A new study, published in Neurology, suggests a possible link between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and cognitive decline in middle age.
The research highlights a noteworthy association between PCOS and memory and thinking problems.
PCOS is a hormonal disorder affecting up to 10% of women, characterized by irregular menstruation and elevated androgen levels.
Its symptoms can include excessive hair growth, acne, infertility, and poor metabolic health, often leading to conditions like obesity and diabetes.
Heather G. Huddleston, MD, from the University of California, San Francisco, points out the potential impact of PCOS on brain health.
The study comprised 907 women, aged 18 to 30 at its start, followed over 30 years. At the end of this period, the participants underwent various cognitive tests focusing on memory, verbal abilities, processing speed, and attention.
Among these women, 66 had PCOS. In a specific attention test, where participants were asked to name the ink color of a written word rather than the word itself, those with PCOS scored about 11% lower than those without the condition.
After adjusting for factors like age, race, and education, the study found that women with PCOS generally had lower scores in memory, attention, and verbal abilities.
Additionally, brain scans of a smaller subgroup revealed that women with PCOS had lower white matter integrity in their brains, possibly indicating early signs of brain aging.
This finding is particularly important as it suggests that PCOS might have broader implications than previously understood.
Huddleston emphasizes the need for further research to confirm these findings and understand the underlying mechanisms.
She suggests that lifestyle changes, such as increased cardiovascular exercise and improved mental health, might help mitigate these brain health risks in women with PCOS.
The study shows the potential long-term effects of PCOS on cognitive functions and brain health.
It underscores the importance of considering holistic health approaches for women with PCOS, addressing not just reproductive and metabolic aspects but also potential impacts on brain aging and cognitive abilities.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and coconut oil could help improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s.
The research findings can be found in Neurology.
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