--- title: Do women with PMDD have permanent differences in brain structure? description: Yes. Women with PMDD have thinner brain surface and lower folding patterns than women without PMDD, regardless of menstrual cycle phase. This suggests these a url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cortical-morphology-variations-during-the-menstrual-cycle-in-individuals-with-2024/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD have permanent differences in brain structure? Case-control study, 2024 # Do women with PMDD have permanent differences in brain structure? Yes. Women with PMDD have thinner brain surface and lower folding patterns than women without PMDD, regardless of menstrual cycle phase. This suggests these are stable features of PMDD, not just temporary changes. Moderate study design Women with PMDD and healthy control women ## What they did Women with PMDD and healthy controls had MRI brain scans during two menstrual cycle phases: mid-follicular and late-luteal. Researchers measured cortical thickness, gyrification (brain folding), cortical complexity, and sulcal depth. ## What they found Regardless of menstrual cycle phase, women with PMDD showed thinner cortex (0.3 to 1.1) and lower gyrification (0.4 to 1.0) than controls. All participants showed decreased cortical thickness (0.4 to 1.7) from the mid-follicular to late-luteal phase. Menstrual cycle-specific changes in cortical folding (0.4 to 2.2) were observed in both groups. ## What it means for you PMDD may involve stable brain structure differences that exist regardless of cycle phase, suggesting permanent rather than temporary changes. The effect sizes were small and larger studies are needed to understand whether these are stable markers or develop over time. 0.3-1.1 Cortical thickness in PMDD 0.4-1.0 Gyrification in PMDD 0.4-2.2 Brain folding variation across cycle ## About the study Original title Cortical morphology variations during the menstrual cycle in individuals with and without premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Dubol M, Stiernman L, Sundström-Poromaa I et al. Journal Journal of affective disorders Year 2024 Study design Case-control study What was tested Structural brain imaging at two menstrual cycle phases Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.130](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.130) Original abstract Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is hypothesized to stem from maladaptive neural sensitivity to ovarian steroid hormone fluctuations. Recently, we found thinner cortices in individuals with PMDD, compared to healthy controls, during the symptomatic phase. Here, we aimed at investigating whether such differences illustrate state-like characteristics specific to the symptomatic phase, or trait-like features defining PMDD. Methods: Patients and controls were scanned using structural magnetic resonance imaging during the mid-follicular and late-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Group-by-phase interaction effects on cortical architecture metrics (cortical thickness, gyrification index, cortical complexity, and sulcal depth) were assessed using surface-based morphometry. Results: Independently of menstrual cycle phase, a main effect of diagnostic group on surface metrics was found, primarily illustrating thinner cortices (0.3 1.1) and lower gyrification indices (0.4 1.0) in patients compared to controls. Furthermore, menstrual cycle-specific effects were detected across all participants, depicting a decrease in cortical thickness (0.4 1.7) and region-dependent changes in cortical folding metrics (0.4 2.2) from the mid-follicular to the late luteal phase. Limitations: Small effects (d = 0.3) require a larger sample size to be accurately characterized. Conclusions: These findings provide initial evidence of trait-like cortical characteristics of the brain of individuals with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, together with indications of menstrual cycle-related variations in cortical architecture in patients and controls. Further investigations exploring whether these differences constitute stable vulnerability markers or develop over the years may help understand PMDD etiology. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2026 What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms? Systematic review, 2026 How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together? Systematic review, 2026 Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms? Study, 2026 How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains? Systematic review, 2026 Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle? Systematic review, 2026 How much of PMDD treatment improvement comes from placebo effect? 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