely building these bacterial sugars in the lab with synthetic chemistry, we were able to understand their shape at the molecular level and develop antibodies that bind them with high specificity. That opens the door to new ways of treating some devastating drug-resistant bacterial infections."

Why a Bacterial Sugar Is a Unique Target

The antibody developed by the team targets a sugar molecule called pseudaminic acid. Although it resembles sugars found on human cells, this molecule is made only by bacteria. Many dangerous pathogens use it as a key part of their outer surface, helping them survive and evade immune defenses.

Because the human body does not produce this sugar, it offers a highly specific target for developing immunotherapies that avoid harming healthy cells.

Designing a Broad Acting Antibody

To take advantage of this weakness, the researchers first synthesized the bacterial sugar and sugar decorated peptides entirely from scratch. This work allowed them to determine the molecule's exact three dimensional structure and how it appears on bacterial surfaces.

Using this detailed information, the team created what they describe as a "pan-specific" antibody. It can recognize the same sugar across many different bacterial species and strains.

In mouse infection studies, the antibody successfully cleared multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. This bacterium is a well known cause of hospital acquired pneumonia and bloodstream infections and is especially difficult to treat.

"Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is a critical threat faced in modern healthcare facilities across the globe," Professor Goddard-Borger said. "It is not uncommon for infections to resist even last-line antibiotics. Our work serves as a powerful proof-of-concept experiment that opens the door to the development of new life-saving passive immunotherapies."

How Passive Immunotherapy Could Protect Patients

Passive immunotherapy involves giving patients ready made antibodies to quickly control an infection, rather than waiting for the body's adaptive immune system to respond. This approach can be used both to treat active infections and to prevent them.

In hospital settings, it could be used to protect vulnerable patients in intensive care units who are at high risk from drug resistant bacteria.

Associate Professor Scott noted that the antibodies also offer an important new way to study how bacteria cause disease.

"These sugars are central to bacterial virulence, but they've been very hard to study," he said. "Having antibodies that can selectively recognise them lets us map where they appear and how they change across different pathogens. That knowledge feeds directly into better diagnostics and therapies."

Moving Toward Clinical Use

Over the next five years, the team plans to turn these findings into antibody treatments ready for use in the clinic, with a focus on multidrug resistant A. baumannii. Achieving this goal would remove one of the most dangerous members of the ESKAPE pathogens and mark a significant step forward in the global effort to fight antimicrobial resistance.

"This is exactly the kind of breakthrough the new ARC Centre of Excellence is designed to enable," Professor Payne said. "Our goal is to turn fundamental molecular insight into real-world solutions that protect the most vulnerable people in our healthcare system."

The authors declare no competing interests. Funding was received from the National Health and Medical Research Council; Australian Research Council; National Institutes of Health; the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Victorian State Government. Researchers acknowledge support of the Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility at the Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute.

All animal handling and procedures were conducted in compliance with the University of Melbourne guidelines and approved by the University of Melbourne Animal Ethics Committee (application ID 29017). 

Journal Reference:

1. Arthur H. Tang, Niccolay Madiedo Soler, Kristian I. Karlic, Leo Corcilius, Caitlin E. Clarke-Shepperson, Christopher Lehmann, Aleksandra W. Debowski, Ashleigh L. Dale, Lauren Zavan, Michelle Cielesh, Adedunmola P. Adewale, Karen D. Moulton, Lucy Li, Chenzheng Guan, Christopher McCrory, Maria Kaparakis-Liaskos, Benjamin P. Howden, Norelle L. Sherry, Ruohan Wei, Xuechen Li, Ruth M. Hall, Johanna J. Kenyon, Linda M. Wakim, Francesca L. Short, Danielle H. Dube, Stuart J. Cordwell, Mark Larance, Keith A. Stubbs, Glen P. Carter, Nichollas E. Scott, Ethan D. Goddard-Borger, Richard J. Payne. Uncovering bacterial pseudaminylation with pan-specific antibody tools. Nature Chemical Biology, 2026; DOI: 10.1038/s41589-025-02114-9 

Courtesy: 

University of Sydney. "Scientists found a sugar that could defeat deadly superbugs." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 February 2026. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206020850.htm>.

 

A hidden brain effect of prenatal alcohol exposure

 

A new study published in JNeurosci reports how experiences before birth may shape the brain and behavior later in life. Led by Mary Schneider and Alexander Converse at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the interdisciplinary research examined how exposure to alcohol and stress during pregnancy affects rhesus monkey offspring once they reach adulthood.

How Alcohol and Stress Were Studied Before Birth

In the study, pregnant rhesus monkeys were placed into different conditions. Some consumed moderate amounts of alcohol, some were exposed to mild stress, and others experienced both. When the offspring became adults, researchers examined changes in the brain's dopamine system and measured how the animals consumed alcohol.

Both prenatal alcohol exposure and prenatal stress altered the dopamine system in the adult offspring. Monkeys exposed to alcohol before birth also drank alcohol more quickly as adults. Notably, measurements of the dopamine system taken before the animals had any alcohol were able to predict their later drinking behavior. These findings align with evidence from human studies of alcohol use disorder and suggest that certain brain differences may be present even before problematic drinking begins.

Brain Changes That Continue With Drinking

As the adult offspring consumed alcohol, researchers observed additional changes in the dopamine system. These changes influenced how much alcohol each individual drank and differed from one animal to another. The research team suggests that these individualized brain responses to alcohol may help drive the shift from typical drinking patterns to alcohol use disorder in some individuals.

