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Badawy Y, Spector A, Li Z, Desai R. The risk of depression in the menopausal stages: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 2024; 357:126-133. [PMID: 38642901 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For many women, menopause transition can be a period of emotional and physical changes, with different menopausal stages associated with varied risk for depressive symptoms and diagnosis. This review aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses to provide an estimate for the risk of developing a) clinical depression and b) depressive symptoms at different menopausal stages. METHODS We searched Medline, PsycInfo, Embase and Web of Science from inception to July 2023. Seventeen prospective cohort studies with a total of 16061 women were included in the review, and risk of bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool (QUIPS). Seven papers with a total of 9141 participants were included in meta-analyses, using random effects models and pooled odds ratios (OR) calculated for depressive symptoms and diagnoses. RESULTS Perimenopausal women were found to be at a significantly higher risk for depressive symptoms and diagnoses, compared to premenopausal women (OR = 1.40; 95 % CI: 1.21; 1.61, p < .001). We did not find a significantly increased risk for depressive symptoms or diagnoses in post-menopausal, compared to pre-menopausal women. LIMITATIONS Studies used different criteria to classify the menopausal stages and different measures for depression, which may have contributed to the heterogeneity seen in some models. We were unable to include a model that compared peri to post-menopause, due to a lack of longitudinal studies comparing the two stages. CONCLUSIONS The risk of depression in perimenopause, shown in an ethnically diverse sample; highlights the clinical need for screening and support in this potentially vulnerable group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmeen Badawy
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Aimee Spector
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Zishi Li
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Roopal Desai
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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He X, Hou F, Shen X, Zhao D, Zhao X, Qi M, Li P. Individual and additive-effect relationships of menopausal symptoms and subjective cognitive decline among nurses during menopausal transition: a cross-sectional study. Menopause 2024; 31:617-625. [PMID: 38860940 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the individual and additive-effect relationships between menopausal symptoms and subjective cognitive decline among nurses during menopausal transition. METHODS Between February and September 2019, a convenience sampling strategy was used, involving 1,335 Chinese nurses undergoing menopausal transition. A general information survey that included the Subjective Cognitive Decline Scale and the Menopause Rating Scale was completed. Based on a cut-off point of the subjective cognitive decline score of 7.5, the overall sample was divided into mild and severe groups. Propensity score matching was performed to balance covariates of mild and severe subjective cognitive decline. The individual and cumulative effects of menopausal symptoms and subjective cognitive decline were analyzed using binary logistic regression and the Cochran-Armitage trend test, respectively. RESULTS After propensity score matching, none of the parameters showed significant differences between the groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that four menopausal symptoms were closely associated with severe subjective cognitive decline. The Cochran-Armitage trend test indicated odds ratios linking the presence of these symptoms with increased severe subjective cognitive impairment. In addition, nurses simultaneously experiencing two or more core menopausal symptoms were over six times more likely to have severe subjective cognitive decline than nurses experiencing none or one core menopausal symptom during menopausal transition. CONCLUSIONS Individual and additive numbers of menopausal symptoms significantly influenced subjective cognitive decline in nurses during their menopausal transition. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing the cognitive performance of nurses experiencing menopause should consider menopausal symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong He
- From the School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fangyan Hou
- Shandong Youth Political College, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaona Shen
- From the School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Di Zhao
- From the School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhao
- From the School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Meiling Qi
- From the School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ping Li
- From the School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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Mruczyk K, Molska M, Wójciak RW, Śliwicka E, Cisek-Woźniak A. Associated between cognition, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and macronutrients in normal and overweight postmenopausal women. Exp Gerontol 2024; 192:112449. [PMID: 38704127 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2024.112449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
BDNF is a protein associated with cognitive dysfunction. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between BDNF and cognitive functions and the intake of macronutrients in postmenopausal women. For this purpose, 72 postmenopausal women were recruited to the study and divided into two subgroups: overweight/obese and normal weight. Using a 3-day food record, nutrition was assessed. The markers studied were the level of BDNF, which was determined from the venous blood serum collected from women, and selected cognitive functions. We observed that in the normal BMI group macronutrient intake was correlated with BDNF levels, and only total fat and carbohydrate intake were inversely correlated with BDNF levels. There were inverse correlations observed among selected parameters of cognitive functioning. In the Ov/Ob group, macronutrient intake correlated with the BDNF level for several variables, e.g. vice versa with total protein, fat and carbohydrate intake, as well as dietary cholesterol. It has also been noted that there are links between the BDNF factor and excessive body weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Mruczyk
- Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Physical Culture in Gorzów Wlkp., Poznan University of Physical Education, Estkowskiego 13, 66-400 Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland.
| | - Marta Molska
- Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Physical Culture in Gorzów Wlkp., Poznan University of Physical Education, Estkowskiego 13, 66-400 Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland.
| | - Rafał W Wójciak
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Ewa Śliwicka
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Poznan University of Physical Education, Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61-871, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Angelika Cisek-Woźniak
- Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Physical Culture in Gorzów Wlkp., Poznan University of Physical Education, Estkowskiego 13, 66-400 Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland.
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Spector A, Li Z, He L, Badawy Y, Desai R. The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on non-physiological symptoms of menopause: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 2024; 352:460-472. [PMID: 38364979 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.02.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Menopause, a crucial transitioning stage for women, can significantly impact mood and wellbeing. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on non-physiological symptoms of menopause (depression, anxiety, cognition, and quality of life) through systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS Five databases were searched from inception to August 2023 for randomized controlled trials. Pre- and post-test means and standard deviations for groups were extracted and used to calculate effect sizes. The effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) on depression and anxiety were examined by subgroup analysis. RESULTS Thirty studies comprising 3501 women were included. From meta-analysis, mood symptoms significantly benefited from CBT (anxiety: d = -0.22, 95 % CI = -0.35, -0.10; depression: d = -0.33, 95 % CI = -0.45, -0.21) and MBI (anxiety: d = -0.56, 95 % CI = -0.74, -0.39; depression: d = -0.27, 95 % CI = -0.45, -0.09). Psychosocial interventions were also found to significantly improve cognition (d = -0.23, 95 % CI = -0.40, -0.06) and quality of life (d = -0.78, 95 % CI = -0.93, -0.63). Mean total therapy hours ('dose') was lower for CBT (11.3) than MBI (18.6), indicating reduced costs and burden for women. LIMITATIONS Data regarding menopausal status were not collected, limiting our ability to identify the optimal timing of interventions. Potential longer-term, effects of interventions were not investigated. CONCLUSION Our review highlighted the value of psychosocial interventions in improving non-physiological symptoms (particularly depression and anxiety) during menopause, noting the heterogeneity of findings and importance of implementing effective interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Spector
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Zishi Li
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Lexi He
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Yasmeen Badawy
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Roopal Desai
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Wu LY, Hsu HC, Ni LF, Yan YJ, Hwang RJ. Effect of Physical Exercise on Executive Functions Using the Emotional Stroop Task in Perimenopausal Women: A Pilot Study. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:338. [PMID: 38667134 PMCID: PMC11047564 DOI: 10.3390/bs14040338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Exercise has beneficial effects on emotional cognitive control for the majority of the population. However, the impact of exercise on cognitive processes in perimenopausal women remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of aerobic exercise on the cognitive processes of perimenopausal women using an emotional Stroop task (EST). METHOD A quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted involving 14 perimenopausal women (Peri-MG) and 13 healthy young women (YG) who completed an EST before and after an aerobic cycling exercise. Mixed-effects models for repeated measures were used to analyze reaction times (RTs) and error rates (ERs) during emotional word processing (positive, negative, and neutral) for both groups. RESULTS Compared with the YG, the Peri-MG showed significantly shortened RTs for positive and negative emotions (p < 0.05) post-exercise, but not for neutral words. In addition, the Peri-MG exhibited significantly increased ERs for negative words at baseline compared with the YG (p < 0.05), but this difference was not observed during the post-exercise test. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that aerobic exercise can enhance executive control performance in perimenopausal women. The Peri-MG exhibited marked behavioral plasticity in the form of reduced bias to salient cues that were significantly more sensitive to alterations due to exercise. This new evidence enhances the understanding of emotional vulnerability and beneficial susceptibility to exercise in perimenopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Yu Wu
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan; (L.-Y.W.); (L.-F.N.); (Y.-J.Y.)
| | - Hsiu-Chin Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Gerontology and Health Care Management, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan;
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333423, Taiwan
| | - Lee-Fen Ni
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan; (L.-Y.W.); (L.-F.N.); (Y.-J.Y.)
- Department of Nursing, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333423, Taiwan
- Clinical Competency Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jia Yan
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan; (L.-Y.W.); (L.-F.N.); (Y.-J.Y.)
- Intellectual Property Office, MOEA, Taipei City 100210, Taiwan
| | - Ren-Jen Hwang
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan; (L.-Y.W.); (L.-F.N.); (Y.-J.Y.)
