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Memory after menopause: preliminary considerations of hormone influence on cognitive functioning.
1The Alma Unit for Research on Ageing, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia. Carol.Morse@vu.edu.au
Archives of Women'S Mental Health
|June 28, 2005
Summary
Hormone therapy (HT) did not significantly improve cognitive function in postmenopausal women. This study challenges the belief that oestrogen supplements protect against cognitive decline in older women.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Oestrogen influences brain structure and function.
- Previous research on oestrogen and cognitive performance in menopausal women yielded inconsistent results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cognitive effects of hormone therapy (HT) in postmenopausal women.
- To compare cognitive performance among current, past, and never users of HT.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-one community-based Australian postmenopausal women participated.
- Cognitive measures included general, verbal, and visual memory, delayed recall, attention, concentration, and verbal comprehension.
- Demographic, health, and psychological factors were assessed.
Main Results:
- Few significant differences were observed in demographic, health, or psychological profiles among the three HT user groups.
- While never users showed lower verbal memory scores than past users, this difference was not statistically significant after controlling for covariates.
- No significant cognitive benefits of HT were found.
Conclusions:
- The findings question the established notion of oestrogen supplements as a protective measure against cognitive decline in older women.
- Further research is needed to clarify the complex relationship between oestrogen, HT, and cognitive aging.