WOMEN who experience more menopausal symptoms are more likely to later have poorer cognitive function and mild behavioural impairments - both markers of dementia, according to a Canadian study.
Females are known to have a three-fold greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, with the reduction in levels of the hormone estradiol at menopause proposed as a risk factor.
Researchers, led by Zahinoor Ismail of University of Calgary, used data from around 900 post-menopausal women who completed demographic, cognitive, and behavioural assessments.
Participants had an average age of 64 years and an average age at menopause onset of 49 years.
Menopausal symptom burden was assessed by summing the total number (but not severity) of recalled perimenopausal symptoms, including irregular periods, hot flashes, chills, vaginal dryness, weight gain, slowed metabolism, night sweats, sleep problems, mood symptoms, and inattention or forgetfulness.
The study found that women who reported more perimenopausal symptoms had greater cognitive impairment and more mild behavioural impairment symptoms in mid- to late life.
Hormone therapy was not significantly associated with cognitive function but was linked to fewer behavioural symptoms.
The researchers concluded: "Greater menopausal symptom burden may be associated with greater cognitive and behavioural decline in later life, both risk markers of dementia".
"Oestrogen-based hormone therapy may contribute to mitigating clinical symptoms, particularly behavioural symptoms," they added, acknowledging the need for further investigation to confirm the findings in a larger dataset, ideally with a longitudinal design to allow for determination of causality.
Read the paper HERE. KB
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