- Department of Nursing, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333423, Taiwan
- Clinical Competency Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333424, Taiwan
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Torenvliet C, Groenman AP, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Radhoe TA, Geurts HM. When mind and measurement diverge; the interplay between subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs), objective cognition, age, and depression in autistic adults. Psychiatry Res 2024; 333:115759. [PMID: 38301288 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
While the increased incidence of dementia and subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) suggests that autistic adults may face cognitive challenges at older age, the extent to which SCCs predict (future) cognitive functioning remains uncertain. This uncertainty is complicated by associations with variables like depression. The current study aims to unravel the interplay of age, depression, cognitive performance, and SCCs in autism. Using a large cross-sectional cohort of autistic (n=202) and non-autistic adults (n=247), we analyzed associations of SCCs with age, depression, and cognitive performance across three domains (visual memory, verbal memory, and fluency). Results showed a strong significant association between depression and SCCs in both autistic and non-autistic adults. Cognitive performance was not significantly associated with SCCs, except for a (modest) association between visual memory performance and SCCs in autistic adults only. Follow-up regression tree analysis indicated that depression and being autistic were considerably more predictive of SCCs than objective cognitive performance. Age nor sex was significantly associated with SCCs. These findings indicate that self-reported cognitive functioning does not equal cognitive performance, and should be interpreted with care, especially in individuals with high rates of depression. Longitudinal investigations are needed to understand SCCs' role in dementia and cognitive health in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolien Torenvliet
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Annabeth P Groenman
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Groningen, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands; Accare Child Study Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Tulsi A Radhoe
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Department of Psychology, Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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McLaren S, Seidler K, Neil J. Investigating the Role of 17β-Estradiol on the Serotonergic System, Targeting Soy Isoflavones as a Strategy to Reduce Menopausal Depression: A Mechanistic Review. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN NUTRITION ASSOCIATION 2024; 43:221-235. [PMID: 37695875 DOI: 10.1080/27697061.2023.2255237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Low serotonin is one factor implicated in the development of depression. 17β-estradiol (E2) has been shown to modulate gene expression regulating the neurotransmission of serotonin. Sex hormone levels fluctuate dramatically during the menopausal transition, coinciding with a 14-fold increased risk of depression. This review aimed to examine the effect of soy isoflavones to support decreased and variable E2 levels before and after menopause, linked to an investigation of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the protective influence of E2 on the serotonin pathway. The overall aim of this review is to assess the potential of soy isoflavones to reduce depression in middle-aged women. A systematic literature search was performed in three stages. 1,421 papers were screened for relevance to the research aims and objectives. 63 papers were selected based on pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria (13 reviews, 24 mechanistic and 26 intervention studies) and critically appraised. Available research supported the hypotheses that E2 increases serotonin synthesis and availability through stimulation of tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH-2) and decreased degradation by monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A). There was less scientific agreement on the effects of E2 on serotonin transporter (SERT) and serotonin receptors 1 A and 2 A. Studies varied widely on the effectiveness of soy isoflavones in reducing depressive symptoms in (peri)menopausal women. Animal and human studies acknowledge women's increased risk of depression linked to fluctuating E2 rather than absolute levels. However, mechanisms linking E2 variability with depression remain an underrepresented area of research. Study limitations and heterogeneity may contribute to varying results for soy isoflavones and some effects of E2 on the serotonin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scotti McLaren
- Centre for Nutrition Education and Lifestyle Management (CNELM) and Middlesex University, Wokingham, United Kingdom
| | - Karin Seidler
- Centre for Nutrition Education and Lifestyle Management (CNELM) and Middlesex University, Wokingham, United Kingdom
| | - James Neil
- Centre for Nutrition Education and Lifestyle Management (CNELM) and Middlesex University, Wokingham, United Kingdom
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Kuck MJ, Hogervorst E. Stress, depression, and anxiety: psychological complaints across menopausal stages. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1323743. [PMID: 38455517 PMCID: PMC10917984 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1323743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction With the number of menopausal women projected estimated to reach 1.2 billion by 2030 worldwide, it is critically important to understand how menopause may affect women's emotional well-being and how many women are affected by this. This study aimed to explore (i) the relationship between psychological complaints (depression, anxiety, poor memory) across different menopausal stages and (ii) investigate the correlation between resilience, self-efficacy, and perceived stress levels, with psychological complaints and whether this was associated with menopausal stage and/or age. Methods 287 respondents completed the Menopausal Quality of Life (MenQoL), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and General Self-efficacy (GSE) scales. Parametric and non-parametric analysis were used to analyse how bothered women were by self-reported poor memory and feelings of depression and anxiety, alongside perceived stress, resilience, and self-efficacy between women in different menopausal stages using STRAW criteria. The association between protective factors (self-efficacy and resilience) and psychological complaints was analysed with partial correlation analysis controlling for menopausal stages and/or age. Results A significant difference was found between the levels of perceived stress, and how bothered women were by feelings of depression and anxiety between early-perimenopausal and post-menopausal women. However, with the inclusion of age as a covariate, menopausal stage no longer predicted the level of self-reported stress and anxiety in menopausal women. There was also no difference between poor self-reported memory, or of self-efficacy or resilience between women in different menopausal stages. However, self-efficacy and resilience were associated with how bothered women were by feelings of depression and anxiety, and the experience of stress. Stress was the only variable to be associated with poor self-reported memory independent of age and/or menopausal status. Discussion Early perimenopausal women experienced the highest level of stress and were more severely bothered by feelings of depression and anxiety, with the poorest overall self-reported psychosocial quality of life. Post-menopausal women, however, reported to have similar experiences as premenopausal women. Age explained the associations between menopausal stage, stress and anxiety, but not between depression and different menopausal stages. Resilience and self-efficacy were associated with psychological complaints independent of menopausal stage and age, suggesting that therapies focusing on increasing resilience and self-efficacy may be beneficial to help target these psychological complaints at any time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Jun Kuck
- School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
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Xu Q, Ji M, Huang S, Guo W. Association between serum estradiol levels and cognitive function in older women: a cross-sectional analysis. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1356791. [PMID: 38450384 PMCID: PMC10915044 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1356791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Estradiol is a sex steroid hormone, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship between serum estradiol levels and cognitive performance in older American women. Methods Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014. A total of 731 women aged ≥60 years who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. Serum estradiol levels were measured using the isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS) method developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for routine analysis. All measured serum levels were further divided into three parts: T1, <3.68 pg./mL; T2, 3.68-7.49 pg./mL; T3, >7.49 pg./mL, and analyzed. Participants' cognitive abilities were tested using the Vocabulary Learning Subtest (CERAD), Animal Fluency Test (AFS), and digital symbol substitution test (DSST). Scores for each test were calculated based on the sample mean and standard deviation (SD). To examine the relationship between serum estradiol level tertiles and cognitive scores, multiple linear regression models were developed, controlling for race/ethnicity, education level, hypertension, diabetes, and insomnia. Results The mean age of the participants was 69.57 ± 6.68 years. The non-Hispanic whites were 78.95%, and those who had completed at least some college-level education were 60.62%. The mean BMI of the participants was 29.30 ± 6.79, and 10.85% had a history of smoking. Further, 73.41% did not have a history of alcohol consumption, and 63.03% had hypertension (63.03%). In addition, 81.81 and 88.3% did not have a history of diabetes mellitus and did not have sleep disorders, respectively. The mean serum estradiol level was 8.48 ± 0.77 pg./mL. Multivariate linear regression of the reference group consisting of participants in tertiles of serum estradiol levels revealed that one unit increase in serum estradiol levels increased DSST scores by 0.61 (0.87, 6.34) in the T3 group. However, no significant correlation was found in the CERAD and AFS tests. Conclusion Participants with higher estradiol levels had higher DSST scores and better processing speed, sustained attention, and working memory, suggesting that serum estradiol may serve as a biomarker for cognitive decline in older women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Xu
- Suzhou Wujiang District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Suzhou Wujiang District Second People's Hospital), Suzhou, China
| | - Meng Ji
- Suzhou Wujiang District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Suzhou Wujiang District Second People's Hospital), Suzhou, China
| | - Shicai Huang
- Kunshan Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Hospital, Kunshan, China
| | - Weifeng Guo
- First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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Myers AJ, Potts C, Makarewicz JA, McGee E, Dumas JA. Choline kinase alpha genotype is related to hippocampal brain volume and cognition in postmenopausal women. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23963. [PMID: 38226229 PMCID: PMC10788445 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
This study examined how single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to choline synthesis and metabolism, processes largely regulated by estrogen, influenced hippocampal volume and neuropsychological function following menopause. We investigated the effect of choline kinase alpha (CHKA) genotype on brain volume and neuropsychological performance in postmenopausal women. The effect alleles of certain CHKA SNPs (rs6591331 T, rs10791957 A) are associated with varied responses to choline deficiency and delegation of choline to physiological pathways. The presence of these alleles was hypothesized to correlate with worse cognitive performance in women after menopause. Results from structural MRI scans revealed larger right hippocampal volumes in subjects with a T/T CHKA rs6591331 genotype compared to A/A subjects. Delayed memory scores from the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) were lower in subjects with T/T genotypes compared to those with the A/T genotype and the A/A genotype. Based on these findings, we proposed a CHKA-dependent mechanism present within the brain to compensate for the decreased estrogen and biosynthesized choline associated with menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail J. Myers
- Department of Psychiatry, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, USA
| | - Callum Potts
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, USA
| | - Jenna A. Makarewicz
- Department of Psychiatry, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, USA
| | - Elizabeth McGee
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, USA
| | - Julie A. Dumas
- Department of Psychiatry, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, USA
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Page CE, Soreth B, Metcalf CA, Johnson RL, Duffy KA, Sammel MD, Loughead J, Epperson CN. Natural vs. Surgical Postmenopause and Psychological Symptoms Confound the Effect of Menopause on Executive Functioning Domains of Cognitive Experience. FOCUS (AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC PUBLISHING) 2024; 22:97-108. [PMID: 38694151 PMCID: PMC11058919 DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.23021034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Objective The menopause transition is associated with difficulties in executive function. However, it is unclear whether these difficulties persist past perimenopause. This study investigated whether potential confounders, including natural vs. surgical postmenopause and menopause-related psychological symptoms, influence whether executive dysfunction persists into postmenopause. Study Design A cross-sectional sample of women aged 35-65 years (N = 1971) in one of four groups, premenopause, perimenopause, natural postmenopause, and surgical postmenopause, were surveyed. Participants self-reported executive functioning with the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS), anxiety symptom severity with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and depression symptom severity with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Main Outcome Measures We analyzed the association between group and BADDS scores using linear regression models - first, by controlling for age, education, and self-reported attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis (Model #1) and, second, by further controlling for current difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and depression (Model #2). Results In both models, BADDS scores were significantly elevated (indicating more difficulties in executive function) among women in the perimenopausal and surgical postmenopausal groups compared with those in the premenopausal group. Likewise, the perimenopausal and surgical postmenopausal groups had the highest proportions of participants who reported difficulty sleeping and clinical levels of anxiety and depression. BADDS scores were significantly higher in natural postmenopausal vs. premenopausal women without controlling for difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and depression (Model #1), but not when adjusting for these variables (Model #2). Conclusions The type of menopause and psychological symptoms are important confounders of the relationship between the menopause transition and executive dysfunction, and help explain whether executive dysfunction persists or recovers in postmenopause.Reprinted from Maturitas 2023; 170:64-73, with permission from Elsevier. Copyright © 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe E Page
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Page, Metcalf, Duffy, Sammel, Epperson); Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States (Johnson, Sammel); Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States (Soreth, Loughead); Department of Family Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Epperson)
| | - Brianna Soreth
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Page, Metcalf, Duffy, Sammel, Epperson); Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States (Johnson, Sammel); Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States (Soreth, Loughead); Department of Family Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Epperson)
| | - Christina A Metcalf
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Page, Metcalf, Duffy, Sammel, Epperson); Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States (Johnson, Sammel); Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States (Soreth, Loughead); Department of Family Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Epperson)
| | - Rachel L Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Page, Metcalf, Duffy, Sammel, Epperson); Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States (Johnson, Sammel); Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States (Soreth, Loughead); Department of Family Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Epperson)
| | - Korrina A Duffy
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Page, Metcalf, Duffy, Sammel, Epperson); Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States (Johnson, Sammel); Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States (Soreth, Loughead); Department of Family Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Epperson)
| | - Mary D Sammel
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Page, Metcalf, Duffy, Sammel, Epperson); Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States (Johnson, Sammel); Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States (Soreth, Loughead); Department of Family Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Epperson)
| | - James Loughead
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Page, Metcalf, Duffy, Sammel, Epperson); Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States (Johnson, Sammel); Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States (Soreth, Loughead); Department of Family Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Epperson)
| | - C Neill Epperson
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Page, Metcalf, Duffy, Sammel, Epperson); Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States (Johnson, Sammel); Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States (Soreth, Loughead); Department of Family Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States (Epperson)
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12
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Akhmedova AA, Gorobets LN. [Features of the clinical picture of affective disorders in women during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2024; 124:75-79. [PMID: 38676681 DOI: 10.17116/jnevro202412404175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical and psychopathological features of affective disorders in women in the perimenopausal and early postmenopausal periods. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 90 female patients receiving inpatient psychiatric care for affective disorders, among them 41 patients were perimenopausal (group 1) and 49 were early postmenopausal (group 2). Clinical and psychopathological, psychometric (the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - HADS, the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales - HAM-D and HAM-A, the Hypomania Checklist-32 - HCL-32, the Bipolarity Index (BI), the Insomnia Severity Index - ISI, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - PSQI) and statistical methods were used. RESULTS Symptoms of atypical (63.4%) and anxious (87.8%) depression predominated among perimenopausal patients, and melancholic depression (59.2%) prevailed in early postmenopause. Patients in group 1 had higher anxiety scores on HADS and HAM-A compared to group 2 (p=0.003 and p=0.01). At the same time, early postmenopausal women had higher depression scores on the HADS and HAM-D (p=0.001). ISI and PSQI scores in postmenopause were significantly higher than in perimenopause (p=0.001 and p=0.009). CONCLUSION The clinical features of affective disorders as well as severity and nature of the accompanying sleep disturbances vary depending on the stage of menopause, which must be considered when prescribing additional methods for examination and treatment of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Akhmedova
- Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry - branch of Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow, Russia
| | - L N Gorobets
- Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry - branch of Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow, Russia
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13
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Hamoda H, Sharma A. Premature ovarian insufficiency, early menopause, and induced menopause. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024; 38:101823. [PMID: 37802711 DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2023.101823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a condition in which there is a decline in ovarian function in women who are younger than 40 years resulting in a hypo-oestrogenic state with elevated gonadotrophins and oligomenorrhoea/amenorrhoea. This leads to short term complications of menopausal symptoms and long-term effects on bone and cardiovascular health, cognition as well as the impact of reduced fertility and sexual function associated with this condition. It is managed by sex steroid replacement either with HRT or combined hormonal contraception until the age of natural menopause (51) and this can provide a beneficial role with both symptom control and minimising the long-term adverse effects associated with this condition. Women who undergo a menopause between 40 and 45 years are deemed to have an "early menopause". The limited data available for this group suggest that they also have an increased morbidity if not adequately treated with hormone therapy. As such, women who have an early menopause should be managed in a similar way to those with POI, with the recommendation that they should take HRT at least until the natural age of menopause. This is the same for induced menopause that is caused by medical or surgical treatment that impacts the ovaries. It is important to ensure early diagnosis and access to specialist care to help support and manage these patients to reduce the symptoms and risks of long-term complications. This review looks at the diagnosis, causes, short and long-term complications and management of POI, early and induced menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitham Hamoda
- Clinical Lead Menopause Service, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK.
| | - Angela Sharma
- (GP Partner) Pembridge Villas Surgery, 45 Pembridge Villas, London W11 3EP, UK.
