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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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González-Burgos I, Velázquez-Zamora DA, González-Tapia D. Estradiol-mediated modulation of memory and of the underlying dendritic spine plasticity through the life span. Histol Histopathol 2024; 39:411-423. [PMID: 37966087 DOI: 10.14670/hh-18-672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
The morphophysiology of the nervous system changes and adapts in response to external environmental inputs and the experiences of individuals throughout their lives. Other changes in the organisms internal environment can also contribute to nervous system restructuring in the form of plastic changes that underlie its capacity to adapt to emerging psychophysiological conditions. These adaptive processes lead to subtle modifications of the organisms internal homeostasis which is closely related with the activity of chemical messengers, such as neurotransmitters and hormones. Hormones reach the brain through the bloodstream, where they activate specific receptors through which certain biochemical, physiological, and morphological changes take place in numerous regions. Fetal development, infancy, puberty, and adulthood are all periods of substantial hormone-mediated brain remodeling in both males and females. Adulthood, specifically, is associated with a broad range of life events, including reproductive cycles in both sexes, and pregnancy and menopause in women. Events of this kind occur concomitantly with eventual modifications in behavioral performance and, especially, in cognitive abilities like learning and memory that underlie, at least in part, plastic changes in the dendritic spines of the neuronal cells in cerebral areas involved in processing cognitive information. Estrogens form a family that consists of three molecules [17β-estradiol (E2), estrone, estriol] which are deeply involved in regulating numerous bodily functions in different stages of the life-cycle, including the modulation of cognitive performance. This review addresses the effects of E2 on the dendritic spine-mediated synaptic organization of cognitive performance throughout the life span.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David González-Tapia
- Department of Health-disease as an individual and collective process, Health Division, Tlajomulco University Centre, University of Guadalajara, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jalisco, México
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Testo AA, Makarewicz J, McGee E, Dumas JA. Estradiol associations with brain functional connectivity in postmenopausal women. Menopause 2024; 31:218-224. [PMID: 38385731 PMCID: PMC10885742 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous studies have found that estrogens play a role in functional connectivity in the brain; however, little research has been done regarding how estradiol is associated with functional connectivity in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between estradiol and functional connectivity in postmenopausal women. METHODS Structural and blood oxygenation level-dependent resting-state magnetic resonance imaging scans of 88 cognitively healthy postmenopausal individuals were obtained along with blood samples collected the same day as the magnetic resonance imaging to assess hormone levels. We generated connectivity values in CONN toolbox version 20.b, an SPM-based software. RESULTS A regression analysis was run using estradiol level and regions of interest (ROI), including the hippocampus, parahippocampus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and precuneus. Estradiol level was found to enhance parahippocampal gyrus anterior division left functional connectivity during ROI-to-ROI regression analysis. Estradiol enhanced functional connectivity between the parahippocampal gyrus anterior division left and the precuneus as well as the parahippocampal gyrus anterior division left and parahippocampal gyrus posterior division right. An exploratory analysis showed that years since the final menstrual period was related to enhanced connectivity between regions within the frontoparietal network. CONCLUSIONS These results illustrated the relationship between estradiol level and functional connectivity in postmenopausal women. They have implications for understanding how the functioning of the brain changes for individuals after menopause that may eventually lead to changes in cognition and behavior in older ages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elizabeth McGee
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
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Ramachandra A, Thomas EHX, Vincent AJ, Hickey M, Warren N, Kulkarni J, Forrest LE, Bojadzieva J, Campbell A, Gurvich C. Subjective cognitive changes following premenopausal risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Climacteric 2023; 26:625-631. [PMID: 37751773 DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2023.2256659] [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: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Women at high risk of ovarian cancer are commonly advised to undergo risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) prior to natural menopause. Cognitive symptoms during natural menopause transition are frequently reported; however, very few studies have examined cognitive changes following surgical menopause. To address this gap, we explored the cognitive experiences of women within 24 months post BSO. METHODS This observational cross-sectional sub-study is part of a larger project, the Early Menopause and Cognition Study (EM-COG). We investigated perceived cognitive experiences in Australian women (n = 16) who underwent risk-reducing BSO using qualitative interviews. Thematic analysis was undertaken to identify key themes. RESULTS Fifteen out of 16 participants (93.75%) reported changes to cognition within 24 months post BSO. The key cognitive symptoms reported were brain fog, memory and retrieval difficulties, slower processing speed as well as attention difficulties. Five participants (31.3%) experienced negative mood symptoms post BSO. CONCLUSION Findings from this study suggest that women experience subjective cognitive changes within 24 months post BSO. This period could be a vulnerable time for women's cognitive health. While these findings need to be confirmed by a large prospective study, our research indicates that psychoeducation and awareness will be helpful in managing cognitive symptoms after surgical menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ramachandra
- HER Centre Australia, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - E H X Thomas
- HER Centre Australia, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - A J Vincent
- Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - M Hickey
- Women's Gynaecology Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - N Warren
- School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - J Kulkarni
- HER Centre Australia, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - L E Forrest
- Parkville Familial Cancer Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - J Bojadzieva
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - A Campbell
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - C Gurvich
- HER Centre Australia, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Thomas E, Verdonk P, Rhodius-Meester H, Muller M. Minding menopause in patients with cognitive impairment: a patient's perspective and reflections on clinical practice. BMC Womens Health 2023; 23:591. [PMID: 37950260 PMCID: PMC10638716 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02770-w] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Many women experience impairment in cognitive function during perimenopause. These symptoms are often not attributed to perimenopause by women themselves, by family and friends, or by healthcare professionals. In this article, we present a case in which perimenopausal complaints were attributed to early dementia and discuss mechanisms contributing to the low level of awareness of perimenopausal symptoms amongst patients and clinicians. Stigma amongst women and healthcare professionals impairs the recognition of perimenopausal complaints, and consideration of treatment options by clinicians. We advocate raising awareness in patients and physicians with more education, and the incorporation of potential menopause-related symptoms in general clinical guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Thomas
- Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics Section, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Ageing & Later Life, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Petra Verdonk
- Department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hanneke Rhodius-Meester
- Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics Section, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, The Memory Clinic, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Majon Muller
- Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics Section, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Atherosclerosis & Ischemic Syndromes, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Grummisch JA, Sykes Tottenham L, Gordon JL. Within-person changes in reproductive hormones and cognition in the menopause transition. Maturitas 2023; 177:107804. [PMID: 37536173 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.107804] [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: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Most women complain of cognitive deficits in the menopause transition, though the cause is unclear. The current study investigated the role that within-person changes in reproductive hormones, particularly estradiol, may play in triggering such perimenopausal cognitive difficulties. STUDY DESIGN Participants were 43 women aged 45-55 years and currently in the menopause transition. Once a week for 12 weeks, participants provided a urine sample for the measurement of estrone glucuronide (E1G), a urinary metabolite of estradiol. Every three weeks across the 12-week period, participants also underwent cognitive testing, including assessments of immediate and delayed memory, attention, and executive function, and completed questionnaires assessing subjective cognitive performance. Potential confounding variables including sleep quality, vasomotor symptoms, and depressive symptoms were also assessed. RESULTS Within-person E1G was positively associated with objective measures of attention, particularly the ability to passively register auditory information on the first pass, as well as subjective measures of memory, specifically relating to a lower frequency of forgetting things in everyday life. Perimenopausal women with lower estimated levels of intellectual functioning furthermore exhibited a stronger relationship between E1G changes and objective cognitive performance. While depressive mood, poor sleep, and vasomotor symptoms were all negatively associated with at least one aspect of cognitive function, the E1G-cognition relationship was not explained by these factors. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that validates perimenopausal women's cognitive complaints but also suggests that cognitive deficits are generally mild and transient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A Grummisch
- Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | | | - Jennifer L Gordon
- Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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Zhu C, Thomas EH, Li Q, Arunogiri S, Thomas N, Gurvich C. Evaluation of the Everyday Memory Questionnaire-Revised in a menopausal population: understanding the brain fog during menopause. Menopause 2023; 30:1147-1156. [PMID: 37788429 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002256] [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: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Brain fog (ie, memory complaints and concentration difficulties) is frequently reported during the menopausal transition. There is lack of standardized scales available to measure brain fog across the menopausal transition. This study aimed to evaluate the factor structure of the Everyday Memory Questionnaire-Revised (EMQ-R) and to determine the most commonly reported everyday cognitive symptoms in a menopausal population. METHODS Four hundred seventeen eligible women aged from 40 to 60 years (107 premenopausal, 149 perimenopausal, and 161 early postmenopausal) were recruited from the general community and were included in the analyses. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the model fit of the bifactor structure (ie, 4-item attentional subscale ranged 0-16, 7-item retrieval subscale ranged 0-28) of the 13-item EMQ-R (ranged 0-52) in a menopausal populations. Typical items in the retrieval subscale include "difficulty finding words," the attentional subscale include "difficulty following the thread of a story," and analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of covariance were used to investigate the group differences of individual items and two subscales. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analysis indicated the bifactor structure of the EMQ-R has a good fit in all three groups. A significant difference was identified in the mean retrieval scores (pre: 11.8, peri: 13.6, early post: 11.7) but not in the mean attentional scores (pre: 4.53, peri: 5.01, early post: 4.65). CONCLUSIONS The EMQ-R retrieval subscale may serve as a potential instrument to assess memory retrieval symptoms that contribute to "brain fog" in menopause. Increased memory retrieval complaints reported by the perimenopausal group suggests a transition-related memory retrieval dysfunction during menopausal transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhu
