Reproductive senescence predicts cognitive decline in aged female monkeys.
The present investigation provide evidences from a non-human primate model that naturally occurring menopause predicts a prominent signature of age-related cognitive decline. Young and aged rhesus monkeys were tested on a delayed response (DR) task known to the sensitive to aging, and reproductive status was evaluated according to menstrual cyclicity and urinary hormone profiles. Peri-/postmenopausal monkeys exhibited significant DR impairments relative to either age-matched premenopausal females, or young control subjects. In addition, markers of endocrine decline in the aged animals were selectively correlated with behavioral performance measures that distinguished premenopausal and peri-/postmenopausal monkeys. These results document that menopause is coupled to cognitive decline in the monkey, and they establish a valuable primate model for defining the effects of endocrine aging on brain and behavioral function.
Roberts
J A
JA
California Regional Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Gilardi
K V
KV
Lasley
B
B
Rapp
P R
PR
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012201:Reward