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14
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Anderson C, Bucholc M, McClean PL, Zhang SD. The Potential of a Stratified Approach to Drug Repurposing in Alzheimer's Disease. Biomolecules 2023; 14:11. [PMID: 38275752 PMCID: PMC10813465 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative condition that is characterized by the build-up of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. While multiple theories explaining the aetiology of the disease have been suggested, the underlying cause of the disease is still unknown. Despite this, several modifiable and non-modifiable factors that increase the risk of developing AD have been identified. To date, only eight AD drugs have ever gained regulatory approval, including six symptomatic and two disease-modifying drugs. However, not all are available in all countries and high costs associated with new disease-modifying biologics prevent large proportions of the patient population from accessing them. With the current patient population expected to triple by 2050, it is imperative that new, effective, and affordable drugs become available to patients. Traditional drug development strategies have a 99% failure rate in AD, which is far higher than in other disease areas. Even when a drug does reach the market, additional barriers such as high cost and lack of accessibility prevent patients from benefiting from them. In this review, we discuss how a stratified medicine drug repurposing approach may address some of the limitations and barriers that traditional strategies face in relation to drug development in AD. We believe that novel, stratified drug repurposing studies may expedite the discovery of alternative, effective, and more affordable treatment options for a rapidly expanding patient population in comparison with traditional drug development methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Anderson
- Personalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Altnagelvin Hospital Campus, Ulster University, Glenshane Road, Derry/Londonderry BT47 6SB, UK;
| | - Magda Bucholc
- School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems, Magee Campus, Ulster University, Northland Road, Derry/Londonderry BT48 7JL, UK
| | - Paula L. McClean
- Personalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Altnagelvin Hospital Campus, Ulster University, Glenshane Road, Derry/Londonderry BT47 6SB, UK;
| | - Shu-Dong Zhang
- Personalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Altnagelvin Hospital Campus, Ulster University, Glenshane Road, Derry/Londonderry BT47 6SB, UK;
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15
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Nerattini M, Jett S, Andy C, Carlton C, Zarate C, Boneu C, Battista M, Pahlajani S, Loeb-Zeitlin S, Havryulik Y, Williams S, Christos P, Fink M, Brinton RD, Mosconi L. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of menopause hormone therapy on risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1260427. [PMID: 37937120 PMCID: PMC10625913 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1260427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Despite a large preclinical literature demonstrating neuroprotective effects of estrogen, use of menopausal hormone therapy (HT) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk reduction has been controversial. Herein, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of HT effects on AD and dementia risk. Methods Our systematic search yielded 6 RCT reports (21,065 treated and 20,997 placebo participants) and 45 observational reports (768,866 patient cases and 5.5 million controls). We used fixed and random effect meta-analysis to derive pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (C.I.) from these studies. Results Randomized controlled trials conducted in postmenopausal women ages 65 and older show an increased risk of dementia with HT use compared with placebo [RR = 1.38, 95% C.I. 1.16-1.64, p < 0.001], driven by estrogen-plus-progestogen therapy (EPT) [RR = 1.64, 95% C.I. 1.20-2.25, p = 0.002] and no significant effects of estrogen-only therapy (ET) [RR = 1.19, 95% C.I. 0.92-1.54, p = 0.18]. Conversely, observational studies indicate a reduced risk of AD [RR = 0.78, 95% C.I. 0.64-0.95, p = 0.013] and all-cause dementia [RR = .81, 95% C.I. 0.70-0.94, p = 0.007] with HT use, with protective effects noted with ET [RR = 0.86, 95% C.I. 0.77-0.95, p = 0.002] but not with EPT [RR = 0.910, 95% C.I. 0.775-1.069, p = 0.251]. Stratified analysis of pooled estimates indicates a 32% reduced risk of dementia with midlife ET [RR = 0.685, 95% C.I. 0.513-0.915, p = 0.010] and non-significant reductions with midlife EPT [RR = 0.775, 95% C.I. 0.474-1.266, p = 0.309]. Late-life HT use was associated with increased risk, albeit not significant [EPT: RR = 1.323, 95% C.I. 0.979-1.789, p = 0.069; ET: RR = 1.066, 95% C.I. 0.996-1.140, p = 0.066]. Discussion These findings support renewed research interest in evaluating midlife estrogen therapy for AD risk reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Nerattini
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Steven Jett
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Caroline Andy
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Caroline Carlton
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Camila Zarate
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Camila Boneu
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michael Battista
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Silky Pahlajani
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Susan Loeb-Zeitlin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yelena Havryulik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Schantel Williams
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Paul Christos
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Matthew Fink
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Roberta Diaz Brinton
- Department of Neurology and Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lisa Mosconi
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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16
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DiBiase RM, Gottesman RF, Tom SE, Walker KA, Mosley T, Lutsey PL, Miller EC. Parity and Risk of Dementia in Women: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2023; 32:1031-1040. [PMID: 37615600 PMCID: PMC10541925 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2023.0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Reproductive factors, including parity, may contribute to dementia risk, due to hormonal, physiological, social, and demographic factors. We hypothesized that higher parity would be associated with increased dementia risk. Materials and Methods: We utilized data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) community-based cohort study. Participants were recruited in 1987-1989 and followed through 2017. Participants, all born between 1921 and 1945, were from four U.S. communities in Forsyth County, NC; Jackson, MS; Minneapolis, MN; and Washington County, MD. We included all female participants seen at ARIC visit three or five for whom parity and dementia outcomes were available (N = 7,921). The primary exposure was self-reported number of live births. Our primary outcome was dementia, diagnosed via neurocognitive assessments, informant interviews, and expert adjudication. We created Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the association between parity and incident dementia, adjusting for demographic factors, education level, apolipoprotein E allele status, and vascular risk factors. We tested for interactions by race and birth cohort. Results: The adjusted hazard ratio was 0.82 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.69-0.99) for dementia in women with 0-1 births and 0.85 (95% CI 0.72-0.99) for women with 5+ births, compared to women with 2 births (reference group). This association was present in women born from 1924 to 1934, but not in women born in 1935 or later (p-interaction <0.001). Conclusion: We found an inverted U-shaped association of parity with dementia risk. This effect was modified by birth cohort, suggesting that the association may depend on demographic and sociocultural factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M. DiBiase
- Department of Neurology, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Rebecca F. Gottesman
- Stroke Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah E. Tom
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Keenan A. Walker
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas Mosley
- Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Pamela L. Lutsey
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Eliza C. Miller
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
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17
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Karamitrou EK, Anagnostis P, Vaitsi K, Athanasiadis L, Goulis DG. Early menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency are associated with increased risk of dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Maturitas 2023; 176:107792. [PMID: 37393661 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.107792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Among other risk factors, the decline in estrogen concentrations during menopause may compromise cognitive function. Whether early menopause (EM) is associated with an increased risk of dementia remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to systematically review and meta-analyze current evidence regarding the association between EM or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and the risk of dementia of any type. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted through the PubMed, Scopus and CENTRAL databases up to August 2022. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Associations were calculated as odds ratio (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI). The I2 index was employed for heterogeneity. RESULTS Eleven studies (nine assessed as of good and two as of fair quality) were included in the meta-analysis (n = 4,716,862). Women with EM demonstrated a greater risk of dementia of any type than women of normal age at menopause (OR 1.37, 95 % CI 1.22-1.54; I2 93%). However, after excluding a large retrospective cohort study, the results were altered (OR 1.07, 95 % CI 0.78-1.48; I2 94%). Increased risk of dementia was also found in women with POI (OR 1.18, 95 % CI 1.15-1.21; I2 0%). Subgroup analysis showed that this risk was mostly evident in cohort studies, and those which included women with natural menopause. CONCLUSIONS Women with EM or POI may be at increased risk of dementia compared with women of normal age at menopause, but further research investigating that hypothesis is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni K Karamitrou
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Anagnostis
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Konstantina Vaitsi
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Loukas Athanasiadis
- First Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios G Goulis
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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18
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Iqbal AZ, Wu SK, Zailani H, Chiu WC, Liu WC, Su KP, Lee SD. Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Intake on Vasomotor Symptoms, Sleep Quality and Depression in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2023; 15:4231. [PMID: 37836515 PMCID: PMC10574492 DOI: 10.3390/nu15194231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The menopausal transition is often accompanied with distressing manifestations, such as vasomotor symptoms, sleep disruptions, and depressive syndrome. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have emerged as a potential intervention to alleviate these symptoms. This review aimed to comprehensively assess the impact of n-3 PUFAs supplementation on vasomotor symptoms, sleep quality, and depression among postmenopausal women. We conducted a systematic literature search of randomized controlled trials across the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases from inception to August 2023. Among the initial pool of 163 identified studies, nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into this systematic review. Notably, four studies detected potential benefits of n-3 PUFAs in improving hot flashes and night sweats. On the contrary, sleep quality outcomes displayed heterogeneity across the studies. Incorporating diverse scales, such as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-21, the Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 for depression outcomes, we found inconclusive evidence of n-3 PUFA's impact on depression. Overall, the combined analysis of these studies did not provide substantial evidence to support the efficacy of n-3 PUFAs in improving vasomotor symptoms, sleep quality, and depression. Further well-designed randomized clinical trials with larger participant groups are crucial to validate and generalize these results. Review Registration: PROSPERO registration no: CRD42023421922.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha Zafar Iqbal
- Graduate Institute of Nutrition, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan; (A.Z.I.); (S.-K.W.); (H.Z.)
- Mind-Body Interface Research Center (MBI-Lab), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Suet-Kei Wu
- Graduate Institute of Nutrition, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan; (A.Z.I.); (S.-K.W.); (H.Z.)
- Mind-Body Interface Research Center (MBI-Lab), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Halliru Zailani
- Graduate Institute of Nutrition, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan; (A.Z.I.); (S.-K.W.); (H.Z.)