- From the HER Centre Australia, Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Hx Thomas
- From the HER Centre Australia, Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Qi Li
- From the HER Centre Australia, Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shalini Arunogiri
- Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Turning Point, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Natalie Thomas
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Caroline Gurvich
- From the HER Centre Australia, Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
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8
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Liu J, Chen K, Chen J, Fu L, Zhang W, Lin J, Wan J. Incidence and risk factors of cognitive dysfunction in hemodialysis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Dial 2023; 36:358-365. [PMID: 37592399 DOI: 10.1111/sdi.13171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study aims to explore the incidence and risk factors of cognitive dysfunction in hemodialysis patients. METHODS PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched for clinical studies on the association between hemodialysis and cognitive dysfunction from the database's inception to 1 December 2022. Two researchers independently completed data extraction and risk of bias assessments for the included studies. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA15.0 software. RESULTS Ten studies were included in this meta-analysis, with a total of 5535 hemodialysis patients, that is, 2033 patients with cognitive dysfunction and 3502 patients with normal cognitive function. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale scores of the included studies were greater than 5. Meta-analysis results suggested that the incidence of cognitive dysfunction in hemodialysis patients was (effect size = 51%, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.33, 0.69]), and hemodialysis patients with cognitive dysfunction were often older than those with normal cognition (standard mean difference [SMD] = 0.49, 95% CI [0.31, 0.68]). Female gender was a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction in hemodialysis patients (relative risk [RR] = 1.21, 95% CI [1.04, 1.41]); diabetes (RR = 1.33, 95% CI [1.04, 1.71]) and stroke (RR = 1.66, 95% CI [1.08, 2.55]) increased the incidence of cognitive dysfunction in hemodialysis patients. CONCLUSIONS The most important risk factors for cognitive dysfunction associated with hemodialysis might be female gender, old age, diabetes, and stroke. Close attention should be paid to such patients for early prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liu
- Blood Purification Center, Department of Nephrology, Army Medical Center of PLA, Chongqing, China
| | - Kehong Chen
- Blood Purification Center, Department of Nephrology, Army Medical Center of PLA, Chongqing, China
| | - Jia Chen
- Blood Purification Center, Department of Nephrology, Army Medical Center of PLA, Chongqing, China
| | - Lili Fu
- Blood Purification Center, Department of Nephrology, Army Medical Center of PLA, Chongqing, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- Blood Purification Center, Department of Nephrology, Army Medical Center of PLA, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Lin
- Blood Purification Center, Department of Nephrology, Army Medical Center of PLA, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingfang Wan
- Blood Purification Center, Department of Nephrology, Army Medical Center of PLA, Chongqing, China
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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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Fleming B, Edison P, Kenny L. Cognitive impairment after cancer treatment: mechanisms, clinical characterization, and management. BMJ 2023; 380:e071726. [PMID: 36921926 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-071726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is a debilitating side effect experienced by patients with cancer treated with systemically administered anticancer therapies. With around 19.3 million new cases of cancer worldwide in 2020 and the five year survival rate growing from 50% in 1970 to 67% in 2013, an urgent need exists to understand enduring side effects with severe implications for quality of life. Whereas cognitive impairment associated with chemotherapy is recognized in patients with breast cancer, researchers have started to identify cognitive impairment associated with other treatments such as immune, endocrine, and targeted therapies only recently. The underlying mechanisms are diverse and therapy specific, so further evaluation is needed to develop effective therapeutic interventions. Drug and non-drug management strategies are emerging that target mechanistic pathways or the cognitive deficits themselves, but they need to be rigorously evaluated. Clinically, consistent use of objective diagnostic tools is necessary for accurate diagnosis and clinical characterization of cognitive impairment in patients treated with anticancer therapies. This should be supplemented with clinical guidelines that could be implemented in daily practice. This review summarizes the recent advances in the mechanisms, clinical characterization, and novel management strategies of cognitive impairment associated with treatment of non-central nervous system cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Fleming
- Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Paul Edison
- Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Laura Kenny
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Wattanathorn J, Somboonporn W, Thukham-Mee W, Sungkamnee S. Memory-Enhancing Effect of 8-Week Consumption of the Quercetin-Enriched Culinary Herbs-Derived Functional Ingredients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Foods 2022; 11:foods11172678. [PMID: 36076862 PMCID: PMC9455773 DOI: 10.3390/foods11172678] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to great demand for memory enhancers, the memory-enhancing effects and the possible underlying mechanisms of the functional ingredients derived from the combined extract of Polygonum odoratum and Morus alba were investigated. A total of 45 participants randomly received either a placebo or the developed herbal supplement at a dose of 50 or 1500 mg/day. The consumption was done once daily for 8 weeks. Working memory was assessed via both an event-related potential and computerized battery tests at baseline and at the end of the 8-week study period. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase type A and type B (MAO-A, MAO-B) levels were also measured at the end of the study. The subjects who consumed the supplement containing a developed functional ingredient at a dose of 1500 mg/day showed reduced latencies but increased amplitudes of N100 and P300. An improvement in working memory and the suppression of AChE, MAO-A, and MAO-B activities were also observed. Therefore, this study clearly demonstrates the cognitive enhancing effect of the developed herbal congee, which may be associated with the suppressions of AChE and both types of MAO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jintanaporn Wattanathorn
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Research Institute of High Human Performance and Health Promotion, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +66-81-8721809
| | - Woraluck Somboonporn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Wipawee Thukham-Mee
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Research Institute of High Human Performance and Health Promotion, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Sudarat Sungkamnee
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Research Institute of High Human Performance and Health Promotion, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
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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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13
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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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14
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Orchard ER, Ward PGD, Egan GF, Jamadar SD. Evidence of Subjective, But Not Objective, Cognitive Deficit in New Mothers at 1-Year Postpartum. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2022; 31:1087-1096. [PMID: 35980243 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2021.0441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The experience and even existence of cognitive deficits in the postpartum period is uncertain, with only a few scientific studies, reporting inconsistent results. Methods: In this study, we investigate cognition in 86 women (43 first-time mothers 1 year postpartum and 43 non-mothers). Results: Mothers and non-mothers showed no significant differences on measures of objective cognition (verbal memory, working memory, and processing speed or theory of mind). Despite the absence of objective differences, mothers self-reported significantly worse subjective memory than non-mothers. To interpret the difference between objective and subjective measures of memory, we investigated relationships between subjective memory, objective memory, and wellbeing. Mothers, but not non-mothers, showed a positive correlation between subjective and objective measures of memory, indicating mothers are "in-tune" with their memory performance. Mothers also demonstrated a positive relationship between subjective memory and wellbeing (sleep, anxiety, and depression), where better wellbeing correlated with higher subjective memory. This relationship was not apparent in non-mothers. The results suggest that poorer sleep, higher anxiety, and higher depression are related to reports of poorer self-reported memory in mothers. Conclusion: Our results add to our growing understanding of maternal cognition at 1 year postpartum, with no evidence of cognitive differences between mothers and non-mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwina R Orchard
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.,Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Clayton, Australia.,Yale Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, Connecticut, USA
| | - Phillip G D Ward
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.,Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Clayton, Australia
| | - Gary F Egan
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.,Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Clayton, Australia
| | - Sharna D Jamadar
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.,Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Clayton, Australia
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15
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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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16
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Jett S, Schelbaum E, Jang G, Boneu Yepez C, Dyke JP, Pahlajani S, Diaz Brinton R, Mosconi L. Ovarian steroid hormones: A long overlooked but critical contributor to brain aging and Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:948219. [PMID: 35928995 PMCID: PMC9344010 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.948219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian hormones, particularly 17β-estradiol, are involved in numerous neurophysiological and neurochemical processes, including those subserving cognitive function. Estradiol plays a key role in the neurobiology of aging, in part due to extensive interconnectivity of the neural and endocrine system. This aspect of aging is fundamental for women's brains as all women experience a drop in circulating estradiol levels in midlife, after menopause. Given the importance of estradiol for brain function, it is not surprising that up to 80% of peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women report neurological symptoms including changes in thermoregulation (vasomotor symptoms), mood, sleep, and cognitive performance. Preclinical evidence for neuroprotective effects of 17β-estradiol also indicate associations between menopause, cognitive aging, and Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia affecting nearly twice more women than men. Brain imaging studies demonstrated that middle-aged women exhibit increased indicators of AD endophenotype as compared to men of the same age, with onset in perimenopause. Herein, we take a translational approach to illustrate the contribution of ovarian hormones in maintaining cognition in women, with evidence implicating menopause-related declines in 17β-estradiol in cognitive aging and AD risk. We will review research focused on the role of endogenous and exogenous estrogen exposure as a key underlying mechanism to neuropathological aging in women, with a focus on whether brain structure, function and neurochemistry respond to hormone treatment. While still in development, this research area offers a new sex-based perspective on brain aging and risk of AD, while also highlighting an urgent need for better integration between neurology, psychiatry, and women's health practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Jett
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eva Schelbaum
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Grace Jang
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Camila Boneu Yepez
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jonathan P. Dyke
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Silky Pahlajani
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Roberta Diaz Brinton
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lisa Mosconi
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
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17
