Overview

• A study published in JAMA Network Open found women in highly vulnerable neighborhoods experience natural menopause about two years earlier than those in less vulnerable areas.
• The research followed nearly 700 women from the Project Viva cohort in eastern Massachusetts over two decades, using geocoded residential data and the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI).
• Socioeconomic status and household composition were identified as primary factors driving earlier menopause onset, while symptom severity was unaffected.
• Earlier menopause is associated with increased risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, and mortality, emphasizing the health implications of these findings.
• Researchers advocate for community-led initiatives and policy measures to address neighborhood disadvantages and potentially delay menopause onset.