Women who had more hot flashes during sleep had a greater number of brain scan changes. More than 70 percent of women have hot flashes -- a sudden feeling of intense warmth and sweatiness -- while transitioning into menopause. While recent research has shown that hot flashes can be linked to signs of subclinical heart disease, such as changes in the blood vessels, as well as high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels, this study examined the possible connection between hot flashes and brain health.