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Harrington YA, Parisi JM, Duan D, Rojo-Wissar DM, Holingue C, Spira AP. Sex Hormones, Sleep, and Memory: Interrelationships Across the Adult Female Lifespan. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:800278. [PMID: 35912083 PMCID: PMC9331168 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.800278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
As the population of older adults grows, so will the prevalence of aging-related conditions, including memory impairments and sleep disturbances, both of which are more common among women. Compared to older men, older women are up to twice as likely to experience sleep disturbances and are at a higher risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). These sex differences may be attributed in part to fluctuations in levels of female sex hormones (i.e., estrogen and progesterone) that occur across the adult female lifespan. Though women tend to experience the most significant sleep and memory problems during the peri-menopausal period, changes in memory and sleep have also been observed across the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Here, we review current knowledge on the interrelationships among female sex hormones, sleep, and memory across the female lifespan, propose possible mediating and moderating mechanisms linking these variables and describe implications for ADRD risk in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin A. Harrington
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jeanine M. Parisi
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Daisy Duan
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Darlynn M. Rojo-Wissar
- The Initiative on Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR), Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Calliope Holingue
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Adam P. Spira
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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18
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Menopausal Hormone Therapy and the Mind: The Role of Hormone Replacement in the Prevention and Treatment of Cognitive Decline, Dementia, and Cognitive Dysfunction of Depression. Harv Rev Psychiatry 2022; 30:215-225. [PMID: 35616610 DOI: 10.1097/hrp.0000000000000339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
LEARNING OBJECTIVES After participating in this activity, learners should be better able to:• Outline the clinical recommendations for menopausal hormone treatment related to cognitive concerns• Debate and discuss the various research pieces on the use of menopausal hormone therapy cognitive decline, dysfunction, and dementia. ABSTRACT Menopause has been associated with subjective cognitive dysfunction and elevated rates of depression. While menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is Food and Drug Administration-approved for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms related to menopause, a potential role for MHT in treating and preventing cognitive decline, dysfunction, and dementia has remained unclear and a topic of continued interest and debate across decades of research. Increasing numbers of patients are seeking help for subjective cognitive decline, and those with poorer mental health are substantially more likely to perceive themselves to be at high risk of developing dementia; thus, mental health professionals are likely to encounter such patients and may be asked to provide advice concerning MHT, cognition, and indications for MHT use. Here, we synthesize the neurobiological effects of MHT, make recommendations for its use in current clinical practice in the contexts of cognitive dysfunction associated with major depressive disorder, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer's disease, and discuss the frontiers being explored by ongoing research on this topic. We conclude that MHT to improve cognitive functioning has only a few scenarios where it would be recommended and that particular caution may be warranted for carriers of the APOE ε4 allele.
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19
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Zhu C, Thomas N, Arunogiri S, Gurvich C. Systematic review and narrative synthesis of cognition in perimenopause: The role of risk factors and menopausal symptoms. Maturitas 2022; 164:76-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2022.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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20
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Jett S, Malviya N, Schelbaum E, Jang G, Jahan E, Clancy K, Hristov H, Pahlajani S, Niotis K, Loeb-Zeitlin S, Havryliuk Y, Isaacson R, Brinton RD, Mosconi L. Endogenous and Exogenous Estrogen Exposures: How Women's Reproductive Health Can Drive Brain Aging and Inform Alzheimer's Prevention. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:831807. [PMID: 35356299 PMCID: PMC8959926 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.831807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
After advanced age, female sex is the major risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia affecting over 24 million people worldwide. The prevalence of AD is higher in women than in men, with postmenopausal women accounting for over 60% of all those affected. While most research has focused on gender-combined risk, emerging data indicate sex and gender differences in AD pathophysiology, onset, and progression, which may help account for the higher prevalence in women. Notably, AD-related brain changes develop during a 10-20 year prodromal phase originating in midlife, thus proximate with the hormonal transitions of endocrine aging characteristic of the menopause transition in women. Preclinical evidence for neuroprotective effects of gonadal sex steroid hormones, especially 17β-estradiol, strongly argue for associations between female fertility, reproductive history, and AD risk. The level of gonadal hormones to which the female brain is exposed changes considerably across the lifespan, with relevance to AD risk. However, the neurobiological consequences of hormonal fluctuations, as well as that of hormone therapies, are yet to be fully understood. Epidemiological studies have yielded contrasting results of protective, deleterious and null effects of estrogen exposure on dementia risk. In contrast, brain imaging studies provide encouraging evidence for positive associations between greater cumulative lifetime estrogen exposure and lower AD risk in women, whereas estrogen deprivation is associated with negative consequences on brain structure, function, and biochemistry. Herein, we review the existing literature and evaluate the strength of observed associations between female-specific reproductive health factors and AD risk in women, with a focus on the role of endogenous and exogenous estrogen exposures as a key underlying mechanism. Chief among these variables are reproductive lifespan, menopause status, type of menopause (spontaneous vs. induced), number of pregnancies, and exposure to hormonal therapy, including hormonal contraceptives, hormonal therapy for menopause, and anti-estrogen treatment. As aging is the greatest risk factor for AD followed by female sex, understanding sex-specific biological pathways through which reproductive history modulates brain aging is crucial to inform preventative and therapeutic strategies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Jett
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Niharika Malviya
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eva Schelbaum
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Grace Jang
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eva Jahan
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Katherine Clancy
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hollie Hristov
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Silky Pahlajani
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kellyann Niotis
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Susan Loeb-Zeitlin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yelena Havryliuk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Richard Isaacson
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Roberta Diaz Brinton
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lisa Mosconi
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
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21
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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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22
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Menopause is a natural phenomenon among women during their midlife, which is accompanied by unfavorable physical, physiological, and psychological consequences. Therefore, the major aim of the present cross-sectional study was to examine whether the cognitive performance of women is sensitive to the severity of menopausal symptoms. METHODS A total number of 404 rural women aged between 40 and 65 years were included in the present study. The menopausal symptoms and cognitive performance of the women were assessed using the Greene Climacteric Scale and Hindi Mini-Mental State Examination scale respectively. RESULTS The results of the present study demonstrated that women experiencing severe menopausal symptoms (higher Total Greene climacteric score) presented significantly lower mean values for orientation (8.11 vs 8.90, P < 0.001), registration (2.77 vs 2.91, P < 0.001), attention (4.31 vs 4.48, P < 0.01), recall (2.26 vs 2.53, P < 0.05), and language/visuo-spatial skills (7.13 vs 7.91, P < 0.001) as compared with their counterparts with mild menopausal symptoms. The multivariate linear regression model (after adjustment for age, marital status, and educational status) recorded severe depression and greater sexual dysfunction as the factors significantly associated with lower Mini-Mental State Examination scores. CONCLUSION Hence, the findings of the present study indicated that the cognitive performance of women was sensitive to severe depression and sexual dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mankamal Kaur
- Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
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23
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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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24
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Neuroinflammation and Its Association with Cognition, Neuronal Markers and Peripheral Inflammation after Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13164198. [PMID: 34439351 PMCID: PMC8391457 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13164198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Up to 70% of chemotherapy-treated patients experience problems with memory and concentration, potentially caused by direct and indirect neurotoxicity, such as (neuro-)inflammatory processes. Can neuroinflammation changes be detected in chemotherapy-treated patients with breast cancer using translocator protein [18F]DPA714 simultaneous positron emission tomographic- and magnetic resonance imaging? Moreover, what is the association with clinical biomarkers? In a study including 19 chemotherapy-treated breast cancer patients, 18 chemotherapy-naïve and 37 healthy controls, we found significant relative glial overexpression in parietal and occipital brain regions in chemotherapy-treated patients compared to controls, which were associated with cognitive abnormalities and markers of neuronal survival. Shortly after ending chemotherapy, changes in brain neuroinflammation seem to occur, possibly contributing to the cognitive decline seen in breast cancer patients. Additionally, blood levels of an axonal damage marker were 20-fold higher in chemotherapy-treated patients, providing evidence for its use as a biomarker to assess neurotoxic effects of anticancer chemotherapies. Abstract To uncover mechanisms underlying chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment in breast cancer, we studied new biomarkers of neuroinflammation and neuronal survival. This cohort study included 74 women (47 ± 10 years) from 22 October 2017 until 20 August 2020. Nineteen chemotherapy-treated and 18 chemotherapy-naïve patients with breast cancer were assessed one month after the completion of surgery and/or chemotherapy, and 37 healthy controls were included. Assessments included neuropsychological testing, questionnaires, blood sampling for 17 inflammatory and two neuronal survival markers (neurofilament light-chain (NfL), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and PET-MR neuroimaging. To investigate neuroinflammation, translocator protein (TSPO) [18F]DPA714-PET-MR was acquired for 15 participants per group, and evaluated by volume of distribution normalized to the cerebellum. Chemotherapy-treated patients showed higher TSPO expression, indicative for neuroinflammation, in the occipital and parietal lobe when compared to healthy controls or chemotherapy-naïve patients. After partial-volume correction, differences with healthy controls persisted (pFWE < 0.05). Additionally, compared to healthy- or chemotherapy-naïve controls, cognitive impairment (17–22%) and altered levels in blood markers (F ≥ 3.7, p ≤ 0.031) were found in chemotherapy-treated patients. NfL, an axonal damage marker, was particularly sensitive in differentiating groups (F = 105, p = 4.2 × 10 −21), with levels 20-fold higher in chemotherapy-treated patients. Lastly, in chemotherapy-treated patients alone, higher local TSPO expression was associated with worse cognitive performance, higher blood levels of BDNF/NfL, and decreased fiber cross-section in the corpus callosum (pFWE < 0.05). These findings suggest that increased neuroinflammation is associated with chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment in breast cancer. Additionally, NfL could be a useful biomarker to assess neurotoxic effects of anticancer chemotherapies.
