Brain region that triggers hot flashes in menopause identified.
Researchers have identified a region in the brain that may trigger the uncomfortable surges of heat, known as hot flushes, most women experience in the first few years of menopause.
Hot flushes – also called hot flashes – affect millions of people, and not just women. Yet, it is still unclear what causes the episodes of temperature discomfort, often accompanied by profuse sweating.
Now, a team of researchers including Dr Naomi Rance from the University of Arizona College of Medicine, has come closer to understanding the mechanism of hot flushes, a necessary step for potential treatment options.
The team identified a group of brain cells known as KNDy neurons as a likely control switch of hot flushes. KNDy neurons (pronounced “candy”) are located in the hypothalamus, a portion of the brain controlling vital functions that also serves as the switchboard between the central nervous system and hormone signals.