Journal
CLIMACTERIC
Volume 24, Issue 4, Pages 321-332Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2021.1892627
Keywords
Menopause; ovarian hormones; estrogens; cognitive complaints; subjective cognitive decline; Alzheimer’ s disease
Categories
Funding
- Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging Phase II [CCNA 049-04]
- Canadian Institute of Health Research [WJP-150643]
- Ontario Brain Institute, Women's Brain Health Initiative Chair
- Wilfred and Joyce Posluns Chair in Women's Brain Health and Aging: Women's Brain Health Initiative [WJP-150643]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Menopause and the loss of ovarian hormones may be associated with cognitive complaints and SCD in women, with studies showing an increase in cognitive complaints during the menopausal transition and reduced working memory and executive function in women taking estrogen-decreasing treatments.
Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and the loss of ovarian hormones after menopause have been independently linked to later-life Alzheimer's disease (AD). The objective of this review was to determine whether menopause and the loss of ovarian hormones contribute to cognitive complaints and SCD in women. This would suggest that SCD at the menopausal transition might be an important marker of eventual cognitive decline and AD. We conducted a literature search using PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science in July 2020. All English-language studies assessing SCD and cognitive complaints with respect to menopause and ovarian hormones were included. A total of 19 studies were included. Studies found that cognitive complaints increased across the menopause transition and were associated with reductions in attention, verbal and working memory, and medial temporal lobe volume. Women taking estrogen-decreasing treatments also had increased cognitive complaints and reduced working memory and executive function. The current literature provides impetus for further research on whether menopause and the loss of ovarian hormones are associated with cognitive complaints and SCD. Clinicians may take particular note of cognitive complaints after menopause or ovarian hormone loss, as they might presage future cognitive decline.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available