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Cognitive symptoms during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause
1University of Washington, Family and Child Nursing, Seattle, USA.
Summary
Cognitive symptoms like forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating during menopause are not significantly linked to menopausal transition factors. Age and contextual factors, rather than hormonal changes, may influence these cognitive changes in women.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Women's Health
Background:
- Cognitive symptoms, such as forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating, are commonly reported during the menopausal transition (MT).
- Understanding the factors influencing these cognitive changes is crucial for women's well-being during midlife.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between various factors and cognitive symptoms (forgetting, difficulty concentrating) during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause.
- To examine the influence of age, MT-related factors, other symptoms, health, stress, and social factors on cognitive function.
Main Methods:
- A subset of the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study (n=292) provided data across late reproductive, early/late MT, and postmenopause stages.
- Multilevel modeling analyzed cognitive symptoms using menstrual calendars, health questionnaires, urine samples (hormones, stress markers), and symptom diaries.
Main Results:
- Age, anxiety, depressed mood, night-time awakening, perceived stress, perceived health, and employment were significantly related to difficulty concentrating.
- Age, hot flushes, anxiety, depressed mood, perceived stress, perceived health, and history of sexual abuse were the best predictors of forgetfulness.
Conclusions:
- Menopausal transition-related factors were not significantly associated with difficulty concentrating or forgetfulness.
- Women's age and the context of their menopausal transition are important considerations for understanding cognitive symptoms.
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