POSSIBLE ACCELERATION OF AGE EFFECTS ON COGNITION FOLLOWING MENOPAUSE

Many cognitive functions have been shown to deteriorate with age. Beca use of the importance of the menopause as a milestone in the life cycl es of women, we examined whether the aging-over-time process in some c ognitive functions differs between women of reproductive age and postm enopausal women. It is demonstrated here that in some cognitive tests, including driving simulation, reaction time and some visuospatial tes ts, there is a significant acceleration in deterioration of functionin g following menopause. It is suggested that this acceleration might be associated with the lack of gonadal hormones or other reproduction-re lated factors which may play a protective role against age-related det erioration in some cognitive functions in women.