I don't wish to depress you, but:
I had to have a hysterectomy aged 37.
The one remaining ovary that was supposed to keep producing some hormones quickly abandoned that idea.
So I was on HRT for about 25 years, which at least meant I could work.
It took several determined efforts before I could cope without HRT, but the symptoms are still there.
I hate the brain fog, loss of concentration, inability to make decisions and mood swings, but most of all it's the loss of sleep.
I'm now nearly 74, and feel that the slide from menopause to dementia is going to be seamless.
Has any work been done on any correlation between severity of menopausal symptoms and dementia?