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Sketchpad Series

Cerebellar-cortical functional connectivity changes across menopausal stages

Poster Session E - Monday, March 31, 2025, 2:30 – 4:30 pm EDT, Back Bay Ballroom/Republic Ballroom

Thamires Naela C. Magalhaes¹ (thamiresncm@tamu.edu), Tracey H. Hicks¹, T. Bryan Jackson², Peter Selly¹, Jessica A. Bernard¹; ¹Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, ²Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center, Nashville

Introduction: Aging impacts men and women differently, as reflected in variations in life expectancy, disease incidence, and prevalence. In women, menopause is marked by significant hormonal fluctuations that can affect brain connectivity and function. This study explores regional cerebellar functional connectivity patterns across menopausal stages, focusing on longitudinal differences across reproductive stage groups. Methods: This study analyzed 138 participants (18 reproductive, 12 early postmenopausal, and 39 late postmenopausal females; 64 males). All underwent neuroimaging, cognitive, and motor assessments. Saliva samples were collected to measure sex hormone levels. After 12 months, 95 participants (14 reproductive, 8 early postmenopausal, and 26 late postmenopausal; 47 males) completed a follow-up assessment. Results: At follow-up, persistent reductions in connectivity with sensorimotor areas were observed across all groups. Notably, the late postmenopausal group demonstrated pronounced compensatory increases in connectivity with higher-order regions, including the cingulate gyrus, lateral occipital cortex, and frontal lobes. Analyses of other cerebellar subregions revealed unique connectivity patterns, differing by group and visit, emphasizing stage-specific functional reorganization and adaptation. Conclusion: We demonstrated distinct connectivity patterns across menopausal stages and over time, indicating dynamic cerebellar-cortical reorganization that may drive cognitive and motor changes during menopause. This dynamic interplay of connectivity changes underscores the nuanced role of sex hormones in shaping brain function and highlights the importance of longitudinal studies in understanding age- and stage-related neural plasticity.

Topic Area: OTHER