- Mind-Body Interface Research Center (MBI-Lab), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Che Chiu
- Department of Psychiatry, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei 106, Taiwan;
- School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei 242, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chun Liu
- An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan 709, Taiwan;
| | - Kuan-Pin Su
- Mind-Body Interface Research Center (MBI-Lab), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan
- An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan 709, Taiwan;
- College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Shin-Da Lee
- Ph.D. Program in Healthcare Science, Department of Physical Therapy, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
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19
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Ramli NZ, Yahaya MF, Mohd Fahami NA, Abdul Manan H, Singh M, Damanhuri HA. Brain volumetric changes in menopausal women and its association with cognitive function: a structured review. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1158001. [PMID: 37818479 PMCID: PMC10561270 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1158001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The menopausal transition has been proposed to put women at risk for undesirable neurological symptoms, including cognitive decline. Previous studies suggest that alterations in the hormonal milieu modulate brain structures associated with cognitive function. This structured review provides an overview of the relevant studies that have utilized MRI to report volumetric differences in the brain following menopause, and its correlations with the evaluated cognitive functions. We performed an electronic literature search using Medline (Ovid) and Scopus to identify studies that assessed the influence of menopause on brain structure with MRI. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Brain volumetric differences have been reported most frequently in the frontal and temporal cortices as well as the hippocampus. These regions are important for higher cognitive tasks and memory. Additionally, the deficit in verbal and visuospatial memory in postmenopausal women has been associated with smaller regional brain volumes. Nevertheless, the limited number of eligible studies and cross-sectional study designs warrant further research to draw more robust conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Zuliani Ramli
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Mohamad Fairuz Yahaya
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nur Azlina Mohd Fahami
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hanani Abdul Manan
- Functional Image Processing Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Meharvan Singh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
| | - Hanafi Ahmad Damanhuri
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Kundu S, Acharya SS. Linkage of premature and early menopause with psychosocial well-being: a moderated multiple mediation approach. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:228. [PMID: 37559104 PMCID: PMC10413596 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01267-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Menopause occurring before the age of 40 is premature and between 40 and 44 years age is early, since the natural age of menopause lies between 45 and 50. The endocrine changes that come with menopause include an erratic decline in estrogen levels which affects the brain. Thus, leading to changes in cognitive function in the longer term due to the menopausal transition. The study aims to explore the effect of premature and early menopause on cognitive health, and psychosocial well-being. The moderated multiple mediation hypothesis of the study is that the effect of premature or early menopause is mediated by depression and insomnia, while all the pathways are moderated by smoking habits. DATA AND METHODS The study utilized Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), 2017-2018, Wave 1 data. The sample of 31,435 women were aged 45 and above and did not undergo hysterectomy. A moderated multiple mediation model was used to understand the association between premature or early menopause (X), insomnia (M1), depression (M2), moderator (W), and cognitive health (Y), while controlling for possible confounders. RESULTS Premature menopause was negatively associated with cognition (β:-0.33; SE:0.12; p < 0.05), whereas positively associated with insomnia (β:0.18; SE:0.03; p < 0.001) and depression (β:0.25; SE:0.04; p < 0.001). There is a moderating effect of smoking or tobacco consumption has a significant moderating effect on the pathways among premature menopause, depression, insomnia and cognition. When the same model was carried out for early menopause (40-44 years), the results were not significant. CONCLUSIONS The findings emphasize the fact that smoking is associated with premature menopause, depression and insomnia. Women who experienced premature menopause has lower cognitive scores, depressive symptoms and insomnia symptoms, which were higher among those who consumed tobacco. The study, strongly recommends the dissemination of information on the negative effects of tobacco consumption and making more informed choices to maintain a healthy life. More research into various methods and therapy is needed to determine the relationship between the age of early menopause and their psychosocial well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sampurna Kundu
- Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, 110067, India.
| | - Sanghmitra Sheel Acharya
- Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, 110067, India
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21
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Bernaud VE, Koebele SV, Northup-Smith SN, Willeman MN, Barker C, Schatzki-Lumpkin A, Sanchez MV, Bimonte-Nelson HA. Evaluations of memory, anxiety, and the growth factor IGF-1R after post-surgical menopause treatment with a highly selective progestin. Behav Brain Res 2023; 448:114442. [PMID: 37085118 PMCID: PMC11105077 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Progestogens are a key component of menopausal hormone therapies. While some progestogens can be detrimental to cognition, there is preclinical evidence that progestogens with a strong progesterone-receptor affinity benefit some molecular mechanisms believed to underlie cognitive function. Thus, a progestin that maximizes progesterone-receptor affinity and minimizes affinities to other receptors may be cognitively beneficial. We evaluated segesterone-acetate (SGA), a 19-norprogesterone derivative with a strong progesterone-receptor affinity and no androgenic or estrogenic-receptor activity, hypothesizing that it would enhance cognition. Middle-aged rats underwent Sham or Ovariectomy (Ovx) surgery followed by administration of medroxyprogesterone-acetate (MPA; used as a positive control as we have previously shown MPA-induced cognitive deficits), SGA (low or high dose), or vehicle (one Sham and one Ovx group). Spatial working and reference memory, delayed retention, and anxiety-like behavior were assessed, as were memory- and hormone- related protein assays within the frontal cortex, dorsal hippocampus, and entorhinal cortex. Low-dose SGA impaired spatial working memory, while high-dose SGA had a more extensive detrimental impact, negatively affecting spatial reference memory and delayed retention. Replicating previous findings, MPA impaired spatial reference memory and delayed retention. SGA, but not MPA, alleviated Ovx-induced anxiety-like behaviors. On two working memory measures, IGF-1R expression correlated with better working memory only in rats without hormone manipulation; any hormone manipulation or combination of hormone manipulations used herein altered this relationship. These findings suggest that SGA impairs spatial cognition after surgical menopause, and that surgical menopause with or without progestin administration disrupts relationships between a growth factor critical to neuroplasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria E Bernaud
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, 950 S. McAllister Ave., Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Stephanie V Koebele
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, 950 S. McAllister Ave., Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Steven N Northup-Smith
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, 950 S. McAllister Ave., Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Mari N Willeman
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, 950 S. McAllister Ave., Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA; TGen Institute, 445 N 5th St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Charlotte Barker
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, 950 S. McAllister Ave., Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Alex Schatzki-Lumpkin
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, 950 S. McAllister Ave., Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Maria Valenzuela Sanchez
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, 950 S. McAllister Ave., Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
| | - Heather A Bimonte-Nelson
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, 950 S. McAllister Ave., Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, 4745 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA.
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22
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Maitreyee R, Varley R, Cowell PE. Verbal ability in postmenopausal women in relation to age, cognitive and reproductive factors. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2023; 238:103963. [PMID: 37364371 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.103963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Word-finding difficulties have been associated with age and, in women, lowered sex hormone levels following menopause. However, there is limited understanding of the ways that specific aspects of word-finding are shaped by women's age, reproductive histories, and background factors such as education. The current study investigated the effects of age, cognitive and reproductive factors on word-finding abilities in 53 healthy postmenopausal women aged 48-79. A questionnaire was used to gather demographic information and reproductive history. A battery of verbal fluency, continuous series, and naming tasks was designed to assess word-finding across different sensory modalities and cognitive demands. Category and letter fluency were quantified as total number of correct words produced on each task. For continuous series, switch rates and switch costs were computed. For the naming tasks, accuracy and latency measures were used. There were three key findings. Firstly, there was a consistent positive association between education and all word-finding measures, i.e., verbal fluency, continuous series, and naming. Secondly, age-related declines were seen on tasks heavily dependent on working memory such as the continuous series task. Thirdly, reproductive factors across the lifespan such as age at menarche and reproductive years showed subtle effects on naming abilities, but not on verbal fluency or continuous series. The results highlight that word-finding abilities in healthy postmenopausal women are shaped by factors associated with their early years (education, age at menarche) and later adult life (age, reproductive years). The study also distinguished between the more global effects of education, and the more task-specific associations with age and reproductive variables, on verbal task performance after menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Maitreyee
- Division of Human Communication Sciences, Health Sciences School, The University of Sheffield, 362 Mushroom Lane, Sheffield S10 2TS, United Kingdom.
| | - Rosemary Varley
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, UCL, 313, Chandler House, 2 Wakefield Street, London WC1N 1PF, United Kingdom.
| | - Patricia E Cowell
- Division of Human Communication Sciences, Health Sciences School, The University of Sheffield, 362 Mushroom Lane, Sheffield S10 2TS, United Kingdom.
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23
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Jeong GC, An JS, Shin SH. Mediating Effect of Quality of Sleep Moderated by Meaning in Life on the Relationship between Hwabyung and Suicidal Ideation in Middle-Aged Korean Women. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:509. [PMID: 37366761 DOI: 10.3390/bs13060509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the quality of sleep and meaning in life in the process by which Hwabyung symptoms affect suicidal ideation in middle-aged Korean women. A total of 265 women aged 40-65 years were enrolled in an online survey. The study variables were measured using the Hwabyung, quality of sleep, meaning in life, and suicidal ideation scales. The data were analyzed using the PROCESS Procedure for SPSS Release 3.5 (Model 14) program with a 95% bias-corrected bootstrap confidence interval. Hwabyung symptoms in middle-aged women had a significant direct effect on suicidal ideation, and an indirect effect through the quality of sleep was also statistically significant. Meaning in life was found to significantly moderate the indirect effect of Hwabyung on suicidal ideation through the quality of sleep. In other words, the greater the meaning in life, the weaker the effect of Hwabyung on suicidal ideation through the quality of sleep. The Hwabyung of middle-aged women caused a psychological crisis and was a great threat to physical health by lowering the quality of sleep. The low quality of sleep and the increase in suicidal ideation due to Hwabyung pose a great threat to the survival of middle-aged women. It was found that it is very important to find meaning in one's life as an effective way to reduce suicidal ideation in middle-aged women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goo-Churl Jeong
- Department of Counselling Psychology, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Sun An
- Department of Counselling Psychology, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Hwa Shin
- Nursing Department, College of Nursing, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
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24
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Yıldız M, Demirhan A, Gökçay G, Polat F. The relationship between cyberchondria levels, attitudes towards menopause and menopausal complaints of women in the climacteric period: Analysis with data mining. WOMENS STUDIES INTERNATIONAL FORUM 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wsif.2023.102701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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25
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Page CE, Soreth B, Metcalf CA, Johnson RL, Duffy KA, Sammel MD, Loughead J, Epperson CN. Natural vs. surgical postmenopause and psychological symptoms confound the effect of menopause on executive functioning domains of cognitive experience. Maturitas 2023; 170:64-73. [PMID: 36806931 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The menopause transition is associated with difficulties in executive function. However, it is unclear whether these difficulties persist past perimenopause. This study investigated whether potential confounders, including natural vs. surgical postmenopause and menopause-related psychological symptoms, influence whether executive dysfunction persists into postmenopause. STUDY DESIGN A cross-sectional sample of women aged 35-65 years (N = 1971) in one of four groups, premenopause, perimenopause, natural postmenopause, and surgical postmenopause, were surveyed. Participants self-reported executive functioning with the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS), anxiety symptom severity with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and depression symptom severity with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We analyzed the association between group and BADDS scores using linear regression models - first, by controlling for age, education, and self-reported attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis (Model #1) and, second, by further controlling for current difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and depression (Model #2). RESULTS In both models, BADDS scores were significantly elevated (indicating more difficulties in executive function) among women in the perimenopausal and surgical postmenopausal groups compared with those in the premenopausal group. Likewise, the perimenopausal and surgical postmenopausal groups had the highest proportions of participants who reported difficulty sleeping and clinical levels of anxiety and depression. BADDS scores were significantly higher in natural postmenopausal vs. premenopausal women without controlling for difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and depression (Model #1), but not when adjusting for these variables (Model #2). CONCLUSIONS The type of menopause and psychological symptoms are important confounders of the relationship between the menopause transition and executive dysfunction, and help explain whether executive dysfunction persists or recovers in postmenopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe E Page
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Brianna Soreth
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Christina A Metcalf
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Rachel L Johnson
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Korrina A Duffy
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Mary D Sammel
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States; Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - James Loughead
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - C Neill Epperson
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States; Department of Family Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States.
