Severe menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women are associated with cognitive impairment, according to new research from The Menopause Society.
The study highlights the interplay between hormonal, lifestyle, and sociodemographic factors and cognitive health and suggests that severe menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and depression, can negatively affect cognitive function in postmenopausal women.
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The findings were published in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.
More than 24 million people around the world are living with dementia, and dementia cases are expected to double every 20 years, reaching over 81 million by 2040. Thus, there is a strong need for research focusing on ways to prevent and delay cognitive impairment. It is estimated that 40% of cases of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, can be prevented or, at minimum, delayed.
Menopause is associated with a decline in oestrogen, and recent studies suggest possible links between oestradiol, a form of oestrogen, and female cognitive ageing. Within this study, the researchers explored the impact of various menopause symptoms, such as hot flushes and menopausal depression, on memory, attention, language, and executive function.
The cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in nine Latin American countries. The survey involved nearly 1,300 late postmenopausal women attending gynaecological consultations. The women, who had an average age of 55, were asked to complete a general questionnaire and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) to assess menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and sleep and mood disturbances. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment was used to evaluate cognitive function as an outcome, and a score of less than 21 was used to define women with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
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The results showed an interplay between hormonal, lifestyle, sociodemographic factors and cognitive health. Nearly three-quarters of the women who took part had a partner, and they had an average of 2.3 children each. Over a third of the women (36.7 per cent) never used menopausal hormone therapy. In terms of lifestyle factors, 50.3 per cent of women had a sedentary lifestyle, and 29.5 per cent had never smoked.
Of the women who exhibited significantly more intense menopausal symptoms, 15.3 per cent had MCI, and statistical techniques revealed a significant association between severe menopausal symptoms (MRS total score ≥14 points) and MCI.
Lower odds of MCI were associated with a lower body mass index, higher levels of physical exercise, the use of menopausal hormone therapy and a higher educational level.
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Dr Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society, said, ‘This study showed a potential link between severe menopause symptoms and cognitive impairment in midlife women. The results also suggest a protective effect of lower body mass index, higher educational level, physical exercise, hormone therapy use, and sexual activity on cognition, highlighting the potential for targeted interventions to protect and preserve cognitive function in menopausal women.’
