Journal article

Hormone levels and cognitive function in postmenopausal midlife women

J Ryan, FZ Stanczyk, L Dennerstein, WJ Mack, MS Clark, C Szoeke, D Kildea, VW Henderson

Neurobiology of Aging | ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC | Published : 2012

Abstract

Gonadal hormones may influence cognitive function. Postmenopausal midlife women in the population-based Melbourne Women's Midlife Health Project cohort were administered a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests on two occasions 2 years apart. Participants (n = 148, mean age 60 years) had undergone natural menopause and were not using hormone therapy. Estrone, total and free estradiol, and total and free testosterone levels were measured at time of the first testing. Principal-component analysis identified four cognitive factors. In multiple linear regression analyses, better semantic memory performance was associated with higher total (p = 0.02) and free (p = 0.03) estradiol level..

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Grants

Awarded by Alzheimer's Association


Funding Acknowledgements

Research in the Melbourne Women's Midlife Health Study was supported by grants from the Alzheimer's Association IIRG-01-2684 (VWH), Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (LD), the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (LD, CS), and the University of Melbourne. Effort of CS was supported by the Alzheimer's Association of Australia, Scobie and Claire McKinnon Foundation, and the Collier Trust Fund. We are indebted to the women in the Melbourne Women's Midlife Health Project, who generously donated their time to participate in this research study.