Journal article
Reproductive period duration and cognitive function in postmenopausal Latina women in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)
Maturitas, Vol.174, pp.23-29
08/2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.04.270
PMCID: PMC10832364
PMID: 37224791
Abstract
•A longer reproductive period was related to higher verbal learning.•Older age at menopause was associated with better processing speed.•Age at menarche was inversely related to executive functioning and processing speed.•There were no associations with global cognition.
A shorter reproductive period, a marker of estrogen exposure, has been related to cognitive impairment among older (>65 years) non-Hispanic White women. We explored whether reproductive period duration, age at menarche, and age at menopause are related to cognitive function among postmenopausal Hispanic/Latina women.
This cross-sectional analysis used baseline (Visit 1: 2008–2011) data from 3630 postmenopausal women in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Reproductive period duration, age at menarche, and age at menopause were assessed by self-report. Cognitive function variables included global cognition, verbal learning, memory, verbal fluency, and processing speed. Associations between each reproductive event and cognitive function were examined using multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses accounting for the complex survey design of the study and adjusting for socio-demographics, parity, and cardiovascular risk factors. We assessed whether associations differed by type of menopause (natural versus surgical) and hormone therapy use.
The study population was on average aged 59 years, with a mean reproductive period duration of 35 years. Older age at menopause and a longer reproductive period were related to higher verbal learning (β = 0.04, SE = 0.02; p < 0.05) and processing speed (ß = 0.16, SE = 0.04; p < 0.001); associations were more pronounced for women with natural menopause. Older age at menarche was associated with lower scores on the digit symbol substitution test (ß = −0.62, SE = 0.15; p < 0.0001). There were no associations with global cognition.
Among postmenopausal Hispanic/Latinas, a longer reproductive period was related to more favorable cognitive measures of verbal learning and processing speed. Our findings support the hypothesis that greater lifetime exposure to estrogens may be associated with higher cognitive performance.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Reproductive period duration and cognitive function in postmenopausal Latina women in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)
- Creators
- Yamnia I. Cortés - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillJianwen Cai - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillMartha Daviglus - University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignLinda C. Gallo - San Diego State UniversityMelissa Lamar - Institute for Minority Health Research, The University of Illinois College of Medicine, 1737 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL, USACarmen R. Isasi - Albert Einstein College of MedicineKrista M. Perreira - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Maturitas, Vol.174, pp.23-29
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.04.270
- PMID
- 37224791
- PMCID
- PMC10832364
- NLM abbreviation
- Maturitas
- ISSN
- 0378-5122
- eISSN
- 1873-4111
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2023
- Academic Unit
- Nursing
- Record Identifier
- 9984446558402771
Metrics
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