Around the world, more than 24 million people currently live with dementia, and as the population ages, the number of diagnoses continues to climb. Each year, about 4.6 million new cases are identified, which equates to one diagnosis every 7 seconds. By 2040, the global number of dementia cases is expected to double, potentially reaching 81.1 million.
A new study published on Wednesday suggests that severe menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and depression, may negatively impact cognitive function in postmenopausal women.
Dementia affects over 24 million people globally, and with the aging population, diagnoses are on the rise. An estimated 4.6 million new cases are identified annually, which equates to one diagnosis every seven seconds. By 2040, the number of dementia cases is expected to double, reaching 81.1 million worldwide.
The study, which included nearly 1,300 late-postmenopausal women from nine Latin American countries, found that severe menopause symptoms—such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders—were associated with cognitive impairment.
The findings raise the possibility that treating hot flashes with hormone therapy or other approved treatments could potentially improve cognitive functions like memory, attention, language, and executive function. However, this remains uncertain.
Published in the journal Menopause, the researchers noted that cognitive health is influenced by a complex mix of hormonal, lifestyle, and sociodemographic factors.
“This study highlights a possible link between severe menopause symptoms and cognitive impairment in midlife women,” said Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society.
“The results also suggest that a lower body mass index, higher educational level, physical exercise, hormone therapy use, and sexual activity may have protective effects on cognition, underscoring the potential for targeted interventions to safeguard cognitive function in menopausal women.”
Medical experts believe that 40 percent of Alzheimer’s disease cases, the most common form of dementia, can be prevented or delayed. This has fueled interest in identifying risk factors, including the role of estradiol in female cognitive aging.
As menopause is characterized by a decline in estrogen, postmenopausal women are at increased risk of developing dementia.