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Koebele SV, Hiroi R, Plumley ZMT, Melikian R, Prakapenka AV, Patel S, Carson C, Kirby D, Mennenga SE, Mayer LP, Dyer CA, Bimonte-Nelson HA. Clinically Used Hormone Formulations Differentially Impact Memory, Anxiety-Like, and Depressive-Like Behaviors in a Rat Model of Transitional Menopause. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:696838. [PMID: 34366807 PMCID: PMC8335488 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.696838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A variety of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved hormone therapy options are currently used to successfully alleviate unwanted symptoms associated with the changing endogenous hormonal milieu that occurs in midlife with menopause. Depending on the primary indication for treatment, different hormone therapy formulations are utilized, including estrogen-only, progestogen-only, or combined estrogen plus progestogen options. There is little known about how these formulations, or their unique pharmacodynamics, impact neurobiological processes. Seemingly disparate pre-clinical and clinical findings regarding the cognitive effects of hormone therapies, such as the negative effects associated with conjugated equine estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate vs. naturally circulating 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone, signal a critical need to further investigate the neuro-cognitive impact of hormone therapy formulations. Here, utilizing a rat model of transitional menopause, we administered either E2, progesterone, levonorgestrel, or combinations of E2 with progesterone or with levonorgestrel daily to follicle-depleted, middle-aged rats. A battery of assessments, including spatial memory, anxiety-like behaviors, and depressive-like behaviors, as well as endocrine status and ovarian follicle complement, were evaluated. Results indicate divergent outcomes for memory, anxiety, and depression, as well as unique physiological profiles, that were dependent upon the hormone regimen administered. Overall, the combination hormone treatments had the most consistently favorable profile for the domains evaluated in rats that had undergone experimentally induced transitional menopause and remained ovary-intact. The collective results underscore the importance of investigating variations in hormone therapy formulation as well as the menopause background upon which these formulations are delivered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie V. Koebele
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Ryoko Hiroi
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Zachary M. T. Plumley
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Ryan Melikian
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Alesia V. Prakapenka
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Shruti Patel
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Catherine Carson
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Destiney Kirby
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Sarah E. Mennenga
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | | | | | - Heather A. Bimonte-Nelson
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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Maki PM, Weber MT. A research primer for studies of cognitive changes across the menopause transition. Climacteric 2021; 24:382-388. [PMID: 34240671 DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2021.1905625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
There has been a proliferation of studies demonstrating important sex differences in cognitive aging and dementia, and with this an increased interest in the role of menopause and sex steroid hormones in women's brain health. Foundational longitudinal studies of cognitive changes from the premenopause to perimenopause stage have shown reliable declines in verbal memory, with variable findings in processing speed, attention/working memory and verbal fluency. Continued research is needed to advance understanding of the range of cognitive domains affected, the duration of cognitive changes, the generalizability of these changes across cultures, the factors that account for such changes and the factors that can improve cognition at this time. In this article, we briefly review and draw on findings from large longitudinal studies of cognitive changes across the menopause transition to inform the design of future studies on this topic. We focus on key issues such as objective versus subjective cognitive measures; cognitive domains and tests; staging menopause; study design; mediators of cognitive effects (including hormones and menopause symptoms); and consideration of key covariates. We suggest that a more uniform and evidence-based approach to the investigation of these issues can advance the quality of the science in menopause and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Maki
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychology and OB/GYN, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - M T Weber
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
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Huang W, Jiang S, Geng L, Li C, Tao M. Correlation between menopausal symptoms and everyday cognition in Chinese (peri)menopausal women. Gynecol Endocrinol 2021; 37:655-659. [PMID: 33645380 DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2021.1892629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the severity of menopausal symptoms and everyday cognitive decline in Chinese peri and postmenopausal women. METHODS The peri and postmenopausal Chinese Han female who first visited the menopausal clinic of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital was selected as the study participants. The general questionnaire was used to obtain the sociodemographic characteristics of the study participants. The menopausal rating scale (MRS) was used to assess the severity of menopausal symptoms. The short version of the Everyday Cognition (ECog-12) scales was used to assess everyday cognitive performance. RESULTS A total of 295 women were included, with an average age of 51.12 ± 5.15 years. The average ECog scores were 1.51 ± 0.49 and the average MRS scores were 6.89 ± 4.77. In multiple linear regression analysis, after adjusting for confounding factors age, body mass index (BMI), monthly income, occupational status, education level, menopausal status, parity, regular exercise, and history of chronic diseases, complaints of anxiety and physical/mental fatigue were positively correlated with everyday cognitive decline. CONCLUSIONS Menopausal anxiety and physical/mental fatigue were the independent predictors of everyday cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Huang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Susu Jiang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Lulu Geng
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Changbin Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Minfang Tao
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, PR China
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Koebele SV, Quihuis AM, Lavery CN, Plumley ZMT, Castaneda AJ, Bimonte-Nelson HA. Oestrogen treatment modulates the impact of cognitive experience and task complexity on memory in middle-aged surgically menopausal rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e13002. [PMID: 34378820 PMCID: PMC9124643 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Menopause has been linked to changes in memory. Oestrogen-containing hormone therapy is prescribed to treat menopause-related symptoms and can ameliorate memory changes, although the parameters impacting oestrogen-related memory efficacy are unclear. Cognitive experience and practice have been shown to be neuroprotective and to improve learning and memory during ageing, with the type of task playing a role in subsequent cognitive outcomes. Whether task complexity matters, and whether these outcomes interact with menopause and oestrogen status, remains unknown. To investigate this, we used a rat model of surgical menopause to systematically assess whether maze task complexity, as well as order of task presentation, impacts spatial learning and memory during middle age when rats received vehicle, low-17β-oestradiol (E2 ) or high-E2 treatment. The direction, and even presence, of the effects of prior maze experience differed depending on the E2 dose. Surgical menopause without E2 treatment yielded the least benefit, as prior maze experience did not have a substantial effect on subsequent task performance for vehicle treated rats regardless of task demand level during the first exposure to maze experience or final testing. High-dose E2 yielded a variable benefit, and low-dose E2 produced the greatest benefit. Specifically, low-dose E2 broadly enhanced learning and memory in surgically menopausal rats that had prior experience on another task, regardless of the complexity level of this prior experience. These results demonstrate that E2 dose influences the impact of prior cognitive experience on learning and memory during ageing, and highlights the importance of prior cognitive experience in subsequent learning and memory outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie V. Koebele
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Alicia M. Quihuis
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Courtney N. Lavery
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Zachary M. T. Plumley
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Arthur J. Castaneda
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Heather A. Bimonte-Nelson
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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Stroehlein JK, Vieluf S, Zimmer P, Schenk A, Oberste M, Goelz C, van den Bongard F, Reinsberger C. Learning to play golf for elderly people with subjective memory complaints: feasibility of a single-blinded randomized pilot trial. BMC Neurol 2021; 21:200. [PMID: 34001020 PMCID: PMC8127313 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-021-02186-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subjective Memory Complaints (SMC) in elderly people due to preclinical Alzheimer's Disease may be associated with dysregulation of the Kynurenine Pathway (KP), with an increase in neurotoxic metabolites that affect cognition. Golf is a challenging sport with high demands on motor, sensory, and cognitive abilities, which might bear the potential to attenuate the pathological changes of preclinical AD. This trial investigated the feasibility of learning to play golf for elderly with cognitive problems and its effects on cognitive functions and the KP. METHODS In a 22-week single-blinded randomized controlled trial, elderly people with SMC were allocated to the golf (n = 25, 180 min training/week) or control group (n = 21). Primary outcomes were feasibility (golf exam, adherence, adverse events) and general cognitive function (Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale). Secondary outcomes include specific cognitive functions (Response Inhibition, Corsi Block Tapping Test, Trail Making Test), KP metabolites and physical performance (6-Minute-Walk-Test). Baseline-adjusted Analysis-of-Covariance was conducted for each outcome. RESULTS 42 participants were analyzed. All participants that underwent the golf exam after the intervention passed it (20/23). Attendance rate of the golf intervention was 75 %. No adverse events or drop-outs related to the intervention occurred. A significant time*group interaction (p = 0.012, F = 7.050, Cohen's d = 0.89) was found for correct responses on the Response Inhibition task, but not for ADAS-Cog. Moreover, a significant time*group interaction for Quinolinic acid to Tryptophan ratios (p = 0.022, F = 5.769, Cohen's d = 0.84) in favor of the golf group was observed. An uncorrected negative correlation between attendance rate and delta Quinolinic acid to Kynurenic acid ratios in the golf group (p = 0.039, r=-0.443) was found as well. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that learning golf is feasible and safe for elderly people with cognitive problems. Preliminary results suggest positive effects on attention and the KP. To explore the whole potential of golfing and its effect on cognitive decline, a larger cohort should be studied over a longer period with higher cardiovascular demands. TRIAL REGISTRATION The trial was retrospectively registered (2nd July 2018) at the German Clinical Trials Register ( DRKS00014921 ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia K Stroehlein
