Language

English

Publication Date

6-1-2025

Journal

Post Reproductive Health

DOI

10.1177/20533691251350518

PMID

40605196

PMCID

PMC12231816

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

7-2-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Sleep is essential for maintaining physical and psychological health, and also cognitive health (referred to as 'brain health'). However, the transition to menopause has a direct impact upon sleep. Sleep disturbances are reported by approximately 40%-60% of menopausal women, and insomnia disorder is also prevalent. Diet-based interventions could potentially be used to improve subjective sleep quality in this population, and although there are several promising interventions which have been used in other groups that could be trialled, the evidence base is currently lacking. One particularly promising area for future research is that these interventions might be used alongside, or instead of, established treatments for insomnia disorder. This may also help to prevent the development of longer-term insomnia disorder. Future studies should use well-controlled, adequately powered, clinical trial designs to assess the effectiveness of dietary interventions in improving subjective sleep quality, treating insomnia disorder, and preventing acute sleep disturbances from progressing to chronic insomnia. Given the strong association between sleep and neurodegeneration, optimizing sleep in menopausal women, using targeted diet-based strategies, may have significant implications for brain health.

Keywords

Humans, Female, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Menopause, Sleep Wake Disorders, Sleep Quality

Published Open-Access

yes

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