Each year, The Elphinstone Review presents the Best Paper Award to the author whose submission the editorial board believes features an original and engaging topic. The selected paper must demonstrate excellence in critical analysis, proper grammar, effective use of sources, and clarity for its intended audience. This year, we are thrilled to announce that the winner of this prestigious award is Caitlin McKenzie, who is currently in her 3rd year of study at Aberdeen University, studying her BSc (hons) in Neuroscience with Psychology. Her academic interests include women’s brain health, with a focus on neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions, as well as translational neuroscience and science communication.
Caitlin's winning article, “Autism and Menopause: A Review”, is a significant contribution to our latest edition. It provides a profound introduction to the impact menopause can have on autistic individuals, and the related gaps in healthcare, research, and outreach. Here’s a quick glimpse of the abstract below:
Menopause is often a significant physiological and psychological transition in a woman’s life, yet little is known about how it affects autistic women. This review synthesises the existing literature on autistic women’s experiences of perimenopause and menopause. A systematic search identified sixty-eight studies, of which nine met the inclusion criteria after screening for relevance, peer review, and accessibility. Five overarching themes were identified. First, autistic traits and menopause symptoms were interrelated, with menopause associated with increased sensory sensitivities, executive function difficulties, and changes in masking behaviours. Autistic women reported greater psychological and physical symptom severity compared with non-autistic peers, including sleep disturbances, headaches, and mood difficulties. Menopause also prompted some participants to recognise previously undiagnosed autistic traits. Mental health challenges, particularly anxiety and depression, were frequently reported, though findings were mixed regarding differences from non-autistic populations. Second, menopause occurred alongside other midlife stressors, such as changes in employment, caregiving responsibilities, and health challenges, which could exacerbate functional difficulties. Third, participants emphasised the importance of social support, yet many described isolation and limited networks, with autistic women particularly affected. Fourth, interactions with healthcare providers were frequently described as challenging, with experiences of dismissal, lack of autism-informed care, and practical barriers to access, contributing to avoidance of help-seeking. Attitudes toward hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were mixed, with uptake influenced by information gaps rather than autism-specific factors. Finally, participants highlighted a lack of accessible, autism-friendly menopause resources, reporting confusion about perimenopause, symptom recognition, and self-management strategies.