- Department of Sports and Health, Institute of Sports Medicine, Paderborn University, Warburger Straße 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Solveig Vieluf
- Department of Sports and Health, Institute of Sports Medicine, Paderborn University, Warburger Straße 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Philipp Zimmer
- Department for Performance and Health, Institute for Sport and Sport Science, Technical University Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Straße 3, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Alexander Schenk
- Department for Performance and Health, Institute for Sport and Sport Science, Technical University Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Straße 3, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Max Oberste
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Straße 10, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christian Goelz
- Department of Sports and Health, Institute of Sports Medicine, Paderborn University, Warburger Straße 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Franziska van den Bongard
- Department of Sports and Health, Institute of Sports Medicine, Paderborn University, Warburger Straße 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Claus Reinsberger
- Department of Sports and Health, Institute of Sports Medicine, Paderborn University, Warburger Straße 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany.
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Physiologic vasomotor symptoms are associated with verbal memory dysfunction in breast cancer survivors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 27:1209-1219. [PMID: 33110036 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000001608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Vasomotor symptoms (VMS), sleep disturbance, and cognitive complaints are common among women with a history of breast cancer and contribute to decreased quality of life. Studies in healthy women showed an association between verbal memory performance and physiologic VMS measured with ambulatory skin conductance monitors but not with VMS by self-report. We hypothesized that we would find a similar association in women with breast cancer. METHODS Participants included 30 female breast cancer survivors (mean age 52.7 y; 26.7% African-American) with moderate-to-severe VMS enrolled in a larger clinical trial of a nonhormonal intervention for VMS. At baseline, participants completed assessments of physiologic VMS, actigraphy-based assessments of sleep, questionnaires about mood, and two tests of verbal memory - Logical Memory (LM) and the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). Using baseline data, we conducted multivariate regression analyses to examine the association between VMS and memory, controlling for sleep and other factors. RESULTS On average, women reported 46% of total physiologic VMS. A higher frequency of physiologic VMS - but not reported VMS - was significantly associated with lower scores on the California Verbal Learning Test short-delay free recall (r[28] = -0.41, P = 0.03), long-delay free recall (r[28] = -0.42, P = 0.03), and total clustering, (r[28] = -0.39, P = 0.04). These associations were independent of sleep, mood, and other factors. CONCLUSIONS Independent of their effect on sleep, VMS may be a modifiable contributor to memory difficulties in women with breast cancer. These findings underscore the importance of objective measurement of VMS in cognitive studies. : Video Summary:http://links.lww.com/MENO/A623.
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Weber MT, Rubin LH, Schroeder R, Steffenella T, Maki PM. Cognitive profiles in perimenopause: hormonal and menopausal symptom correlates. Climacteric 2021; 24:401-407. [PMID: 33759672 DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2021.1892626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Perimenopause is associated with declines in attention, working memory and verbal memory; however, there are significant individual differences. Further, the contributions of hormones and menopausal symptoms to domain-specific cognitive functions remain unknown. This longitudinal study aimed to determine whether there were distinct cognitive profiles in perimenopause and to identify factors associated with each profile. DESIGN In a sample of 85 women evaluated over 400 bi-annual visits, we administered a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, assessed menopausal symptoms and measured 17β-estradiol and follicle stimulating hormone. Multilevel latent profile analysis was used to identify cognitive profiles. Regressions were conducted to determine differences in hormones and symptoms by profile after adjusting for Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop + 10 (STRAW + 10) stage and demographic factors. RESULTS Perimenopausal cognitive profiles consisted of cognitively normal (Profile 1; n = 162), weaknesses in verbal learning and memory (Profile 2; n = 94), strengths in verbal learning and memory (Profile 3; n = 98) and strengths in attention and executive function (Profile 4; n = 61). Profile 2 was differentiated by less hormonal variability and more sleep disturbance than Profile 1 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is significant heterogeneity in cognition during perimenopause. While most women do not develop impairments, a significant minority experience weaknesses in verbal learning and memory. Profile analysis may identify at-risk populations and inform interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T Weber
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - L H Rubin
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - R Schroeder
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - T Steffenella
- School of Nursing, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - P M Maki
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Reuben R, Karkaby L, McNamee C, Phillips NA, Einstein G. Menopause and cognitive complaints: are ovarian hormones linked with subjective cognitive decline? Climacteric 2021; 24:321-332. [PMID: 33719785 DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2021.1892627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and the loss of ovarian hormones after menopause have been independently linked to later-life Alzheimer's disease (AD). The objective of this review was to determine whether menopause and the loss of ovarian hormones contribute to cognitive complaints and SCD in women. This would suggest that SCD at the menopausal transition might be an important marker of eventual cognitive decline and AD. We conducted a literature search using PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science in July 2020. All English-language studies assessing SCD and cognitive complaints with respect to menopause and ovarian hormones were included. A total of 19 studies were included. Studies found that cognitive complaints increased across the menopause transition and were associated with reductions in attention, verbal and working memory, and medial temporal lobe volume. Women taking estrogen-decreasing treatments also had increased cognitive complaints and reduced working memory and executive function. The current literature provides impetus for further research on whether menopause and the loss of ovarian hormones are associated with cognitive complaints and SCD. Clinicians may take particular note of cognitive complaints after menopause or ovarian hormone loss, as they might presage future cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Reuben
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - L Karkaby
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Tema Genus, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - C McNamee
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - N A Phillips
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - G Einstein
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Tema Genus, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Gurvich C, Le J, Thomas N, Thomas EHX, Kulkarni J. Sex hormones and cognition in aging. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2021; 115:511-533. [PMID: 33706960 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2020.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis that regulate reproductive function are also potent neurosteriods that have multiple effects on the development, maintenance and function of the brain. There is a growing body of evidence linking sex hormones to cognitive functioning across the lifespan. Both subjective and objective cognitive changes can occur with aging. For women, cognitive complains are commonly associated with the menopause transition-a time of significant hormone flux. Sex differences in neurodegenerative conditions associated with cognitive dysfunction, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, suggest a potential link between sex hormones and cognitive decline. Evidence for the effects of hormone therapy on cognition is growing, but remains inconclusive. This chapter provides an overview of sex hormones and cognition in association with healthy aging, including a focus on the menopause transition, as well as reviewing findings linking sex hormones to cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. An overview of hormone therapy and cognition is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Gurvich
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University Central Clinical School and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Jessica Le
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University Central Clinical School and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Natalie Thomas
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University Central Clinical School and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Elizabeth H X Thomas
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University Central Clinical School and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jayashri Kulkarni
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University Central Clinical School and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Orprayoon N, Santibenchakul S, Hemrungrojn S, Phutrakool P, Kengsakul M, Jaisamrarn U, Chaikittisilpa S. Effect of surgical menopause and frontal lobe cognitive function. Climacteric 2021; 24:389-393. [PMID: 33527861 DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2020.1867529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the prevalence of decreased frontal lobe function and its associated factors in women with surgical menopause. METHODS This study is a retrospective analysis of a cross-sectional study conducted between October 2013 and July 2014. Data from 164 women with surgical menopause were analyzed. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Thai version (MoCA-T) test was administered by a psychologist. The MoCA frontal lobe function score was derived from visuospatial/executive, abstraction, attention, and verbal fluency tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess data associated with decreased frontal lobe function. RESULTS The mean age of participants was 56.3 ± 6.9 years, and the mean time since menopause was 11.3 ± 7.4 years. The prevalence of decreased frontal lobe function score was 73.8%, with an average score of 6.21 ± 1.84. The independent factor associated with a lower MoCA frontal lobe function score was duration of education greater than 6 years. CONCLUSION Our study adds information about decreased frontal lobe function in almost three-quarters of women with surgical menopause. Duration of education greater than 6 years was a protective factor. Menopause hormone therapy usage did not seem to increase the detrimental effect on frontal lobe function when initiated in young women with surgical menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Orprayoon
