Menopause Before 40 can Cause Memory Loss and Cognitive Decline in Old Age: Study

Early menopause is associated with dementia and cognitive decline in women, according to a study.
Western researchers consider 50 as the ideal age for women to have their last menstrual period, but many women in their 40's or much before start experiencing the symptoms of menopause. Experts from the Neuropsychiatry at Hospital La Colombiere in Montpellier, France, found women with premature menopause before 40 are most likely to suffer memory problems and poor verbal and reaction skills. Their study involved 5,000 middle aged women aged 65 on average whose verbal fluency and visual memory skills were tested after two, four and seven years. The testes required the subjects to remember colors, names of animals, recollect a drawing and joining circles with numbers all within 30 seconds.
It was observed participants who reported having early menopause before age 40 scored 40 percent lesser in both tests than women whose menopause occurred during their 50's. The findings also revealed women who underwent premature menopause had one-third reduction in their cognitive skills and reaction time.
"With the ageing population it is important to have a better understanding of the long term effects of a premature menopause on later-life cognitive function," said Pierre Martin Hirsch the editor-in-chief of BJOG. "This study adds to the existing evidence base to suggest premature menopause can have a significant impact on cognitive function in later life which healthcare professionals must be aware of," reports the Telegraph.
In addition, the authors recognized women aged below 40 who choose to have their ovaries removed surgically are equally susceptible to cognitive and mental abilities decline in their later years. Undergoing hormone replacement therapy at the onset of menopause does not ward off the risk of dementia and decline in thinking skills. Although the procedure has significant benefits in improving visual memory, it curbs the verbal skills in older women.
"Both premature surgical menopause and premature ovarian failure, were associated with long-term negative effects on cognitive function, which are not entirely offset by menopausal hormone treatment," Joanne Ryan, study author and researcher at Neuropsychiatry at Hospital La Colombiere, Telegraph reports.
More information is available online in the BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
May 07, 2014 09:40 AM EDT