Study, 2025
What brain changes do women with PMS and PMDD have?
Brain imaging shows that women with PMS and PMDD have structural and functional differences in their limbic system (the emotion center of the brain), particularly in three areas: the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. These differences may help explain the symptoms.
What they did
Reviewed research using MRI brain imaging to study the brains of women with PMS and PMDD and to look at structural and functional changes.
What they found
Structural and functional abnormalities in the limbic system, particularly in the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. These areas are closely linked to emotion, stress response, and memory.
What it means for you
These brain differences may be a central mechanism behind how PMS and PMDD develop and why they cause emotional and physical symptoms. The limit is that this is a review of existing research, not new data, so the findings depend on the quality of those studies.
3
Brain areas with abnormalities (amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus)
About the study
- Original title
- MRI advances on structural and functional changes in limbic system with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Shanshan Li, Gaoxiong Duan, Demao Deng
- Journal
- Meta-Radiology
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- None. This reviews observational imaging research.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.metrad.2025.100147
Topics
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