Because more than 24 million people worldwide live with dementia with no cure in sight, much attention is being paid to ways to prevent and delay cognitive impairment. A new study suggests that severe menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and depression, may negatively affect cognitive function in postmenopausal women. The results of the study are published online today in Menopausethe magazine of The Menopause Society.
Combined with our aging population, dementia diagnoses are increasing. It is estimated that 4.6 million new cases are diagnosed each year, which equates to one person being diagnosed with dementia every seven seconds. This means that the number of cases of dementia is expected to double every twenty years, reaching 81.1 million by 2040.
The good news is that medical experts estimate that 40% of cases of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, can be prevented or at least delayed. Due to this fact, there is great interest in identifying risk factors. Recent research has focused on the importance of estradiol in women’s cognitive aging. Because the transition to menopause is marked by a decrease in estrogen, postmenopausal women are at increased risk for dementia.
A new study of nearly 1,300 late postmenopausal women from nine Latin American countries suggests that severe menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, sleep and mood disorders, were linked to cognitive impairment. Whether effectively treating hot flashes with hormone therapy or other approved therapies can help improve cognition in the form of memory, attention, language, and executive functions is unknown.
Based on these results, the researchers concluded that there is a complex interplay between hormonal, lifestyle and sociodemographic factors involved in cognitive health.
Study results are published in the article “Severe Menopausal Symptoms Linked to Cognitive Impairment: An Exploratory Study.”
This study showed a possible link between severe menopausal symptoms and cognitive impairment in midlife women. The results also suggest a protective effect of lower body mass index, higher education level, exercise, use of hormone therapy and sexual activity on cognition, highlighting the potential for targeted interventions to protect and improve cognitive function in menopausal women. retain.
Dr. Stephanie Faubion, Medical Director, The Menopause Society
The Menopause Society (formerly The North American Menopause Society) is committed to empowering healthcare professionals and providing them with the tools and resources to improve women’s health during the transition to menopause and beyond. A leading authority on menopause since 1989, the non-profit, multidisciplinary organization serves as the independent, evidence-based resource for healthcare professionals, researchers, the media and the public, leading the conversation on improving menopause. women’s health and healthcare experiences. For more information, visit menopause.org.