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26
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Kang SH, Liu M, Park G, Kim SY, Lee H, Matloff W, Zhao L, Yoo H, Kim JP, Jang H, Kim HJ, Jahanshad N, Oh K, Koh SB, Na DL, Gallacher J, Gottesman RF, Seo SW, Kim H. Different effects of cardiometabolic syndrome on brain age in relation to gender and ethnicity. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:68. [PMID: 36998058 PMCID: PMC10061789 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01215-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing body of evidence shows differences in the prevalence of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) and dementia based on gender and ethnicity. However, there is a paucity of information about ethnic- and gender-specific CMS effects on brain age. We investigated the different effects of CMS on brain age by gender in Korean and British cognitively unimpaired (CU) populations. We also determined whether the gender-specific difference in the effects of CMS on brain age changes depending on ethnicity. METHODS These analyses used de-identified, cross-sectional data on CU populations from Korea and United Kingdom (UK) that underwent brain MRI. After propensity score matching to balance the age and gender between the Korean and UK populations, 5759 Korean individuals (3042 males and 2717 females) and 9903 individuals from the UK (4736 males and 5167 females) were included in this study. Brain age index (BAI), calculated by the difference between the predicted brain age by the algorithm and the chronological age, was considered as main outcome and presence of CMS, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, obesity, and underweight was considered as a predictor. Gender (males and females) and ethnicity (Korean and UK) were considered as effect modifiers. RESULTS The presence of T2DM and hypertension was associated with a higher BAI regardless of gender and ethnicity (p < 0.001), except for hypertension in Korean males (p = 0.309). Among Koreans, there were interaction effects of gender and the presence of T2DM (p for T2DM*gender = 0.035) and hypertension (p for hypertension*gender = 0.046) on BAI in Koreans, suggesting that T2DM and hypertension are each associated with a higher BAI in females than in males. In contrast, among individuals from the UK, there were no differences in the effects of T2DM (p for T2DM*gender = 0.098) and hypertension (p for hypertension*gender = 0.203) on BAI between males and females. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight gender and ethnic differences as important factors in mediating the effects of CMS on brain age. Furthermore, these results suggest that ethnic- and gender-specific prevention strategies may be needed to protect against accelerated brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Hoon Kang
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Neurology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Mengting Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, USC Steven Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Gilsoon Park
- Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, USC Steven Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Sharon Y Kim
- Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, USC Steven Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Hyejoo Lee
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - William Matloff
- Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, USC Steven Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Lu Zhao
- Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, USC Steven Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Heejin Yoo
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jun Pyo Kim
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyemin Jang
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hee Jin Kim
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Neda Jahanshad
- Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, USC Steven Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Kyumgmi Oh
- Department of Neurology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seong-Beom Koh
- Department of Neurology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Duk L Na
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - John Gallacher
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rebecca F Gottesman
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sang Won Seo
- Departments of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
- Department of Digital Health, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea.
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea.
- Alzheimer's Disease Convergence Research Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea.
| | - Hosung Kim
- Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, USC Steven Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
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Sharma A, Davies R, Kapoor A, Islam H, Webber L, Jayasena CN. The effect of hormone replacement therapy on cognition and mood. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2023; 98:285-295. [PMID: 36447434 DOI: 10.1111/cen.14856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To summarise the available data regarding the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on cognition and mood in women. BACKGROUND Complaints of impaired cognition and mood are common in the peri-menopausal and menopausal period. There is debate as to whether HRT can ameliorate this phenomenon. DESIGN A literature search of studies using electronic databases was conducted. Both randomised control trials and observational studies were included. PATIENTS Perimenopausal and menopausal women. RESULTS Due to the heterogenicity of results it is challenging to draw firm conclusions. The preparations used in many of the studies are older regimes no longer routinely used clinically. The notion of a 'critical window' for HRT is compelling, suggesting HRT has a positive impact on cognition when administered in the peri-menopausal or early postmenopausal period but may have negative effects on cognition in the older, postmenopausal woman. The evidence would seem to suggest importance of hormonal replacement in woman undergoing a surgical menopause, especially when young. It remains unclear for how long they ought to continue HRT though until at least the natural age of the menopause seems reasonable. Evidence for a positive effect of HRT on mood is more convincing, though possibly more efficacious in the younger age group. The effect of HRT on anxiety is less clear. CONCLUSIONS Further study, particularly focusing on the more contemporaneous HRT preparations, is warranted before evidence-based conclusions can be drawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Sharma
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Rhianna Davies
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Lisa Webber
- Department of Gynaecology, St. Mary's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Channa N Jayasena
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
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28
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Serving through the perimenopause: Experiences of women in the UK Armed Forces. Maturitas 2023; 169:35-39. [PMID: 36641971 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Perimenopause is a hot topic in the UK mainstream media, with celebrities championing the cause and a new selection of books being published on the topic. Little is known, however, about the experiences of women serving in the UK Armed Forces while transitioning through perimenopause. This mixed-methods survey aimed to evaluate women's current experiences to determine what future research or policy is required to support this phase. It highlighted seven themes where the impact of the perimenopause was the greatest: coping in the workplace, fearing the effect on careers, accessing healthcare, the management of perimenopause by primary care, physical effects, psychological and cognitive effects, and physical activity. It shows that issues felt by those in the perimenopause are exacerbated for those working in male-dominated environments. Policy changes in the delivery of primary healthcare, occupational health and employment could improve the situation for women in all similar workplaces.
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Kim M, Kwasny MJ, Bailey SC, Benavente JY, Zheng P, Bonham M, Luu HQ, Cecil P, Agyare P, O'Conor R, Curtis LM, Hur S, Yeh F, Lovett RM, Russell A, Luo Y, Zee PC, Wolf MS. MidCog study: a prospective, observational cohort study investigating health literacy, self-management skills and cognitive function in middle-aged adults. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e071899. [PMID: 36822802 PMCID: PMC9950895 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The lack of definitive means to prevent or treat cognitive impairment or dementia is driving intense efforts to identify causal mechanisms. Recent evidence suggests clinically meaningful declines in cognition might present as early as middle age. Studying cognitive changes in middle adulthood could elucidate modifiable factors affecting later cognitive and health outcomes, yet few cognitive ageing studies include this age group. The purpose of the MidCog study is to begin investigations of less-studied and potentially modifiable midlife determinants of later life cognitive outcomes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS MidCog is a prospective cohort study of adults ages 35-64, with two in-person interviews 2.5 years apart. Data will be collected from interviews, electronic health records and pharmacy fill data. Measurements will include health literacy, self-management skills, cognitive function, lifestyle and health behaviours, healthcare use, health status and chronic disease outcomes. Associations of health literacy and self-management skills with health behaviours and cognitive/health outcomes will be examined in a series of regression models, and moderating effects of modifiable psychosocial factors.Finally, MidCog data will be linked to an ongoing, parallel cohort study of older adults recruited at ages 55-74 in 2008 ('LitCog'; ages 70-90 in 2023), to explore associations between age, health literacy, self-management skills, chronic diseases, health status and cognitive function among adults ages 35-90. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The Institutional Review Board at Northwestern University has approved the MidCog study protocol (STU00214736). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and summaries will be provided to the funders of the study as well as patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjee Kim
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mary J Kwasny
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Stacy C Bailey
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Julia Y Benavente
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Pauline Zheng
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Morgan Bonham
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Han Q Luu
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Patrick Cecil
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Prophecy Agyare
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Rachel O'Conor
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Laura M Curtis
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Scott Hur
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Fangyu Yeh
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Rebecca M Lovett
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrea Russell
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Yuan Luo
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Phyllis C Zee
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Michael S Wolf
- Center for Applied Health Research on Aging, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Hicks TH, Magalhães TNC, Ballard HK, Jackson TB, Cox SJ, Bernard JA. Network segregation in aging females and evaluation of the impact of sex steroid hormones. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1059091. [PMID: 36816502 PMCID: PMC9929548 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1059091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Males and females show differential patterns in connectivity in resting-state networks (RSNs) during normal aging, from early adulthood to late middle age. Age-related differences in network integration (effectiveness of specialized communication at the global network level) and segregation (functional specialization at the local level of specific brain regions) may also differ by sex. These differences may be due at least in part to endogenous hormonal fluctuation, such as that which occurs in females during midlife with the transition to menopause when levels of estrogens and progesterone drop markedly. A limited number of studies that have investigated sex differences in the action of steroid hormones in brain networks. Here we investigated how sex steroid hormones relate to age-network relationships in both males and females, with a focus on network segregation. Females displayed a significant quadratic relationship between age and network segregation for the cerebellar-basal ganglia and salience networks. In both cases, segregation was still increasing through adulthood, highest in midlife, and with a downturn thereafter. However, there were no significant relationships between sex steroid hormone levels and network segregation levels in females, and they did not exhibit significant associations between progesterone or 17β-estradiol and network segregation. Patterns of connectivity between the cerebellum and basal ganglia have been associated with cognitive performance and self-reported balance confidence in older adults. Together, these findings suggest that network segregation patterns with age in females vary by network, and that sex steroid hormones are not associated with this measure of connectivity in this cross-sectional analysis. Though this is a null effect, it remains critical for understanding the extent to which hormones relate to brain network architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey H. Hicks
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States,Tracey H. Hicks,
| | - Thamires N. C. Magalhães
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Thamires N. C. Magalhães,
| | - Hannah K. Ballard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - T. Bryan Jackson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Sydney J. Cox
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Jessica A. Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States,Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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Fausto DY, Leitão AE, Silveira J, Martins JBB, Dominski FH, Guimarães ACA. An umbrella systematic review of the effect of physical exercise on mental health of women in menopause. Menopause 2023; 30:225-234. [PMID: 36696648 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The menopausal transition has been related to worsening mental health. The literature also points out that being physically active during menopause is associated with a favorable effect on climacteric symptoms, specifically on psychological aspects. OBJECTIVES The aims of the study are to analyze the effects of physical activity on mental health during menopause through an umbrella review and to evaluate the quality of the included Systematic Reviews and meta-analyses (MAs). EVIDENCE REVIEW A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation was applied to assess the level of the evidence of the results. In addition, the effect size of the revised meta-analyses (MAs) was calculated. FINDINGS A total of 9 systematic reviews/MAs were included, published between 2014 and 2020. In the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews methodological quality assessment, 8 studies were classified as "high quality" and 1 as "low quality." In terms of quality of the evidence for each result through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation classification, approximately 75% of the studies were classified as "moderate quality," 22.2% as "high quality," and 22.2% as "low quality," with the greatest bias concerning the high heterogeneity of the included studies. In addition, the studies showed low overlap. Despite the high heterogeneity, we can highlight the importance of the practice of physical activity by women in menopause, to prevent and/or reduce problems related to mental health. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE There was a positive effect of the interventions on depression, however, with no difference between durations (short or long). Regarding stress, the interventions applied did not show a positive effect. The studies that investigated depression linked to anxiety presented conflicting results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielly Y Fausto