- Menopause Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - S Santibenchakul
- Family Planning and Reproductive Health Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - S Hemrungrojn
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - P Phutrakool
- Chula Data Management Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - M Kengsakul
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Panyananthaphikkhu Chonprathan Medical Center, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - U Jaisamrarn
- Menopause Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - S Chaikittisilpa
- Menopause Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Maki PM, Springer G, Anastos K, Gustafson DR, Weber K, Vance D, Dykxhoorn D, Milam J, Adimora AA, Kassaye SG, Waldrop D, Rubin LH. Cognitive changes during the menopausal transition: a longitudinal study in women with and without HIV. Menopause 2021. [DOI: https:/doi.10.1097/gme.0000000000001725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Cognitive changes during the menopausal transition: a longitudinal study in women with and without HIV. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 28:360-368. [PMID: 33438895 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000001725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess longitudinal changes in cognitive performance across menopause stages in a sample comprised primarily of low-income women of color, including women with HIV (WWH). METHODS A total of 443 women (291 WWH; 69% African American; 18% Hispanic; median age = 42 y) from the Women's Interagency HIV Study completed tests of verbal learning and memory, attention/working memory, processing speed, verbal fluency, motor skills, and executive function first at an index premenopausal visit and thereafter once every 2 years for up to six visits (mean follow-up = 5.7 y). General linear-mixed effects regression models were run to estimate associations between menopause stages and cognition, in the overall sample and in WWH. We examined both continuous scores and categorical scores of cognitive impairment (yes/no >1 standard deviation below the mean). RESULTS Adjusting for age and relevant covariates, the overall sample and WWH showed longitudinal declines in continuous measures of learning, memory, and attention/working memory domains from the premenopause to the early perimenopause and from the premenopause to the postmenopause, Ps < 0.05 to < 0.001. Effects on those same domains were also evident in categorical scores of cognitive impairment, with the increased odds of impairment ranging from 41% to 215%, Ps < 0.05 to < 0.001. The increase in predicted probability of impairment by menopausal stage (% affected) ranged from 4% to 13%. CONCLUSIONS Menopause stage was a key determinant of cognition in a sample of low-income women of color, including WWH. Many of these changes reached a clinically significant level of cognitive impairment.
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Martino PL, Cervigni MA, Pulopulos MM, Audisio EO, Bonet JL, De Bortoli MA, Politis DG. Reproductive aging and executive functions in healthy women. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2020; 29:181-196. [PMID: 33307979 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2020.1859083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of reproductive aging on executive functions. We assessed executive functions in three groups of healthy women in the premenopausal (n = 45, mean age = 30.89, SD = 10.5), perimenopausal (n = 31, mean age = 50.06, SD = 3.6) and postmenopausal (n = 24, mean age = 63.39, SD = 6.5) phase. No differences between groups were observed in working memory, verbal fluency, inhibitory control, planning, and cognitive flexibility. However, when the analyses were repeated with participants with occupations with lower intellectual demands, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women performed worse than premenopausal women in semantic verbal fluency. This study provides important evidence to understand the effects of reproductive aging on cognitive performance in healthy women. Our findings indicate that cognitive reserve-related factors may be important to understand the differences in executive functions associated with reproductive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo L Martino
- Rosario Neuroscience Research Center, National University of Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Mauricio A Cervigni
- Rosario Neuroscience Research Center, National University of Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Matias M Pulopulos
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Psychobiology, National Distance Education University (UNED), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Eduardo O Audisio
- Faculty of Psychology, National University of Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - José L Bonet
- Faculty of Human and Behavioral Sciences, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Daniel G Politis
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina.,Faculty of Psychology, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Conley AC, Albert KM, Boyd BD, Kim SG, Shokouhi S, McDonald BC, Saykin AJ, Dumas JA, Newhouse PA. Cognitive complaints are associated with smaller right medial temporal gray-matter volume in younger postmenopausal women. Menopause 2020; 27:1220-1227. [PMID: 33110037 PMCID: PMC9153070 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000001613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Menopause is associated with increasing cognitive complaints and older women are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease compared to men. However, there is difficulty in early markers of risk using objective performance measures. We investigated the impact of subjective cognitive complaints on the cortical structure in a sample of younger postmenopausal women. METHODS Data for this cross-sectional study were drawn from the baseline visit of a longer double-blind study examining estrogen-cholinergic interactions in normal postmenopausal women. Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging was acquired on 44 women, aged 50-60 years and gray-matter volume was defined by voxel-based morphometry. Subjective measures of cognitive complaints and postmenopausal symptoms were obtained as well as tests of verbal episodic and working memory performance. RESULTS Increased levels of cognitive complaints were associated with lower gray-matter volume in the right medial temporal lobe (r = -0.445, P < 0.002, R = 0.2). Increased depressive symptoms and somatic complaints were also related to increased cognitive complaints and smaller medial temporal volumes but did not mediate the effect of cognitive complaints. In contrast, there was no association between performance on the memory tasks and subjective cognitive ratings, or medial temporal lobe volume. CONCLUSIONS The findings of the present study indicate that the level of reported cognitive complaints in postmenopausal women may be associated with reduced gray-matter volume which may be associated with cortical changes that may increase risk of future cognitive decline. : Video Summary:http://links.lww.com/MENO/A626.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C. Conley
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Kimberly M. Albert
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Brian D. Boyd
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Shin-Gyeom Kim
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Soonchunhyang University, Bucheon Hospital, Republic of Korea
| | - Sepideh Shokouhi
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Brenna C. McDonald
- Center for Neuroimaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Andrew J. Saykin
- Center for Neuroimaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Julie A. Dumas
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
| | - Paul A. Newhouse
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Health System, Nashville, TN
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Shi H, Du X, Wu F, Hu Y, Xv Z, Mi W. Dexmedetomidine improves early postoperative neurocognitive disorder in elderly male patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy. Exp Ther Med 2020; 20:3868-3877. [PMID: 32855737 PMCID: PMC7444346 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.9113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) is a common complication following thoracic surgery that frequently occurs in patients ≥65 years. PND includes postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and postoperative delirium (POD). To investigate whether intravenous dexmedetomidine (DEX) is able to improve neurocognitive function in elderly male patients following thoracoscopic lobectomy, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was performed at the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University (Hohhot, China). Patients aged ≥65 years were enrolled and were subjected to thoracic surgery under general anesthesia. A computer-generated randomization sequence was used to randomly assign patients (at a 1:1 ratio) to receive either intravenous DEX (0.5 µg/kg per h, from induction until chest closure) or placebo (intravenous normal saline). The primary endpoint was the result of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The secondary endpoints were the results of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and those obtained with the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), as well as the incidence of POCD and POD during the first 7 postoperative days. Other observational indexes included sleep quality at night, self-anxiety scale prior to the operation and 7 days following the operation and the visual analogue scale (VAS) score at rest and during movement on the first and third day following the operation. Furthermore, at 6 h following surgery, the MMSE score in the DEX group was significantly higher than that in the saline group. At 6 h and on the first day postoperatively, the MoCA score in the DEX group was significantly higher than that in the saline group. The incidence of POCD and POD in the DEX group was 13.2 and 7.5%, respectively, while that in the saline group was 35.8 and 11.3%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the incidence of POCD between the two groups (P<0.01). In the DEX group, mean sleep quality was increased, whereas the mean VAS was decreased compared with the corresponding values in the saline group. In conclusion, elderly male patients who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy under continuous infusion of DEX (0.5 µg/kg/h) exhibited a reduced incidence of POCD during the first 7 postoperative days as compared with the placebo group. Furthermore, DEX improved the subjective sleep quality in the first postoperative night, reduced anxiety and alleviated postoperative pain. In addition, it increased the incidence of bradycardia. The present study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn; registration no. ChiCTR-IPR-17010958).
