Menopausal memory shifts
A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center has identified four distinct cognitive profiles that women may experience during menopause and their associated symptoms. The study, published in the journal Climacteric, was led by Miriam Weber, Ph.D., an associate professor of Neurology and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
The study involved 85 women ages 40-60 who were approaching or at the beginning of menopause. Over a period of up to nine years, these women self-reported menopausal symptoms, had hormone levels measured, and took cognitive tests biannually. Additional authors include Leah Rubin from John Hopkins University, Robert Schroeder, and Pauline Maki from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The research revealed an association between cognitive strengths, such as verbal learning and memory or attention and executive function, and fewer depressive symptoms and hot flashes. On the other hand, cognitive weaknesses were linked to more sleep disturbances and symptoms of depression.
The data led to the identification of four profiles of cognitive function a woman may experience during menopause: normal cognition, weakness in verbal learning and memory, strength in verbal learning and memory, and strength in attention and executive function.
Weber's previous work indicated that some women approaching menopause may experience declines in working memory, but these declines were not directly linked to hormones. This new study adds to the evidence of memory changes that can happen during menopause.
The study's results suggest that some women may exhibit cognitive resilience during menopause, performing better than expected during a time when many experience declines. This could lead to better guidance and treatment for patients experiencing memory issues during menopause.
Moreover, the findings could provide insight into future diagnosis, such as identifying who may be more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease in the future. The research could potentially help identify populations at risk for cognitive issues during menopause and enable prompt interventions.
It is worth noting that women who smoke and are underweight tend to have an earlier menopause, while women who are overweight often have a later menopause. The research was supported by funding from the National Institute on Aging, National Center for Research Resources, and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
The average age of menopause is 51, but it can happen at any time from the 30s to the mid-50s or later. The study's findings could help improve our understanding of the complex interplay between hormonal changes, cognitive function, and menopausal symptoms.
However, the author from the study identifying the four profile formations of cognitive function in women during menopause who belongs to the University of Illinois at Chicago faculty is not mentioned in the provided search results. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore their implications.
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