- From the Physical Activity Leisure Research Laboratory, Santa Catarina State University, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Alice E Leitão
- Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Silveira
- From the Physical Activity Leisure Research Laboratory, Santa Catarina State University, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Julia B B Martins
- From the Physical Activity Leisure Research Laboratory, Santa Catarina State University, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Fábio H Dominski
- Center of Health and Sport Science, State University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Adriana C A Guimarães
- From the Physical Activity Leisure Research Laboratory, Santa Catarina State University, Florianópolis, Brazil
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Khate K, Chaudhary V, Longkumer I, Saraswathy KN, Devi NK. Gender-specific association of blood lipids and reproductive trajectory with cognitive impairment: A community based cross-sectional study from India. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1107152. [PMID: 36923148 PMCID: PMC10008908 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1107152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Abnormal blood lipid levels in the general population and adverse reproductive events among women have been associated with cognitive impairment (CI). However, their relationship has not been extensively studied in community settings. Hence, this study aims to explore the association of CI with blood lipid levels in both sexes and reproductive events/trajectory among women. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among a North Indian rural population. A total of 808 adults were recruited through door-to-door household survey. Data on socio-demographic variables, reproductive profile of women, and cognitive impairment status were collected. Fasting blood sample was collected to estimate serum lipid profile. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to test for association. Results The study demonstrated a lack of association between lipid profile and cognitive impairment among males. Surprisingly, low HDL-C among females was found to be protective against moderate/severe cognitive impairment (value of p = 0.049). Further, menopausal women and those having five or higher live births were found to be at higher risk of CI than pre-menopausal women and those with 1-2 live births, respectively. Conclusion The present study hints toward a gender-specific association of blood lipid levels with CI. Further, higher live births and menopause appear to be important risk factors for CI among women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevingu Khate
- Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Vineet Chaudhary
- Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
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Wium-Andersen MK, Jørgensen TSH, Halvorsen AH, Hartsteen BH, Jørgensen MB, Osler M. Association of Hormone Therapy With Depression During Menopause in a Cohort of Danish Women. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2239491. [PMID: 36318208 PMCID: PMC9627415 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.39491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE During menopause, the levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease and 60% to 70% of women experience menopausal symptoms, including mood disturbances. The latter might be prevented by hormone therapy (HT), yet some studies have suggested that use of HT might be associated with increased risk of depression. OBJECTIVE To examine whether use of HT during menopause was associated with a subsequent diagnosis of depression. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This nationwide register-based cohort and self-controlled case series study included all women in Denmark aged 45 years between January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2017 (n = 825 238), without prior oophorectomy, breast cancer, or cancer in reproductive organs. Follow-up was completed on December 31, 2018. The statistical analysis was performed from September 1, 2021, through May 31, 2022. EXPOSURES Redeemed prescriptions of different types of HT identified by the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system codes (G03C [estrogen] and G03F [estrogen combined with progestin]) in the Danish National Prescription Registry between 1995 and 2017. Type of administration was divided into systemic (oral or transdermal) and local (intravaginal or intrauterine). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES A hospital diagnosis of depression (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, codes F32-F33 and International Classification of Diseases, Eighth Revision, codes 296.09, 296.29, 298.0, and 300.49) between 1995 through 2018. Associations were examined in cohort and self-controlled case series analysis using Cox proportional hazards and fixed-effects Poisson regression models. RESULTS During follow-up from 45 years of age to a mean of 56.0 (range, 45.1-67.7) years, 189 821 women (23.0%) initiated systemically or locally administered HT and 13 069 (1.6%) were diagnosed with depression. Systemically administered HT was mainly initiated before 50 years of age and was associated with a higher risk of a subsequent depression diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] for 48-50 years of age, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.24-1.81]). The risk was especially elevated the year after initiation of both treatment with estrogen alone (HR, 2.03 [95% CI, 1.21-3.41]) and estrogen combined with progestin (HR, 2.01 [95% CI,1.26-3.21]). Locally administered HT was initiated across all ages and was not associated with depression risk (HR, 1.15 [95% CI, 0.70-1.87]). It was, however, associated with a lower risk of depression when initiated after 54 years of age (HR for 54-60 years of age, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.70-0.91]). In self-controlled analysis, which efficiently accounts for time-invariant confounding, users of systemically administered HT had higher rates of depression in the years after initiation compared with the years before treatment (incidence rate ratio for 0-1 year after initiation, 1.66 [95% CI, 1.30-2.14]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings suggest that systemically administered HT before and during menopause is associated with higher risk of depression, especially in the years immediately after initiation, whereas locally administered HT is associated with lower risk of depression for women 54 years or older.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie K. Wium-Andersen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Terese S. H. Jørgensen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anniken H. Halvorsen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Birgitte H. Hartsteen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | | | - Merete Osler
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Keawtep P, Wichayanrat W, Boripuntakul S, Chattipakorn SC, Sungkarat S. Cognitive Benefits of Physical Exercise, Physical-Cognitive Training, and Technology-Based Intervention in Obese Individuals with and without Postmenopausal Condition: A Narrative Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192013364. [PMID: 36293943 PMCID: PMC9603710 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Obesity and estrogen deprivation have been identified as significant risk factors for cognitive impairment. Thus, postmenopausal conditions when paired with obesity may amplify the risks of developing dementia. Physical exercise has been recommended as a primary treatment for preventing obesity-related comorbidities and alleviating menopausal symptoms. This narrative review aimed to summarize the effects of exercise on cognition in obese individuals with and without menopausal condition, along with potential physiological mechanisms linking these interventions to cognitive improvement. Research evidence has demonstrated that exercise benefits not only physical but also cognitive and brain health. Among various types of exercise, recent studies have suggested that combined physical-cognitive exercise may exert larger gains in cognitive benefits than physical or cognitive exercise alone. Despite the scarcity of studies investigating the effects of physical and combined physical-cognitive exercise in obese individuals, especially those with menopausal condition, existing evidence has shown promising findings. Applying these exercises through technology-based interventions may be a viable approach to increase accessibility and adherence to the intervention. More evidence from randomized clinical trials with large samples and rigorous methodology is required. Further, investigations of biochemical and physiological outcomes along with behavioral changes will provide insight into underlying mechanisms linking these interventions to cognitive improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puntarik Keawtep
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Wanachaporn Wichayanrat
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Sirinun Boripuntakul
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Research Group of Modern Management and Information Technology, College of Arts, Media and Technology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Siriporn C. Chattipakorn
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Somporn Sungkarat
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Research Group of Modern Management and Information Technology, College of Arts, Media and Technology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
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Griksiene R, Monciunskaite R, Ruksenas O. What is there to know about the effects of progestins on the human brain and cognition? Front Neuroendocrinol 2022; 67:101032. [PMID: 36029852 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2022.101032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Progestins are an important component of hormonal contraceptives (HCs) and hormone replacement therapies (HRTs). Despite an increasing number of studies elucidating the effects of HCs and HRTs, little is known about the effects of different types of progestins included in these medications on the brain. Animal studies suggest that various progestins interact differently with sex steroid, mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors and have specific modulatory effects on neurotransmitter systems and on the expression of neuropeptides, suggesting differential impacts on cognition and behavior. This review focuses on the currently available knowledge from human behavioral and neuroimaging studies pooled with evidence from animal research regarding the effects of progestins on the brain. The reviewed information is highly relevant for improving women's mental health and making informed choices regarding specific types of contraception or treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramune Griksiene
- Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Lithuania
| | - Rasa Monciunskaite
- Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Lithuania
| | - Osvaldas Ruksenas
- Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Lithuania
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Ballard HK, Jackson TB, Hicks TH, Bernard JA. The association of reproductive stage with lobular cerebellar network connectivity across female adulthood. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 117:139-150. [PMID: 35738086 PMCID: PMC10149146 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Sex-specific differences in the aging cerebellum may be related to hormone changes with menopause. We evaluated the association between reproductive stage and lobular cerebellar network connectivity using data from the Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience repository. We used raw structural and resting state neuroimaging data and information regarding age, sex, and menopause-related variables. Crus I and II and Lobules V and VI were our cerebellar seeds of interest. We characterized reproductive stage using the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop criteria. Results show that postmenopausal females have lower cerebello-striatal and cerebello-cortical connectivity, particularly in frontal regions, along with lower connectivity within the cerebellum, compared to reproductive females. Postmenopausal females also exhibit greater connectivity in some brain areas as well. Differences begin to emerge across transitional stages of menopause. Further, results reveal sex-specific differences in connectivity between female reproductive groups and age-matched male control groups. This suggests that menopause may be associated with cerebellar network connectivity in aging females, and sex differences in the aging brain may be related to this biological process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah K Ballard
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
| | - T Bryan Jackson
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Tracey H Hicks
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Jessica A Bernard
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Hicks TH, Ballard HK, Sang H, Bernard JA. Age-volume associations in cerebellar lobules by sex and reproductive stage. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:2439-2455. [PMID: 35876952 PMCID: PMC10167909 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02535-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum has established associations with motor function and a well-recognized role in cognition. In advanced age, cognitive and motor impairments contribute to reduced quality of life and are more common. Regional cerebellar volume is associated with performance across these domains and sex hormones may influence this volume. Examining sex differences in regional cerebellar volume in conjunction with age, and in the context of reproductive stage stands to improve our understanding of cerebellar aging and pathology. Data from 508 healthy adults (ages 18-88; 47% female) from the Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience database were used here. CERES was used to assess lobular volume in T1-weighted images. We examined sex differences in adjusted regional cerebellar volume while controlling for age. A subgroup of participants (n = 370, 50% female) was used to assess group differences in female reproductive stages as compared to age-matched males. Sex differences in adjusted volume were seen across most anterior and posterior cerebellar lobules. Most of these lobules had significant linear relationships with age in males and females. While there were no interactions between sex and reproductive stage groups, exploratory analyses in females alone revealed multiple regional differences by reproductive stage. We found sex differences in volume across much of the cerebellum, linear associations with age, and did not find an interaction for sex and reproductive stage on regional cerebellar volume. Longitudinal investigation into hormonal influences on cerebellar structure and function is warranted as hormonal changes with menopause may impact cerebellar volume over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey H Hicks
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77840, USA.
