I havne't read the links yet: who funded the research and is it Peer reviewed?
If you go to the first link it says at the bottom who funded the research and the journal it appeared in which looks repiutable and I imagine, as such, was peer reviewed. You're right to question any of these headlines which can sometimes be sensational or misrepresent the message!
FayeZ it was a longtudinal study which looked at women over a period of time and cannot demonstrate any causal relationships. I really would not worry but concentrate on doing what you can to keep your brain as active as possible.
I don't know where you are in menopause but if you have been troubled with night swaets for years then HRT will eliminate them in most women - if you are able and willing to take it.
However a more in depth study would be needed to determine whether it is the actual night sweats themselves, or the
potential to have them (even if they are eliminated by HRT), that gives the association. For example I had terrible night sweats and hot flushes before starting HRT at age 54 (now aged 70), but I haven't experienced them for years as I still take HRT.
As Deidre says -
I would imagine loss of estrogen is probably the main cause of a lot of age related conditions in women.
Hurdity x