Severe menopausal symptoms linked to cognitive impairment: an exploratory study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Neuroscience
• Gerontology

Background:

• Menopause significantly impacts women's health, with hormonal shifts potentially affecting cognitive function.
• Cognitive decline is a growing concern in aging populations, necessitating research into its contributing factors.
• Understanding the relationship between menopausal symptoms and cognitive health is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the severity of menopausal symptoms and cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women.
• To identify factors that may influence cognitive function in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, observational study involving 1,287 postmenopausal women from nine Latin American countries.
• Menopausal symptoms assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS); cognitive function evaluated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) defined as a MoCA score < 21; logistic regression used to analyze associations.

Main Results:

• 15.3% of women had MCI, exhibiting significantly more intense menopausal symptoms (MRS score 15.24 ± 12.58 vs 10.53 ± 8.84, P < 0.001).
• Severe menopausal symptoms (MRS ≥14) were significantly associated with MCI (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.25-2.42).
• Lower BMI, sexual activity, physical exercise, menopausal hormone therapy use, and higher education were associated with lower odds of MCI.

Conclusions:

• Severe menopausal symptoms are a significant risk factor for cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women.
• Cognitive health in postmenopausal women is influenced by a complex interplay of hormonal, lifestyle, and sociodemographic factors.
• Further research is warranted to explore causal pathways and therapeutic strategies.