Premature menopause is associated with long-term negative effects on cognitive function, suggests a new study published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The average age of menopause is around 50 years in the Western World. Premature menopause refers to menopause at or before 40 years of age, which could be owing to a bilateral ovariectomy (surgically-induced menopause) or non-surgical loss of ovarian function (sometimes referred to as ‘natural’ menopause).

The study, based on a sample of 4868 women, used cognitive tests and clinical dementia diagnosis at baseline and after 2, 4 and 7 years, and aimed to determine whether premature menopause can have an effect on later-life cognitive function. The effects of the type of menopause, whether natural or surgical, and use of hormone treatment were also examined.

Of the 4868 women in this study, natural menopause was reported by 79% of the women; 10% as a surgical menopause and 11% of women reported menopause as a result of other causes, such as radiation or chemotherapy. Approximately 7.6% of the women in the study had a premature menopause and a further 12.8% an early menopause (between the ages of 41 and 45 years). Over one fifth of the women used hormone treatment during the menopause.

Results show that in comparison to women who experienced menopause after the age of 50 years, those with a premature menopause had a more than 40% increased risk of poor performance on tasks assessing verbal fluency and visual memory, and was associated with a 35% increased risk of decline in psychomotor speed (coordination between the brain and the muscles that brings about movement) and overall cognitive function over 7 years. There was no significant association with the risk of dementia.

‘Both premature surgical menopause and premature ovarian failure, were associated with long-term negative effects on cognitive function, which are not entirely offset by menopausal hormone treatment,’ said Dr Joanne Ryan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Hospital La Colombiere, Montpellier.

‘In terms of surgical menopause, our results suggest that the potential long-term effects on cognitive function should form part of the decision-making process when considering ovariectomy in younger women.’

Both premature ovarian failure and premature surgical menopause were associated with a more than two-fold risk of poor verbal fluency. With regard to visual memory, premature ovarian failure was associated with a significantly increased risk of poor performance, and there was a similar trend for premature surgical menopause.

When the potential modifying effect of using hormone treatment at the time of premature menopause was examined, there was some evidence that it may be beneficial for visual memory, but it could increase the risk of poor verbal fluency.