New menopause research, Singing for wellbeing, Greenland women, Office romance
Woman's Hour
BBC
4.1 • 3K Ratings
🗓️ 27 January 2026
⏱️ 57 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A large UK study of nearly 125,000 women has found that the menopause can cause a loss of grey matter in women's brains affecting memory and emotions, similar to that seen in Alzheimer's. Published in the journal Psychological Medicine, the researchers say it may help explain why we see almost twice as many cases of dementia in women than in men. Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology Barbara Sahakian, from the University of Cambridge and the senior researcher on the study and Dr Paula Briggs, Consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Health at Liverpool Woman’s NHS Foundation Trust, discuss the findings with Nuala McGovern.
There’s been much discussion about the benefits of singing, but with less singing happening in schools - over half of state secondary school teachers have said that their pupils never sang together in assembly - how do you encourage children and young people to sing and what are the benefits? As the BBC launches Get Singing, a Nationwide music education initiative, we talk to Julia Fraser, the head of Luton Music Service, and Baz Chapman from the Sing Up Foundation.
Laura Dickerman’s first novel Hot Desk is set against the backdrop of the publishing industry over two generations. A couple of editors share a desk in a new office – and eventually fall in love. Laura talks about bookish characters, the romance of women’s friendships and getting published for the first time, aged 62.
Global attention has been focused on Greenland since President Donald Trump repeatedly said the United States should take control of the self-governing region within the Kingdom of Denmark. Despite being around nine times the size of the UK, Greenland has a population of just 57,000 people, with the majority being indigenous Inuits. But beyond the heated geopolitical debates, we want to find out what is life like for women in Greenland today? Tillie Martinussen, a former MP in Greenland, tells us about women's position historically and the issues they face now.
Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Melanie Abbott
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio Podcasts. |
| 0:05.7 | Hello, you're about to listen to a BBC podcast, and I'm Ed Gamble, host of another BBC podcast, The Traitors Uncloaked. |
| 0:12.7 | But my show is available only on BBC Sounds, just like Ellis and John's Saturday bonus episodes, |
| 0:18.2 | The Pop Top Ten podcast with Scott Mills and Rylan, and comedy specials |
| 0:22.2 | from the likes of Harriet Kemsley, Susie Ruffel and Rommashranganathan. However, and maybe I'm biased, |
| 0:27.9 | it's really all about the traitors uncoaked. So for a whole bunch of exclusive scoops and |
| 0:32.6 | podcasts, listen only on BBC Sounds. Hello, I'm Neula McGovern and welcome to Woman's Hour from BBC Radio 4. |
| 0:40.2 | Just to say that for rights reasons, the music in the original radio broadcast has been removed for this podcast. |
| 0:46.7 | Hello and welcome to the programme. |
| 0:48.6 | Well, coming up, your brain and the menopause. |
| 0:51.6 | A new study has found a reduction of grey matter in regions that tend to |
| 0:55.8 | be affected by Alzheimer's disease. The researcher will be with us in just a moment. And we'll have |
| 1:01.4 | Laura Dickerman in studio for her novel, Hot Desk. The book focuses on tension that arises over |
| 1:09.3 | sharing a desk at work that leads to romance. |
| 1:13.0 | Now, historically we know that work is a prime breeding ground for relationships to blossom. |
| 1:17.5 | But I thought, you know, with working from home and all the dating apps that there are, |
| 1:22.4 | that that had all changed. But I was wrong. |
| 1:25.2 | Among young people, it is still a common way to meet a partner. |
| 1:28.9 | 15% have done it just so, according to you, Gov. |
| 1:32.7 | That is more than via dating apps. |
| 1:34.9 | Now, some reports say that workplace romance may have actually increased during the pandemic, |
| 1:40.7 | but we do know they can be precarious and a potential hate-or nightmare |
... |
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