The ovaries are involved in far more than just reproduction. The two oval-shaped glands that float on either side of the uterus don’t just produce and release eggs, they also pump out hormones that help keep a person’s heart, bones, brain, and immune system healthy as they age.
A new brain imaging study has scientists concerned that the surgical removal of both ovaries can have overlooked health consequences in the long run.
The analysis included data from more than 1,000 females over the age of 50 in the US. Participants who had both ovaries removed before the age of 40 showed reduced white matter in several parts of their brain compared to 907 females under the age of 50 who had not undergone the same procedure.
The observed changes resembled vascular brain disease more closely than Alzheimer’s, the researchers note, but it’s also true that these are “early, preclinical features of [Alzheimer’s disease] pathology.”
Recent research has found that patients who’ve had both of their ovaries removed before they hit menopause face a higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia later in life.
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While testosterone is often thought of as a male hormone, it is also produced by the ovaries, and it plays a critical role in the female body. The hormone is also linked to white matter integrity in the brain.
If the ovaries are taken out of the body before menopause, the sudden loss of testosterone could have negative effects on the brain’s development.
