REPRODUCTIVE SENESCENCE PREDICTS COGNITIVE DECLINE IN AGED FEMALE MONKEYS

THE present investigation provide evidences from a nonhuman primate mo del that naturally occurring menopause predicts a prominent signature of ape-related cognitive decline. Young and aged rhesus monkeys were t ested on a delayed response (DR) task known to be sensitive to aging, and reproductive status was evaluated according to menstrual cyclicity and urinary hormone profiles. Peri-/postmenopausal monkeys exhibited significant DR impairments relative to either age-matched premenopausa l females, or young control subjects. In addition, markers of endocrin e decline in the aged animals were selectively correlated with behavio ral performance measures that distinguished premenopausal and peri-/po stmenopausal monkeys. These results document that menopause is coupled to cognitive decline in the monkey, and they establish a valuable pri mate model for defining the effects of endocrine aging on brain and be havioral function.