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Shi
- Anesthesia and Operation Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P.R. China
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010050, P.R. China
| | - Xuejiang Du
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010050, P.R. China
| | - Fan Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010050, P.R. China
| | - Yajuan Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010050, P.R. China
| | - Zhipeng Xv
- Anesthesia and Operation Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P.R. China
| | - Weidong Mi
- Anesthesia and Operation Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P.R. China
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Maki PM, Thurston RC. Menopause and Brain Health: Hormonal Changes Are Only Part of the Story. Front Neurol 2020; 11:562275. [PMID: 33071945 PMCID: PMC7538803 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.562275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Most studies of menopause and brain aging have focused on the role of the sex steroid hormone, estradiol, as a key mechanisms contributing to cognitive and brain aging in women. An emerging literature demonstrates that beyond endogenous estradiol levels, menopausal symptoms, particularly vasomotor symptoms (VMS), are also key determinants of menopause-related changes in cognition and brain function. Critically, that literature shows the importance of using objective techniques to identify associations of VMS with memory performance, brain structure, and brain function. While self-report measures are important patient-centered outcomes in women's health research, objective measures of VMS typically relate more strongly to indices of cognitive and brain health. Currently, it is premature to make a causal claim about VMS and memory dysfunction, but initial findings raise the possibility that women with VMS might experience an improvement in cognition with VMS treatment. More generally, these findings underscore the utility of investigating female-specific risk factors for cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline M Maki
- Women's Mental Health Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Psychology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Rebecca C Thurston
- Women's Biobehavioral Health Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Epidemiology, and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Jenkins A, Tree JJ, Thornton IM, Tales A. Subjective Cognitive Impairment in 55-65-Year-Old Adults Is Associated with Negative Affective Symptoms, Neuroticism, and Poor Quality of Life. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 67:1367-1378. [PMID: 30689577 PMCID: PMC6398551 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Although subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) is increasingly recognized clinically and in research as a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment and dementia (particularly Alzheimer’s disease), it is etiologically heterogeneous and potentially treatable. Compared to mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, SCI however remains poorly characterized with debate continuing regarding its clinical relevance. The primary aim of this study was to improve the characterization of SCI within the general public by investigating functions sometimes omitted clinically or in research, namely visual attention-related information processing speed (RT) and its intra-individual variability (IIVRT), general cognition, depression, anxiety, memory, quality of life (QOL), and neuroticism. Compared to individuals without SCI, those with SCI were more likely to reveal higher scores of anxiety, depression, and neuroticism and poorer perceived physical, psychological, and environmental QOL. Within-group analysis identified no significant relationships between any of the above variables for the non-SCI group whereas for the SCI group, poorer Cognitive Change Index scores were significantly correlated with slower RT, raised IIVRT, poorer memory, negative affective symptoms, higher neuroticism scores, and poorer QOL. This indicates that reports of perceived memory changes in SCI can also be associated with other characteristics, namely objectively measured detrimental change in other aspects of brain function and behavior. This outcome emphasizes the importance of a multi-function approach to characterizing and understanding SCI. Thus, although the effect of RT and IIVRT is not strong enough to differentiate SCI from non-SCI at group level, slowing and raised IIVRT do appear to characterize some people with SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Jenkins
- Centre for Innovative Ageing, Swansea University, Wales, UK
| | - Jeremy J Tree
- Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Wales, UK
| | - Ian M Thornton
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of Malta, Malta
| | - Andrea Tales
- Centre for Innovative Ageing, Swansea University, Wales, UK
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Affiliation(s)
- Gail A Greendale
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Arun S Karlamangla
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Pauline M Maki
- Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois at Chicago
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Koebele SV, Nishimura KJ, Bimonte-Nelson HA, Kemmou S, Ortiz JB, Judd JM, Conrad CD. A long-term cyclic plus tonic regimen of 17β-estradiol improves the ability to handle a high spatial working memory load in ovariectomized middle-aged female rats. Horm Behav 2020; 118:104656. [PMID: 31862208 PMCID: PMC7286486 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The influence of estrogens on modifying cognition has been extensively studied, revealing that a wide array of factors can significantly impact cognition, including, but not limited to, subject age, estrogen exposure duration, administration mode, estrogen formulation, stress history, and progestogen presence. Less known is whether long-term, extended exposure to estrogens would benefit or otherwise impact cognition. The present study examined the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) exposure for seven months, beginning in late adulthood and continuing into middle age, using a regimen of cyclic exposure (bi-monthly subcutaneous injection of 10 μg E2), or Cyclic+Tonic exposure (bi-monthly subcutaneous injection of 10 μg E2 + Silastic capsules of E2) in ovariectomized female Fischer-344-CDF rats. Subjects were tested on a battery of learning and memory tasks. All groups learned the water radial-arm maze (WRAM) and Morris water maze tasks in a similar fashion, regardless of hormone treatment regimen. In the asymptotic phase of the WRAM, rats administered a Cyclic+Tonic E2 regimen showed enhanced performance when working memory was taxed compared to Vehicle and Cyclic E2 groups. Assessment of spatial memory on object placement and object recognition was not possible due to insufficient exploration of objects; however, the Cyclic+Tonic group showed increased total time spent exploring all objects compared to Vehicle-treated animals. Overall, these data demonstrate that long-term Cyclic+Tonic E2 exposure can result in some long-term cognitive benefits, at least in the spatial working memory domain, in a surgically menopausal rat model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie V Koebele
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States of America; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - Kenji J Nishimura
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States of America
| | - Heather A Bimonte-Nelson
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States of America; Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
| | - Salma Kemmou
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States of America
| | - J Bryce Ortiz
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States of America
| | - Jessica M Judd
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States of America
| | - Cheryl D Conrad
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States of America.
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Gurvich C, Thomas N, Kulkarni J. Sex differences in cognition and aging and the influence of sex hormones. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2020; 175:103-115. [PMID: 33008519 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64123-6.00008-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in cognitive functioning have been consistently reported in some cognitive tasks, with varying effect sizes. The most consistent findings in healthy adults are sex differences in the areas of mental rotation and aspects of attention and verbal memory. Sex differences in the vulnerability and manifestation of several psychiatric and neurologic diseases that involve cognitive disruption provide strong justification to continue investigating the social and biologic influences that underpin sex differences in cognitive functioning across health and disease. The biologic influences are thought to include genetic and epigenetic factors, sex chromosomes, and sex hormones. Sex steroid hormones that regulate reproductive function have multiple effects on the development, maintenance, and function of the brain, including significant effects on cognitive functioning. The aim of the current chapter is to provide a theoretical review of sex differences across different cognitive domains in adulthood and aging, as well as provide an overview on the role of sex hormones in cognitive function and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Gurvich
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University Central Clinical School and Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Natalie Thomas
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University Central Clinical School and Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jayashri Kulkarni
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University Central Clinical School and Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Tantipongpiradet A, Monthakantirat O, Vipatpakpaiboon O, Khampukdee C, Umehara K, Noguchi H, Fujiwara H, Matsumoto K, Sekeroglu N, Kijjoa A, Chulikhit Y. Effects of Puerarin on the Ovariectomy-Induced Depressive-Like Behavior in ICR Mice and Its Possible Mechanism of Action. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24244569. [PMID: 31847138 PMCID: PMC6943479 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24244569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Daily treatment of ovariectomized (OVX) ICR mice with puerarin, a glycosyl isoflavone isolated from the root bark of Pueraria candollei var. mirifica, and 17β-estradiol attenuated ovariectomy-induced depression-like behavior, as indicated by a decrease in immobility times in the tail suspension test (TST) and the forced swimming test (FST), an increase in the uterine weight and volume, a decrease in serum corticosterone levels, and dose-dependently normalized the downregulated transcription of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and estrogen receptor (Erβ and Erα) mRNAs. Like 17β-estradiol, puerarin also inhibited ovariectomy-induced suppression of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (increased the number of doublecortin (DCX)-immunosuppressive cells). These results suggest that puerarin exerts antidepressant-like effects in OVX animals, possibly by attenuating the OVX-induced hyperactivation of the HPA axis and/or normalizing the downregulated transcription of BDNF and ER mRNA in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariyawan Tantipongpiradet
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (A.T.); (O.M.); (O.V.); (C.K.)