Implications for Pregnancy and Human Health

According to the researchers, the findings reinforce the message that drinking during pregnancy is not advisable, linking prenatal alcohol exposure to unhealthy drinking patterns later in life. While the study did not find a direct association between prenatal stress and adult drinking behavior, the authors note that prenatal stress may still affect other behaviors not examined in this work.

The researchers also emphasize that their experimental design closely reflects how prenatal alcohol exposure and stress occur in humans. This strengthens the clinical relevance of the findings and helps bridge the gap between animal research and human health outcomes

Journal Reference:

1. Alexander K. Converse, Elizabeth O. Ahlers, Todd E. Barnhart, Bradley T. Christian, Onofre T. DeJesus, Jonathan W. Engle, James E. Holden, Julie A. Larson, Jeffrey M. Moirano, Dhanabalan Murali, Robert J. Nickles, Leslie M. Resch, Colleen F. Moore, Mary L. Schneider. Prenatal Stress and Prenatal Alcohol Alter the Adult Dopamine System and Alcohol Consumption: Dopamine Drives Drinking Behavior in a Prospective Twenty-Year Longitudinal Experiment with Rhesus Macaques. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2026; e0717252026 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0717-25.2026 

Courtesy:

Society for Neuroscience. "A hidden brain effect of prenatal alcohol exposure." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 February 2026. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206020852.htm>. 

 

 

Menopause linked to grey matter loss in key brain regions

 

New findings from the University of Cambridge suggest that menopause is associated with changes in brain structure, along with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and sleep difficulties. Researchers found reduced grey matter volume in several important brain regions among women who had gone through menopause.

The study, published in Psychological Medicine, also examined the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). While HRT did not appear to prevent these brain or mental health changes, it was associated with a slower decline in reaction speed.

Understanding Menopause and Its Symptoms

Menopause marks the stage of life when a woman's menstrual periods permanently stop due to declining hormone levels. It most commonly occurs between ages 45 and 55 and is often accompanied by symptoms such as hot flushes, low mood, and disrupted sleep. Previous research has also linked menopause to changes in cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, and language.

To help manage menopause related symptoms, particularly depression and sleep problems, many women are prescribed HRT. In England, 15% of women were prescribed HRT in 2023. Despite its widespread use, scientists still have limited insight into how menopause and HRT affect the brain, thinking skills, and mental health.

A Large Study Using UK Biobank Data

To better understand these effects, researchers analyzed data from the UK Biobank involving nearly 125,000 women. Participants were divided into three groups: women who had not yet reached menopause, women who were post-menopause and had never used HRT, and women who were post-menopause and had used HRT.

Participants completed questionnaires about menopause symptoms, mental health, sleep patterns, and overall health. Some also completed cognitive tests measuring memory and reaction time. In addition, around 11,000 women underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, which allowed researchers to examine differences in brain structure.

The average age at menopause among participants was about 49.5 years. Women who were prescribed HRT typically began treatment at around age 49.

Anxiety Depression and Sleep After Menopause

Women who had gone through menopause were more likely than those who had not to seek help from a GP or psychiatrist for anxiety, nervousness, or depression. They also scored higher on depression questionnaires and were more likely to have been prescribed antidepressant medications.

Women in the HRT group showed higher levels of anxiety and depression compared with women who did not use HRT. However, further analysis revealed that these differences were already present before menopause began. According to the researchers, this suggests that some GPs may have prescribed HRT in anticipation that menopause could worsen existing symptoms.

Sleep problems were also more common after menopause. Post-menopausal women were more likely to report insomnia, reduced sleep, and ongoing tiredness. Women using HRT reported feeling the most fatigued of all three groups, even though their total sleep duration did not differ from post-menopausal women who were not taking HRT.

The Importance of Lifestyle and Mental Health Support

Dr. Christelle Langley from the Department of Psychiatry said: "Most women will go through menopause, and it can be a life-changing event, whether they take HRT or not. A healthy lifestyle -- exercising, keeping active and eating a healthy diet, for example -- is particularly important during this period to help mitigate some of its effects.

"We all need to be more sensitive to not only the physical, but also the mental health of women during menopause, however, and recognize when they are struggling. There should be no embarrassment in letting others know what you're going through and asking for help."

Reaction Time Slows While Memory Remains Stable

Menopause was also linked to changes in cognitive performance. Women who were post-menopause and not using HRT showed slower reaction times compared with women who had not yet reached menopause and those who were using HRT. Memory performance did not differ significantly among the three groups.

Dr. Katharina Zühlsdorff from the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge, said: "As we age, our reaction times tend to get slower -- it's just a part of the natural ageing process and it happens to both women and men. You can imagine being asked a question at a quiz -- while you might still arrive at the correct answer as your younger self, younger people would no doubt get there much faster. Menopause seems to accelerate this process, but HRT appears to put the brakes on, slowing the ageing process slightly."

 Journal Reference:

1. Katharina Zuhlsdorff, Christelle Langley, Richard Bethlehem, Varun Warrier, Rafael Romero Garcia, Barbara J Sahakian. Emotional and cognitive effects of menopause and hormone replacement therapy. Psychological Medicine, 2026; 56 DOI: 10.1017/S0033291725102845 

Courtesy:

 University of Cambridge. "Menopause linked to grey matter loss in key brain regions." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 February 2026. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260207092904.htm>.