| | - Hannah K Ballard
- Texas A&M University Institute for Neuroscience, 3474 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Huiyan Sang
- Department of Statistics, Texas A&M University, 3143 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Jessica A Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77840, USA
- Texas A&M University Institute for Neuroscience, 3474 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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Conley AC, Albert KM, McDonald BC, Saykin AJ, Dumas JA, Newhouse PA. Estradiol treatment in young postmenopausal women with self-reported cognitive complaints: Effects on cholinergic-mediated cognitive performance. Hum Psychopharmacol 2022; 37:e2838. [PMID: 35212023 PMCID: PMC9399322 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Older women are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to men. One proposed reason is that following menopause there is a decline in estrogens. Estrogens are important for cholinergic functioning and attenuate the impact of cholinergic antagonists on cognitive performance in postmenopausal women. Self-reported or subjective cognitive complaints in middle or older age may represent a harbinger of cognitive decline and those who endorse cognitive complaints appear more likely to develop future cognitive impairment. However, the response of individuals with cognitive complaints after menopause to estrogen and the relationship to cholinergic functioning has not been investigated. This study investigated the effect of estrogen treatment using 17β-estradiol on cognitive performance following anticholinergic blockade in postmenopausal women and the relationship of this interaction with the level of self-reported (subjective) postmenopausal cognitive complaints. METHODS Forty postmenopausal women (aged 50-60 years) completed a 3-month treatment regimen of either 1 mg oral estradiol or placebo. Participants then completed four challenge days in which they completed cognitive and behavioral tasks after one of four cholinergic antagonist drug conditions (oral mecamylamine (MECA), intravenous scopolamine, combined MECA and scopolamine, or PLC). RESULTS Compared to PLC, the estradiol treated group performed worse on attention tasks under cholinergic challenge including the choice reaction time task and the critical flicker fusion task. In addition, participants who endorsed greater cognitive complaints showed reduced performance on the N-back working memory task, regardless of whether they received estradiol treatment. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study indicate that estradiol treatment was unable to mitigate anticholinergic blockade in postmenopausal women with subjective cognitive complaints, and worsened performance on attention tasks. Moreover, the present study suggests that greater levels of cognitive complaints following menopause may be associated with an underlying decline in cholinergic function that may manifest as an inability to compensate during working memory tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C. Conley
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kimberly M. Albert
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Brenna C. McDonald
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Neuroimaging, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Andrew J. Saykin
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Neuroimaging, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Julie A. Dumas
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Paul A. Newhouse
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA,Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Health System, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Yao G, Bai Z, Niu J, Zhang R, Lu Y, Gao T, Wang H. Astragalin attenuates depression-like behaviors and memory deficits and promotes M2 microglia polarization by regulating IL-4R/JAK1/STAT6 signaling pathway in a murine model of perimenopausal depression. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:2421-2443. [PMID: 35411464 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06133-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Neuroinflammation can be alleviated via M2 microglia polarization, which could promote the recovery of perimenopausal depression. Astragalin (AST) possesses anti-neuroinflammatory activity. However, the effects of AST on perimenopausal depression and the molecular mechanism in regulating microglia polarization remained unknown. OBJECTIVES The purpose was to investigate the effects of AST on mice with simulated perimenopausal depression through regulating microglia polarization. It was aimed to clarify the molecular mechanism related to the interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R)/janus kinase (JAK) 1/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 6 signaling pathway. METHODS The ovariectomy (OVX)/chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced murine model of perimenopausal depression was established and treated with AST. Then the depression-like behaviors and cognitive ability of mice were examined. After that, we detected the markers of microglia polarization and its regulatory signals. In addition, lipopolysaccharides (LPS)/adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-induced inflammatory BV2 model were used to verify the potential molecular mechanism. RESULTS AST alleviated perimenopausal depression-like behaviors and memory deficits. AST alleviated microglia activation and increased Ki67-positive cells in dentate gyrus (DG). The viability of BV2 decreased by LPS/ATP was raised by AST. Moreover, both in vivo and in vitro, AST switched microglia from M1 phenotype caused by OVX/CUMS or LPS/ATP to M2 phenotype. The IL-4R/JAK1/STAT6 signaling was restored, and the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear NF-KappaB-p65 were reduced by AST. Importantly, AST showed prevention against the ubiquitination modification and degradation of STAT6. CONCLUSIONS Our results revealed new insights into molecular mechanism associated with microglia polarization in the effect of AST on the mouse model of perimenopausal depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangda Yao
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Zijun Bai
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Jianguo Niu
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Youyuan Lu
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Tiantian Gao
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Hanqing Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, Yinchuan, 750004, China. .,Ningxia Engineering and Technology Research Center for Modernization of Regional Characteristic Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China. .,Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
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Abstract
Every woman who lives past midlife will experience menopause, which, by definition, is complete cessation of ovarian function. This process might occur spontaneously (natural menopause) or be iatrogenic (secondary menopause), and can be further classified as 'early' if it occurs before the age of 45 years and 'premature' if it occurs before the age of 40 years. Globally, the mean age of natural menopause is 48.8 years, with remarkably little geographic variation. A woman's age at menopause influences health outcomes in later life. Early menopause is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer, but increased risks of premature osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and premature death. The cardinal symptoms of menopause, and adverse health sequelae, are due to loss of ovarian oestrogen production. Consequently, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) that includes oestrogen or an oestrogenic compound ameliorates menopausal symptoms, while preventing menopause-associated bone loss and cardiometabolic changes. Importantly, comprehensive care of postmenopausal women involves lifestyle optimization (attention to nutrition and physical activity, reducing alcohol consumption and not smoking) and treating other established chronic disease risk factors. This Review offers a commentary specifically on the contemporary use of MHT and novel pharmaceutical alternatives to manage menopausal symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan R Davis
- Women's Health Research Program, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Rodney J Baber
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Vrontou S, Bédécarrats A, Wei X, Ayodeji M, Brassai A, Molnár L, Mody I. Altered brain rhythms and behaviour in the accelerated ovarian failure mouse model of human menopause. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac166. [PMID: 35794872 PMCID: PMC9253886 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, potential mechanisms of menopause-related memory and cognitive deficits have not been elucidated. Therefore, we studied brain oscillations, their phase–amplitude coupling, sleep and vigilance state patterns, running wheel use and other behavioural measures in a translationally valid mouse model of menopause, the 4-vinylcyclohexene-diepoxide-induced accelerated ovarian failure. After accelerated ovarian failure, female mice show significant alterations in brain rhythms, including changes in the frequencies of θ (5–12 Hz) and γ (30–120 Hz) oscillations, a reversed phase–amplitude coupling, altered coupling of hippocampal sharp-wave ripples to medial prefrontal cortical sleep spindles and reduced δ oscillation (0.5–4 Hz) synchrony between the two regions during non-rapid eye movement sleep. In addition, we report on significant circadian variations in the frequencies of θ and γ oscillations, and massive synchronous δ oscillations during wheel running. Our results reveal novel and specific network alterations and feasible signs for diminished brain connectivity in the accelerated ovarian failure mouse model of menopause. Taken together, our results may have identified changes possibly responsible for some of the memory and cognitive deficits previously described in this model. Corresponding future studies in menopausal women could shed light on fundamental mechanisms underlying the neurological and psychiatric comorbidities present during this important transitional phase in women’s lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Vrontou
- Department of Neurology, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles, CA 90095 , USA
| | - Alexis Bédécarrats
- Department of Neurology, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles, CA 90095 , USA
| | - Xiaofei Wei
- Department of Neurology, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles, CA 90095 , USA
| | | | - Attila Brassai
- Department of Pharmacology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology , Târgu Mureş 540139 , Romania
| | - László Molnár
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania , Târgu Mureş 540485 , Romania
| | - Istvan Mody
- Department of Neurology, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles, CA 90095 , USA
- Department of Physiology, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles, CA 90095 , USA
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Peterson A, Gottesman RT, Miler EC, Tom SE. The association of vasomotor symptoms during the menopausal transition and cognition in later life. Menopause 2022; 29:832-839. [PMID: 35728018 PMCID: PMC10204076 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000001986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The majority of women experience vasomotor symptoms (VMS) during the menopausal transition. Whether self-reported VMS are associated with cognitive test performance later in life remains unclear. The goal of this study was to determine whether a greater burden of VMS is associated with poor later-life cognition. METHODS The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study is a prospective study of randomly selected Wisconsin high school graduates of the class of 1957. At ages 65 and 72, a random subset of participants completed six cognitive tests, including similarities, letter and category fluency, immediate and delayed word recall, and digit ordering. Nested regression models were used to examine the association between extent of VMS, assessed at age 54, and baseline cognition at 65, adjusting for early-life socioeconomic status, women's reproductive health variables, intelligence quotient, and midlife income. This series of models was also used to examine the association between VMS and change in cognition score from age 65 to 72. In sensitivity analyses, models were repeated in a sample using multiple imputation for missing covariates. RESULTS Of the 5,326 women enrolled, 874 had data onVMS, covariates, and all cognitive tests. In an unadjusted model, higher VMS were associated with a lower similarities score (b = -0.09 95% CI -0.16 to -0.02) at age 65 but no other cognitive tests. In adjusted models, VMS were not related to cognition at age 65 or change in cognition. Results remained similar with multiple imputation. CONCLUSIONS Our study does not support a relationship between self-reported VMS and cognition later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Peterson
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Reena T. Gottesman
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eliza C. Miler
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah E. Tom
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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Estradiol and Estrogen-like Alternative Therapies in Use: The Importance of the Selective and Non-Classical Actions. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040861. [PMID: 35453610 PMCID: PMC9029610 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen is one of the most important female sex hormones, and is indispensable for reproduction. However, its role is much wider. Among others, due to its neuroprotective effects, estrogen protects the brain against dementia and complications of traumatic injury. Previously, it was used mainly as a therapeutic option for influencing the menstrual cycle and treating menopausal symptoms. Unfortunately, hormone replacement therapy might be associated with detrimental side effects, such as increased risk of stroke and breast cancer, raising concerns about its safety. Thus, tissue-selective and non-classical estrogen analogues have become the focus of interest. Here, we review the current knowledge about estrogen effects in a broader sense, and the possibility of using selective estrogen-receptor modulators (SERMs), selective estrogen-receptor downregulators (SERDs), phytoestrogens, and activators of non-genomic estrogen-like signaling (ANGELS) molecules as treatment.
