Women who experienced trauma, particularly sexual trauma, showed accelerated white matter brain aging by over three years, a finding that could have profound implications for understanding Alzheimer's disease risk, according to a study presented at the 2024 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Chicago.

The research, based on data from more than 250 women of various ethnicities, examined the relationship between trauma exposure and brain age, focusing on both white and gray matter, as well as Alzheimer's disease biomarkers. The study found that women with greater trauma exposure had significantly older white matter brain age—by over three years compared to those without trauma exposure.

"Prior work has found that childhood trauma is associated with poorer physical and neurocognitive health," says Rebecca Thurston, PhD, Principal Investigator and Director of the Women's Biobehavioral Health Program at the University of Pittsburgh. "However, previous research was largely focused on childhood trauma. How adult trauma, including sexual trauma, relates to women's brain health at midlife is relatively unknown."

Among the different types of traumas evaluated, sexual trauma emerged as particularly detrimental to women's brain health. The study also revealed that greater trauma exposure was associated with adverse blood markers of neuroinflammation and neuronal death, particularly for Black women.

These findings are especially significant given the rising prevalence of Alzheimer's disease. According to the CDC, the number of people living with Alzheimer's disease is projected to nearly triple to 14 million by 2060, with two-thirds of those diagnosed being women.

"Findings underscore that adult trauma, and particularly sexual trauma, is important to women's brain health. They also indicate that Black women may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse brain effects of trauma exposure. These data point to the importance of preventing trauma to support women's brain health as they age," added Dr. Thurston.

"With the number of people living with Alzheimer's disease projected to nearly triple, and with two thirds of those being women, it's imperative we understand the role trauma may play and discuss this with our patients. That's why studies like this one are so valuable," further remarked Stephanie Faubion, MD, medical director for The Menopause Society on the importance of these findings. 

The study's results highlight the potential long-term neurological impacts of trauma exposure and suggest the need for further research into prevention strategies and interventions, particularly for women at higher risk.