title: Perimenopause and cognition.
abstract: The impact of perimenopause on cognition seems to be characterized by an absence of improved scores rather than a decline. In the SWAN, the perimenopausal decrement in cognitive performance was not accounted for; however, increases in anxiety and depressive symptoms had independent, unfavorable effects on performance. Estradiol has been found to protect against changes resulting from serotonin withdrawal and defend against changes from cholinergic depletion. There is support for the critical timing hypothesis--that estrogen benefits cognitive function when instituted early, but not later. The menopausal transition may affect cognitive function in older age owing to worsened cardiovascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10945 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1687, USA.
authors.forename: Gail A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Greendale
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Derby
authors.forename: Pauline M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Maki
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D023421:Models, Animal; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000523:psychology; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006854:Hydrocortisone