The Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Function in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review

Poor sleep quality, insufficient sleep quantity, and other sleep disorders frequently emerge during the menopausal transition, with their prevalence increasing in postmenopause, and subsequently affecting cognitive function. This systematic review aims to examine the impact of sleep deprivation on cognitive function (ie, memory, attention, information processing, executive function, and overall cognitive performance) in postmenopausal women.

The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the guidelines set by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Out of a total of 795 studies identified in databases PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycInfo, 19 studies meeting the specified PECO criteria were included. The search was restricted to articles published from 2014 to 2024. The quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the Adjusted Downs and Black Quality Assessment Checklist.

The results of this systematic review show that sleep deprivation negatively affects the overall cognitive health of postmenopausal women. Short (<6 hours) or excessively long (>8 hours) sleep was associated with problems in maintaining attention or slower information processing. Women with insufficient sleep were more susceptible to cognitive impairments compared to those with optimal sleep duration (~7 hours), which also worsened their quality of life. These results highlight the importance of early diagnosis and prevention of sleep disorders in women in postmenopause and during the menopausal transition. However, the review has several limitations including different ages of participants, and a wide diversity of assessment tools used to measure both cognitive function and sleep quality in included studies.

Sleep deprivation has a negative impact on cognitive health in postmenopausal women. Early identification and management of sleep problems may support cognitive function and improve quality of life after the menopausal transition.