Associations among age at menopause, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Women's Health

Background:

• Limited evidence exists on menopause's impact on age-related cognitive trajectories and depressive symptoms.
• Investigating the interplay between menopause timing, mood, and cognition is crucial for understanding women's aging brain health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the longitudinal association between age at menopause, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function over two years.
• To identify potential sex-specific differences in these associations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).
• Classified age at menopause into three groups: <40, 40-49, and ≥50 years.
• Employed multilevel panel data regression analysis with 4726 women and 4286 men.

Main Results:

• Later menopause (≥50 years) correlated with fewer depressive symptoms and better cognitive function compared to early menopause (<40 years).
• Men reported fewer depressive symptoms but exhibited worse cognitive function than women with later menopause.
• Early menopause (<40 years) was associated with poorer performance in orientation, immediate, and delayed recall.

Conclusions:

• Early menopause is a significant risk factor for accelerated cognitive decline and increased depressive symptoms.
• Women experiencing menopause before age 40 represent a high-risk group for cognitive impairment.
• Dementia risk reduction strategies should specifically address the needs of women with early menopause.