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Gong J, Harris K, Peters SAE, Woodward M. Reproductive factors and the risk of incident dementia: A cohort study of UK Biobank participants. PLoS Med 2022; 19:e1003955. [PMID: 35381014 PMCID: PMC8982865 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women's reproductive factors have been associated with the risk of dementia; however, these findings remain uncertain. This study aimed to examine the risk of incident all-cause dementia associated with reproductive factors in women and the number of children in both sexes and whether the associations vary by age, socioeconomic status (SES), smoking status, and body mass index (BMI) in the UK Biobank. METHODS AND FINDINGS A total of 273,240 women and 228,957 men without prevalent dementia from the UK Biobank were included in the analyses. Cox proportional hazard regressions estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for reproductive factors with incident all-cause dementia. Multiple adjusted models included age at study entry, SES, ethnicity, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, BMI, history of diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, antihypertensive drugs, and lipid-lowering drugs. Over a median of 11.8 years follow-up, 1,866 dementia cases were recorded in women and 2,202 in men. Multiple adjusted HRs ((95% confidence intervals (CIs)), p-value) for dementia were 1.20 (1.08, 1.34) (p = 0.016) for menarche <12 years and 1.19 (1.07, 1.34) (p = 0.024) for menarche >14 years compared to 13 years; 0.85 (0.74, 0.98) (p = 0.026) for ever been pregnant; 1.43 (1.26, 1.62) (p < 0.001) for age at first live birth <21 compared to 25 to 26 years; 0.82 (0.71, 0.94) (p = 0.006) for each abortion; 1.32 (1.15, 1.51) (p = 0.008) for natural menopause at <47 compared to 50 years; 1.12 (1.01, 1.25) (p = 0.039) for hysterectomy; 2.35 (1.06, 5.23) (p = 0.037) for hysterectomy with previous oophorectomy; and 0.80 (0.72, 0.88) (p < 0.001) for oral contraceptive pills use. The U-shaped associations between the number of children and the risk of dementia were similar for both sexes: Compared with those with 2 children, for those without children, the multiple adjusted HR ((95% CIs), p-value) was 1.18 (1.04, 1.33) (p = 0.027) for women and 1.10 (0.98, 1.23) (p = 0.164) for men, and the women-to-men ratio of HRs was 1.09 (0.92, 1.28) (p = 0.403); for those with 4 or more children, the HR was 1.14 (0.98, 1.33) (p = 0.132) for women and 1.26 (1.10, 1.45) (p = 0.003) for men, and the women-to-men ratio of HRs was 0.93 (0.76, 1.14) (p = 0.530). There was evidence that hysterectomy (HR, 1.31 (1.09, 1.59), p = 0.013) and oophorectomy (HR, 1.39 (1.08, 1.78), p = 0.002) were associated with a higher risk of dementia among women of relatively lower SES only. Limitations of the study include potential residual confounding and self-reported measures of reproductive factors, as well as the limited representativeness of the UK Biobank population. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we observed that some reproductive events related to shorter cumulative endogenous estrogen exposure in women were associated with higher dementia risk, and there was a similar association between the number of children and dementia risk between women and men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Gong
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Katie Harris
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sanne A. E. Peters
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
- The George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Mark Woodward
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
- The George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Nik Hazlina NH, Norhayati MN, Shaiful Bahari I, Nik Muhammad Arif NA. Prevalence of Psychosomatic and Genitourinary Syndrome Among Menopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:848202. [PMID: 35308492 PMCID: PMC8927867 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.848202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The menopausal transition represents the passage from reproductive to non-reproductive life and is characterized by a number of menstrual disturbances. We systematically reviewed the evidence on the prevalence of psychosomatic and genitourinary syndrome among menopausal women and compared the risk of symptoms between premenopausal, perimenopausal, and post-menopausal women. Methods We performed a systematic search in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and ScienceDirect through March 2021. Case series/reports, conference papers and proceedings, articles available only in abstract form, editorial reviews, letters of communication, commentaries, systematic reviews, and qualitative studies were excluded. Two reviewers independently extracted and assessed the quality of data using the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis. The outcomes were assessed with random-effects model using the Review Manager software. Results In total, 29 studies had a low risk of bias and were included in the review. Our findings showed that the pooled prevalence of somatic symptoms in post-menopausal women (52.6%) was higher than in the premenopausal and perimenopausal stages (34.6 and 39.5%, respectively). There was a low prevalence of psychological symptoms in premenopausal women (28.4%). The genitourinary syndrome was highest among post-menopausal women (55.1%), followed by perimenopausal (31.9%) and premenopausal (19.2%) women. Conclusion Post-menopausal women have a higher risk of experiencing menopausal symptoms particularly genitourinary syndrome than premenopausal and perimenopausal women. It is pertinent for healthcare professionals to evaluate the symptoms in order to provide them with a better quality of life. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021235958
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Affiliation(s)
- Nik Hussain Nik Hazlina
- Women's Health Development Unit, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Noor Norhayati
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
- *Correspondence: Mohd Noor Norhayati
| | - Ismail Shaiful Bahari
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | - Nik Ahmad Nik Muhammad Arif
- Women's Health Development Unit, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
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Metcalf CA, Johnson RL, Novick AM, Freeman EW, Sammel MD, Anthony LG, Epperson CN. Adverse childhood experiences interact with inflammation and menopause transition stage to predict verbal memory in women. Brain Behav Immun Health 2022; 20:100411. [PMID: 35079709 PMCID: PMC8777090 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Women with more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may face a triple threat of risk factors for cognitive concerns during the menopause transition: reduced estradiol, increased inflammation, and early life stress sequelae. Our objective was to determine the extent to which ACEs and peripheral basal inflammatory markers associate with verbal memory across the menopause transition. METHODS Penn Ovarian Aging cohort participants (n = 167) were assessed for ACEs (low (0-1) or high (≥2)) and had remaining stored blood samples at study end assayed for interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1-beta (IL-1β), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Annual assessment included a verbal memory test (the Buschke Selective Reminding Test) and menopause stage determination. To estimate the effects of menopause stage, ACEs, and cytokines on verbal memory, repeated cognitive outcome measures were modeled in generalized estimating equations. Covariates included body mass index, smoking, race, education, age at baseline, and baseline verbal memory performance. Cytokine levels were log-transformed. RESULTS Advancing menopause stage was associated with worse performance on immediate verbal recall and delayed verbal recall (ps < 0.001). During perimenopause, higher ACE exposure was associated with worse immediate verbal recall at higher levels of TNF-α (slope difference p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS Inflammation may mechanistically link ACEs and verbal memory for high ACE women during perimenopause. Reducing inflammation for these individuals may have positive impact on verbal memory across the menopause transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina A. Metcalf
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Rachel L. Johnson
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Andrew M. Novick
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Ellen W. Freeman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Mary D. Sammel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Laura G. Anthony
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - C. Neill Epperson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
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Jaff NG, Crowther NJ. The Association of Reproductive Aging with Cognitive Function in Sub-Saharan African Women. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2343:71-91. [PMID: 34473316 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1558-4_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Life expectancy in sub-Saharan African women is increasing, and by the late 2020s an estimated 76% of postmenopausal women globally will be living in developing countries. Menopause transition has been associated with cognitive decline in a wide range of studies, but data on cognition and reproductive aging are lacking in sub-Saharan African women. Approximately 72 million people in the region are expected to suffer from dementias and neurocognitive decline by 2050. Studies show that compromised cognitive health in low-income countries has significant implications for adult quality of life and socioeconomic development. There is now an urgent need to further examine risk factors for cognitive decline in these aging women and to understand the ability of public health programs to diagnose and treat cognitive dysfunction. This review examines studies assessing cognition and aging in sub-Saharan African adults, while addressing the significant research gaps. It examines data on the association of the menopause transition with cognitive function and describes how validated tools should be available to assess both menopausal stage and symptoms. Culturally appropriate and validated neurocognitive measures are required to better understand the relationship of reproductive aging with cognition. Longitudinal population-based studies are needed to assess the effect of lifestyle interventions, such as diet and exercise, on cognitive health in sub-Saharan African populations, with an emphasis on women as they transition into menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole G Jaff
- Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Nigel J Crowther
- Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Fu C, Hao W, Shrestha N, Virani SS, Mishra SR, Zhu D. Association of reproductive factors with dementia: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analyses of observational studies. EClinicalMedicine 2022; 43:101236. [PMID: 34977513 PMCID: PMC8683685 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Associations between endogenous estrogen exposure indicators and risk of subtypes of dementia have been unclear. METHODS Databases (PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science) were searched electronically on 1st July and updated regularly until 12nd November 2021. Observational studies of English language were selected if reported an effect estimate [e.g., odds ratio (OR), rate ratio (RR) or hazard ratio (HR)] and 95% CI for the association between any exposure (age of menarche, age at menopause, reproductive period, estradiol level) and any endpoint variable [all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD), cognitive impairment (CI)]. Random-effects models and dose-response meta-analyses were used to calculate estimates and to show the linear/nonlinear relationship. PROSPERO CRD42021274827. FINDINGS We included 22 studies (475 9764 women) in this analysis. We found no clear relationship between late menarche (≥14 vs <14 years) and dementia, CI in categorical meta-analysis compared to a J-shape relationship in dose-response meta-analyses. Later menopause (≥45 vs <45 years) was consistently associated with a lower risk of all-cause dementia (pooled RR: 0.87, 95%CI: 0.78-0.97, I2=56.0%), AD (0.67, 0.44-0.99, I2=78.3%), VD (0.87, 0.80-0.94) and CI (0.82, 0.71-0.94, I2=19.3%) in categorical meta-analysis, showing similar results in dose-response meta-analyses. An inverse relationship between longer reproductive duration (≥35 vs <35 years) and dementia was observed in dose-response meta-analysis. In addition, estradiol levels after menopause were inversely correlated with the risk of AD and CI. INTERPRETATION In this study, later menopause and longer reproductive period were associated with a lower risk of dementia, while the relationship for menarchal age was J-shaped. There was an inverse relationship between higher postmenopausal estrogen levels and risk of AD and CI. Longitudinal study are needed to further explore the association between life-time estrogen exposure and risk of subtypes of dementia. FUNDING Start-up Foundation for Scientific Research in Shandong University.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunying Fu
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research (Shandong University), Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Wenting Hao
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research (Shandong University), Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Nipun Shrestha
- Department of Primary care and mental health, University of Liverpool
| | - Salim S. Virani
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Shiva Raj Mishra
- Academy for Data Sciences and Global Health, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Salim Yusuf Emerging Leaders Program, World Heart Federation, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dongshan Zhu
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research (Shandong University), Jinan, 250012, China
- Corresponding author at: Center for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
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Ballantyne EC, King JP, Green SM. Preliminary Support for a Cognitive Remediation Intervention for Women During the Menopausal Transition: A Pilot Study. Front Glob Womens Health 2021; 2:741539. [PMID: 35005701 PMCID: PMC8733617 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2021.741539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Menopause is associated with physical and emotional symptoms, and subjective cognitive concerns that are generally not borne out on objective cognitive measures. This discrepancy suggests that a psychological rather than biological mechanism likely mediates the cognitive concerns of women in menopause. The current study assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of a cognitive remediation intervention with the goal of reducing subjective perceptions of cognitive difficulty during the menopause. Methods: Twenty-seven menopausal women (M age = 53.74, SD = 4.14) completed a 5-week group-based intervention (with a post-group booster) consisting of 2-h weekly sessions. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention measures capturing subjective cognitive ability, mood, anxiety, stress, personality, and objective cognitive tests. The primary variable of interest was self-reported cognitive confidence measured by the Memory and Cognitive Confidence Scale (MACCS). Results: All but one MACCS subscale significantly decreased over the course of treatment (with lower scores associated with higher confidence) and effect sizes ranged from small to large (d = -0.39 to -0.91) with gains maintained at 1-month follow-up. Interestingly, no change in objective cognitive test performance was observed, indicating increases in subjective cognitive confidence in the absence of objective cognitive improvement. There was no change in mood, anxiety, or stress scores. Two-level HLM analyses revealed that those with higher baseline neuroticism, as measured by the NEO Personality Inventory, had smaller decreases in post-group MACCS High Standards subscale relative to those with lower baseline neuroticism (p = 0.027, d = -0.45). Those with higher baseline depression scores on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) had a smaller decrease in post-intervention MACCS Total Score relative to those with lower depression ratings. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first feasibility study of its kind targeting perceptions of cognitive impairment during menopause. Although generally well-tolerated, recruitment and scheduling difficulties were flagged as challenges to engagement while a small sample size and lack of control group limit conclusions about efficacy. Providing current results could be replicated with enhanced methods, these results provide support that cognitive remediation is a feasible and credible treatment, and may improve quality of life for women in menopause. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03311880.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena C. Ballantyne
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jelena P. King
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sheryl M. Green
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Maioli S, Leander K, Nilsson P, Nalvarte I. Estrogen receptors and the aging brain. Essays Biochem 2021; 65:913-925. [PMID: 34623401 PMCID: PMC8628183 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20200162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The female sex hormone estrogen has been ascribed potent neuroprotective properties. It signals by binding and activating estrogen receptors that, depending on receptor subtype and upstream or downstream effectors, can mediate gene transcription and rapid non-genomic actions. In this way, estrogen receptors in the brain participate in modulating neural differentiation, proliferation, neuroinflammation, cholesterol metabolism, synaptic plasticity, and behavior. Circulating sex hormones decrease in the course of aging, more rapidly at menopause in women, and slower in men. This review will discuss what this drop entails in terms of modulating neuroprotection and resilience in the aging brain downstream of spatiotemporal estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) signaling, as well as in terms of the sex differences observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). In addition, controversies related to ER expression in the brain will be discussed. Understanding the spatiotemporal signaling of sex hormones in the brain can lead to more personalized prevention strategies or therapies combating neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Maioli
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Leander
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Nilsson
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ivan Nalvarte
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 57 Huddinge, Sweden
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