Menopausal symptoms linked to future cognitive issues

Women who experience more menopause symptoms are more likely to later develop poorer cognitive function and mild behavioural impairment linked to dementia, concludes a Canadian study published in the journal PLOS One.

 

Women are known to have a three-fold greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias compared to men. A contributing factor could be the loss of oestradiol (primary form of oestrogen) during menopause. To investigate this further, the researchers focused on 896 postmenopausal women with an average age of 64.2 years and an average age at menopause onset of 49.4 years. The women provided information about their menopausal symptoms, including irregular periods, hot flashes, chills, vaginal dryness, weight gain, slowed metabolism, night sweats, sleep problems, mood symptoms, inattention or forgetfulness and other symptoms. They also underwent tests assessing cognitive function and neuropsychiatric symptoms (emotional and behavioural changes).

 

Women who experienced more menopausal symptoms reported worse cognitive function and increased neuropsychiatric symptoms as they aged, both of which could indicate a higher risk of dementia. However, those who had used hormone replacement therapy reported fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms in later life, although it did not appear to have the same effect on cognitive function.

 

“These findings suggest menopausal symptom burden may predict susceptibility to dementia,” the researchers concluded.

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