News
Early menopause is associated with increased risk of dementia
A new international study led by University of Galway has found that entering menopause at an earlier age is associated with an increased risk of dementia. The research also showed that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause appears to be associated with a reduced risk of dementia. The research team from University of Galway
and Boston University carried out the study with 1,329 cognitively healthy women from The Framingham Heart Study - the world’s longest running longitudinal cohort study - to analyse the association between reproductive factors and markers of brain ageing. It found:
l Entering menopause at an earlier age is associated with an increased risk of dementia.
l HRT after menopause appears to be associated with a reduced risk of dementia.
l Greater exposure to oestrogen over the reproductive lifespan was associated with
enhanced cognitive performance and larger brain volumes.
l Having more children, higher blood oestrogen levels and being older at the time of menopause were also associated with better cognitive test performance, specifically better visuospatial skills - the ability to perceive, analyse and mentally manipulate visual and spatial information.
Professor Emer McGrath, lead author and Associate Professor in Medicine, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, University of Galway, and Consultant Neurologist, Galway University Hospital, said: “Our study explored the association between reproductive and hormonal factors across a woman’s lifespan and risk of brain ageing. We looked at neurocognitive and neuroimaging markers from MRI brain scans, as well as cognitive test performance, including tests of memory, reasoning skills and visuospatial skills. We also looked at the future risk of dementia in relation to these reproductive factors. “We found that entering menopause at an earlier age appears to be associated with an increased risk of dementia, while post-menopause hormone replacement therapy appears to be associated with a lower risk of dementia. Although our results suggest positive cognitive benefits of greater lifetime oestrogen exposure, they do require further validation.” Read the full study at:
https://tinyurl.com/
jz2x7ddj Over a quarter of breast cancer doctors set to retire within 5 years
A fifth (19%) of all UK cancer doctors are forecast to retire within five years. But this rises to over a quarter (27%) for cancer doctors who specialise in treating breast tumours – the highest of any cancer site (part of the body where the cancer first started to grow) – putting patient care at risk for one of the most common cancers. These figures come from the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) 2024 Clinical Oncology Workforce Census, completed by all cancer centre leaders, providing the most authoritative picture of the UK cancer workforce.
1 in 7 women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Despite this prevalence, the RCR has found that ten cancer centres each rely on just one clinical oncologist for expertise in one of the four most common cancers – breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate – leaving no clinical oncologist with expertise if those doctors leave,
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I December 2025
retire, or even take a holiday. A chronic shortage of cancer doctors, combined with rising demand for care, has created a cycle of overstretch and burnout that drives more doctors to leave the NHS. Cancer doctors are now leaving the workforce at an average age of 54, down from 59 just a year ago. 7 in 10 cancer centre leaders are
concerned that workforce shortages are affecting patient safety. The outlook for the workforce that diagnoses breast cancer is also worrying. As of 2024, 19% of radiologists are set to retire within five years, but this rises to 23% for radiologists who specialise in breast tumours, and 25% for specialists in cancer imaging. To prevent breast cancer care becoming a postcode lottery, the RCR is calling on the government to train up more cancer doctors and improve working conditions to retain the ones we already have. Dr. Stephen Harden, President of the Royal College of Radiologists, said: “The NHS must ensure that every region has enough doctors specialising in common cancers so that patients everywhere can access timely, high-quality treatment. The forthcoming Cancer Plan is an opportunity to get this right.” For further information, visit: https://
tinyurl.com/hwbv6nka
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Intuitive opens UK training centre
Intuitive, a pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery, has opened its new UK & Ireland headquarters which includes the UK’s largest da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) training centre. The new training facility in Winnersh Triangle,
Reading, has capacity to provide technology training for da Vinci surgical systems to thousands more surgeons. The 21,000 sq. ft site, which triples Intuitive’s local footprint, will host the latest Intuitive technology including the da Vinci 5, Xi and SP Surgical Systems, and the Ion endoluminal system. Intuitive’s Global Professional Education &
Programme Services portfolio is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, with more than 1,300 surgeons in the UK and Ireland trained to use da Vinci surgical systems and more than 89,000 trained worldwide. David Marante, Vice President of Intuitive
UK & Ireland, said: “For 25 years, we’ve had the privilege of supporting hospitals to implement da Vinci RAS programmes in the UK and Ireland, working together to help improve patient outcomes, enhance patient and care team experience, drive productivity, and lower the total cost of care. “Now, with our expanded regional headquarters and training centre, we’re committing to the future - to expand equity of access for patients to quality, minimally invasive care with da Vinci and Ion systems.”
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