The short lifespan of the ovaries also makes them a promising site for experimentation: Researchers believe that extending their function and bringing their survival time more in line with that of other organs could change the course of women’s health, and longevity research as a whole.
Dr Wegrzyn said she hopes the White House initiative, with researchers and start-ups competing for a share of the program’s $100 million budget, will highlight the connection between menopause and longevity and attract more funding and talent to the field.
“If we don’t think about ovarian function as we age, we’re missing out,” says Jennifer Garrison, assistant professor at the Buck Institute on Aging.
How the ovaries are involved in aging
The ovaries act like a control center for “a complex signaling network in a woman’s body,” says Dr. Garrison. They communicate with and influence nearly every other organ through hormones like estrogen and progesterone and other chemicals. Scientists still don’t know exactly how the ovaries do this, but they do know that when they stop working properly, all sorts of problems can occur. In young women, for example, that can manifest as polycystic ovary syndrome, which increases the risk of metabolic disorders, heart disease, mental health issues, and more.
The chemical communication in the ovaries appears to stop once a woman’s eggs are depleted, ultimately triggering menopause, which equates to an increased risk of dementia. Cardiovascular diseaseosteoporosis, and other age-related diseases. The earlier a woman enters this stage of life, the greater her risk of Her risk is higher To develop these conditions, and Her lifespan is shortened In women who have had early menopause because their ovaries have been surgically removed, risk for Chronic illness This suggests that the ovaries may provide some protection for a woman’s overall health even after they stop releasing eggs during menopause, said Stephanie Faubion, PhD, medical director of the Menopause Society, though how they do this is unclear.
