Evaluation of the relationship between types of menopause and cognitive function.

Background/aim: Menopause is often accompanied by neurological symptoms, including cognitive difficulties, especially with memory and attention. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the timing of menopause and the cognitive performance of menopausal patients who applied to our neurology clinic with complaints of forgetfulness.

Materials and methods: The data of 538 women who applied to the neurology clinic with complaints of forgetfulness between January 2018 and January 2024 and underwent neuropsychological evaluations were scanned retrospectively. A total of 96 patients who applied to the neurology and menopause clinics were included in the study.

Results: The attention orientation, verbal fluency, memory, and total Addenbrooke's cognitive evaluation battery-revised (ACE-R) test scores were significantly higher in the >50-year-old menopausal group when compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). A statistically significant, negative, and weak relationship was detected between the body mass index (BMI) and memory scores (r = 0.3, p < 0.001). A statistically significant, positive, and weak relationship was detected between the high-density lipoprotein level and verbal fluency score, memory score and ACE-R score (r = 0.3, p < 0.001). A statistically significant, negative, and weak relationship was detected between the BMI and memory scores (r = 0.3, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The relationship between the cognitive performance of menopausal women and the timing of menopause was examined herein. The ACE-R, attention and orientation, visual, verbal fluency, and memory scores were significantly higher in women ≥50 years of age who entered menopause compared to those <40 years of age and those between 40 and 50 years of age. This study provides evidence that advancing age at menopause is associated with better cognitive performance. This relationship is most evident in the areas of the attention, verbal fluency, memory, and visuospatial domains.