Menopause Really Does Speed Up Ageing

Women who enter menopause early age faster than others, according to a new study

"For decades scientists have disagreed over whether menopause causes ageing or ageing causes menopause," said Steve Horvath, a professor of human genetics at the David Geffen School of Medicine, in Los Angeles.

"Our study is the first to demonstrate that menopause makes you age faster."

Horvath analysed DNA samples taken from more than 3100 women in a 15-year study of post-menopausal women.

Measuring the biological age of cells from blood, saliva and inside the cheek, Horvath and his team were able to pin down the relationship between chronological age and a woman's biological age.

"Menopause speeds up cellular ageing by an average of 6%," said Horvath.

Woman who entered menopause at 42 would on average be biologically a year older eight years later than women who began menopause at 50.