What your hair and saliva say about your risk for depression and cognitive shortfalls during menopause

Stress affects the body and brain in many ways by causing the endocrine system to increase cortisol levels. These spiked levels can be found throughout the body. A study, presented during the 2023 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Philadelphia September 27–30, suggests that elevated cortisol levels in the hair and saliva may affect cognitive and mental health in late peri/early postmenopausal women.