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Premature menopause can negatively impact cognitive function

In a French population-based study of 4,868 women, researchers found that premature menopause  — occurring at or before the age of 40 years — negatively affects verbal fluency and visual memory later in life.

Participants were tested on cognitive function at baseline and at 2, 4 and 7 years. Women were grouped according to their age and type of menopause (natural, surgical or the result of bilateral oophorectomy, radiation or chemotherapy), and were asked about any past or current hormone therapy use.

According to the study, natural menopause was reported by 79% of the women, 10% reported surgical menopause and 11% reported menopause due to other causes (radiation, chemotherapy or unknown). Around 7.6% of women had premature menopause and 12.8% experienced menopause between ages 41 and 45 years.

The risk for poor performance on verbal fluency and visual memory tests was more than 40% greater among women who reported premature menopause compared with those who reported menopause after age 50 years. Additionally, the risk for decline in psychomotor speed and global cognitive function over 7 years was 30% among women who experienced premature menopause. However, the researchers reported no significant associations between cognitive function and menopause that occurred between the ages of 41 and 50 years.

“With the aging population and the projected increase in the number of postmenopausal women worldwide, it is important to have a better understanding of the long-term effects of a premature menopause on later life cognitive function and the potential benefit from using menopausal HT,” the researchers wrote.

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.