Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Orthotopic Ovarian Transplantation Procedures to Investigate the Life- and Health-span Influence of Ovarian Senescence in Female Mice
Published on: February 12, 2018
Prospective study of reproductive span and menopausal hormone therapy and cognitive decline over 8 years in the
Namuunaa Juramt1, Jae H Kang1, Dong D Wang1,2
1Department of Medicine, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Objectives:
Higher endogenous estrogen may be associated with better cognition, but associations with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) have been inconsistent, possibly due to differences in the timing of use. This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the associations between reproductive span, as a proxy for endogenous estrogen history, MHT use, and cognitive function.
Methods:
We assessed cognitive change (1995-2008) with four telephone interviews (primary outcome: global composite score average of six test z-scores) in 14,217 Nurses' Health Study participants (mean age 74.3 y) and examined associations with reproductive span ([age at menopause]-[age at menarche]), and MHT use duration, separately by 0-10 years, and 11+ years after menopause.
Results:
A longer reproductive span was associated with better cognitive trajectories (mean annual rate of change difference [95% CI]41-46 vs. ≤33 y=0.008 [0.00005, 0.015]; P-trend=0.02). MHT use 0-10 years postmenopause was associated with faster decline (mean difference8-10 vs. 0 y=-0.007 [-0.016, 0.002]; P-trend=0.02); use during 11+ years postmenopause was not associated.
Conclusions:
Although MHT use was not inversely associated, a longer reproductive span was associated with better cognitive trajectories.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
01:22Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH...
01:28Menopause
01:26Longitudinal Studies
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
01:26Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...