Age at menopause and duration of reproductive period in association with dementia and cognitive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Psychoneuroendocrinology Vol. 73; pp. 224 - 243
• Main Authors: Georgakis, Marios K, Kalogirou, Eleni I, Diamantaras, Andreas-Antonios, Daskalopoulou, Stella S, Munro, Cynthia A, Lyketsos, Constantine G, Skalkidou, Alkistis, Petridou, Eleni Th., MD, MPH, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2016
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aging - metabolism; Aging - physiology; Cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction - epidemiology; Cognitive Dysfunction - metabolism; Cognitive Dysfunction - physiopathology; Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Dementia - epidemiology; Dementia - metabolism; Dementia - physiopathology; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Female; Female hormones; Humans; Menopause; Menopause - metabolism; Menopause - physiology; Postmenopausal women; Psychiatry; female hormones; dementia; cognitive impairment; cognition; menopause; postmenopausal women; Cognition; Postmenopausal women; Female hormones; Menopause; Dementia; Cognitive impairment
• ISSN: 0306-4530; 1873-3360; 1873-3360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.08.003

Highlights • We investigated if indices of prolonged lifetime exposure to endogenous female sex hormones are associated with dementia and cognitive function. • Age at menopause is not associated with risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. • Increasing age at menopause and reproductive period duration are possibly associated with better cognitive performance and delayed cognitive decline. • High heterogeneity indicates published literature limitations on the topic. • Independent of female hormones mechanisms potentially apply for the female preponderance in dementia.