| | - Orawan Monthakantirat
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (A.T.); (O.M.); (O.V.); (C.K.)
| | - Onchuma Vipatpakpaiboon
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (A.T.); (O.M.); (O.V.); (C.K.)
| | - Charinya Khampukdee
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (A.T.); (O.M.); (O.V.); (C.K.)
| | - Kaoru Umehara
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Yada 52-1, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan; (K.U.); (H.N.)
| | - Hiroshi Noguchi
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Yada 52-1, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan; (K.U.); (H.N.)
| | - Hironori Fujiwara
- Division of Medicinal Pharmacology, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan; (H.F.); (K.M.)
| | - Kinzo Matsumoto
- Division of Medicinal Pharmacology, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan; (H.F.); (K.M.)
| | - Nazim Sekeroglu
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Killis 7 Aralik University, Killis 79000, Turkey;
| | - Anake Kijjoa
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar and CIIMAR, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (Y.C.); Tel.: +351-220428331 (A.K.)
| | - Yaowared Chulikhit
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (A.T.); (O.M.); (O.V.); (C.K.)
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (Y.C.); Tel.: +351-220428331 (A.K.)
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Pop VJ, Ormindean V, Mocan A, Meems M, Broeren M, Denollet JK, Wiersinga WM, Bunevicius A. Maternal cognitive function during pregnancy in relation to hypo- and hyperthyroxinemia. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2019; 91:824-833. [PMID: 31614008 PMCID: PMC6900117 DOI: 10.1111/cen.14107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess a possible relationship between maternal cognitive dysfunction during pregnancy and hypothyroxinemia, adjusted for major confounders. BACKGROUND Thyroid dysfunction in general is associated with cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive dysfunction is common during pregnancy. DESIGN Prospective follow-up study from 12 to 32 weeks of pregnancy. PARTICIPANTS 2082 healthy pregnant women. MEASUREMENTS Cognitive function, depression and sleeping problems were assessed by self-report questionnaires at 12, 22 and 32 weeks of gestation, higher scores reflecting more symptoms. FT4, TSH and TPO-Ab were assessed at 12 weeks of gestation. DEFINITIONS healthy (euthyroxinemia) control group: FT4 within 10-90th percentiles, without elevated TPO-Ab titres and TSH within first trimester-specific reference range (0.23-4.0 mU/L). Hypothyroxinemia: FT4 <2.5th percentile with TSH within first trimester-specific reference range. Poor cognitive function: a score >1 SD > mean on the cognitive function scale. RESULTS A total of 54 women showed hypothyroxinemia and 1476 women had euthyroxinemia. At 12 weeks, multiple logistic regression showed that poor cognitive function was independently related to hypothyroxinemia: OR: 2.9 (95% CI: 1.6-5.4), adjusted for depression (OR: 3.1; 95% CI: 2.7-4.6) and sleeping problems (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.9-3.9). TPO-Ab + women with hypothyroxinemia had the highest levels of cognitive dysfunction. Other cut-offs of hypothyroxinemia (<5th or <10th percentile with normal TSH) showed similar results. GLM-ANOVA showed that throughout pregnancy women with hypothyroxinemia at 12 weeks had significantly higher cognitive dysfunction scores compared with the healthy controls: F = 12.1, P = .001. CONCLUSIONS Women with hypothyroxinemia during early gestation are at risk for poor cognitive function throughout gestation, adjusted for depression and sleeping problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor J. Pop
- Department of Medical and Clinical PsychologyTilburg UniversityTilburgThe Netherlands
| | - Vlad Ormindean
- Iuliu HațieganuUniversity of Medicine and PharmacyCluj‐NapocaRomania
| | - Andreia Mocan
- Center for Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic DiseasesEmergency Clinical County HospitalCluj‐NapocaRomania
| | - Margreet Meems
- Department of Medical and Clinical PsychologyTilburg UniversityTilburgThe Netherlands
| | | | - Johan K. Denollet
- Department of Medical and Clinical PsychologyTilburg UniversityTilburgThe Netherlands
| | - Wilmar M. Wiersinga
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismAcademic Medical CenterUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Adomas Bunevicius
- Computational Neuroscience Outcomes CenterBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
- Lithuanian University of Health SciencesKaunasLithuania
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying the cognitive changes associated with the menopausal transition prevents misattribution of symptoms to more ominous causes such as neurodegenerative disease. CASE Two women with cognitive loss and objective evidence of menopause-related cognitive impairment are presented, misattributed to Alzheimer disease in one case and frontotemporal dementia in the other. Neurocognitive testing, neuroimaging, and laboratory findings are reviewed. Both women were diagnosed with menopause-related cognitive impairment and were stable in follow-up over 4 or more years. CONCLUSIONS Recognizing the cognitive changes associated with menopause and distinguishing from cognitive impairment resulting from other etiologies-including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease-has important clinical implications both for treatment and for prognosis.
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Abstract
There are 3 common physiological estrogens, of which estradiol (E2) is seen to decline rapidly over the menopausal transition. This decline in E2 has been associated with a number of changes in the brain, including cognitive changes, effects on sleep, and effects on mood. These effects have been demonstrated in both rodent and non-human preclinical models. Furthermore, E2 interactions have been indicated in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and depression. In normal brain aging, there are a number of systems that undergo changes and a number of these show interactions with E2, particularly the cholinergic system, the dopaminergic system, and mitochondrial function. E2 treatment has been shown to ameliorate some of the behavioral and morphological changes seen in preclinical models of menopause; however, in clinical populations, the effects of E2 treatment on cognitive changes after menopause are mixed. The future use of sex hormone treatment will likely focus on personalized or precision medicine for the prevention or treatment of cognitive disturbances during aging, with a better understanding of who may benefit from such treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason K Russell
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Carrie K Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Paul A Newhouse
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Tennessee VA Health Systems, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
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Maki PM, Weber MT. Do Menopausal Symptoms Account for the Declines in Cognitive Function During the Menopausal Transition? ISGE SERIES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-11355-1_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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50
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Tigano V, Cascini GL, Sanchez-Castañeda C, Péran P, Sabatini U. Neuroimaging and Neurolaw: Drawing the Future of Aging. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:217. [PMID: 31024455 PMCID: PMC6463811 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human brain-aging is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon. Knowledge of the numerous aspects that revolve around it is therefore essential if not only the medical issues, but also the social, psychological, and legal issues related to this phenomenon are to be managed correctly. In the coming decades, it will be necessary to find solutions to the management of the progressive aging of the population so as to increase the number of individuals that achieve successful aging. The aim of this article is to provide a current overview of the physiopathology of brain aging and of the role and perspectives of neuroimaging in this context. The progressive development of neuroimaging has opened new perspectives in clinical and basic research and it has modified the concept of brain aging. Neuroimaging will play an increasingly important role in the definition of the individual's brain aging in every phase of the physiological and pathological process. However, when the process involved in age-related brain cognitive diseases is being investigated, factors that might affect this process on a clinical and behavioral level (genetic susceptibility, risks factors, endocrine changes) cannot be ignored but must, on the contrary, be integrated into a neuroimaging evaluation to ensure a correct and global management, and they are therefore discussed in this article. Neuroimaging appears important to the correct management of age-related brain cognitive diseases not only within a medical perspective, but also legal, according to a wider approach based on development of relationship between neuroscience and law. The term neurolaw, the neologism born from the relationship between these two disciplines, is an emerging field of study, that deals with various issues in the impact of neurosciences on individual rights. Neuroimaging, enhancing the detection of physiological and pathological brain aging, could give an important contribution to the field of neurolaw in elderly where the full control of cognitive and volitional functions is necessary to maintain a whole series of rights linked to legal capacity. For this reason, in order to provide the clinician and researcher with a broad view of the brain-aging process, the role of neurolaw will be introduced into the brain-aging context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Tigano
- Department of Juridical, Historical, Economic and Social Sciences, University of Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lucio Cascini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Patrice Péran
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Umberto Sabatini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy
- *Correspondence: Umberto Sabatini
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