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Progesterone and human cognition.

V W Henderson¹

¹a Departments of Health Research & Policy (Epidemiology) and of Neurology & Neurological Sciences , Stanford University , Stanford , CA , USA.

Climacteric : the Journal of the International Menopause Society

|June 2, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Progesterone, a neurosteroid, shows no consistent cognitive effects in most women. Evidence suggests a potential positive impact on verbal memory in early postmenopausal women, but overall clinical significance remains low.

Keywords:

Cognition menopausal hormone therapy menstrual cycle postmenopause pregnancy progesterone progestin progestogen

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Area of Science:

Neuroendocrinology
Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

Progesterone is a key neurosteroid with potential impacts on cognitive function, particularly in women.
Investigating progesterone's role in cognition is relevant across different life stages, including reproductive years, pregnancy, and postmenopause.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and synthesize evidence on the association between progesterone levels and cognitive performance in women.
To examine the effects of progesterone and progestogens in various contexts, including natural cycles, pregnancy, and hormone therapy.

Main Methods:

Analysis of studies correlating peripheral progesterone concentrations with neuropsychological test results.
Comparison of cognitive profiles in women using menopausal hormone therapy with and without progestogens.
Review of findings from clinical trials investigating progesterone's cognitive effects.

Main Results:

No consistent relationship between progesterone levels and cognition in naturally cycling or pregnant women.
Positive associations between progesterone and verbal memory/global cognition in early postmenopausal women not on hormone therapy.
Inconclusive or null findings in older postmenopausal women and potential confounding factors in observational studies of hormone therapy.

Conclusions:

Current evidence does not demonstrate consistent or clinically significant effects of progesterone on cognitive function in women.
The quality of evidence is generally low, highlighting the need for further research.
Progestogen use in hormone therapy may warrant further investigation due to potential confounding factors and reported concerns.