Menopause and cognitive impairment: A narrative review of current knowledge
A severe impairment of cognitive function characterizes dementia. Mild cognitive impairment represents a transition between normal cognition and dementia. The frequency of cognitive changes is higher in women than in men. Based on this fact, hormonal factors likely contribute to cognitive decline. In this sense, cognitive complaints are more common near menopause, a phase marked by a decrease in hormone levels, especially estrogen.
Additionally, a tendency toward worsened cognitive performance has been reported in women during menopause. Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, sweating, and dizziness), vaginal dryness, irritability and forgetfulness are common and associated with a progressive decrease in ovarian function and a subsequent reduction in the serum estrogen concentration.
This article reviews the main aspects of menopause and cognition, including the neuroprotective role of estrogen and the relationship between menopausal symptoms and cognitive function.
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This study looked at more than 7,000 women over 60 in the US (NHANES 2005–2020) to understand how the age at menopause relates to depression in later life,…
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3,000 women were followed for 10 years to ask a simple question: does the menopausal transition itself increase the risk of significant anxiety symptoms? What was…
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This long-term study followed 233 women from before menopause to after their final period to see how different types of anxiety relate to hot flushes.…
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This study followed 122 late peri‑ and postmenopausal women (average age 59) to see how their sleep relates to early brain changes that raise the…
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An analysis of whether “moderate” alcohol intake (even within current guidelines) is linked to higher iron in the brain and, in turn, to worse cognitive…
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Age‑related cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease, can be understood as a myelin problem rather than only a “plaques and tangles” problem. Myelin is the fatty insulation around…
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In a small number of animal species, females cease reproducing long before the end of their natural lifespan. A prolonged post‑reproductive life stage is exceptionally…
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Copper has two key properties that are being exploited in consumer and medical device products in the last decade. On the one hand, copper has…
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While osteoporosis and psychological stress occur via differing mechanisms, there are several potential molecular links that exist between a pathological response to stress and the…
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Excess glucocorticoids are well recognised as a cause of osteoporosis; they inhibit osteoblast function and increase osteoblast and osteocyte apoptosis resulting in thinning of the…
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Osteoporosis, a consequence of menopause in the biological cycle of women, emerges with the conclusion of reproductive capabi lities.Hormonal changes during this phase contribute to…
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The purpose of this study was to determine the longitudinal association between menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and urinary N-telopeptide level (NTX) according to menopausal stage. We…
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Objective: To determine whether women with vasomotor symptoms (VMS) have lower bone mineral density (BMD) than women without VMS. Design We analyzed data from baseline…
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Background: Osteocalcin, has high affinity for calcium. In osteoporotic women, deficiency of calcium may lead to lowering of the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals. Thus, in the…
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A severe impairment of cognitive function characterizes dementia. Mild cognitive impairment represents a transition between normal cognition and dementia. The frequency of cognitive changes is…