Key result
Early post-menopausal females had lower working memory accuracy (p=0.02) but similar arterial stiffness (cf-PWV difference +0.29 m/s; 95% CI -1.03 to 1.62; p=0.48) compared to pre-menopausal females.
Why the study?
Menopause accelerates increases in arterial stiffness and decreases cognitive performance, but their relationship in physically active females required comparison.
Does early post-menopausal status affect cognitive performance and arterial stiffness compared to late pre-menopausal status in physically active females?
Cross-Sectional
Does early post-menopausal status affect cognitive performance and arterial stiffness compared to late pre-menopausal status in physically active females?
Mean Difference: 0.29 (95% CI -1.03–1.62)
p-value: p=0.48
In physically active females, early post-menopause is associated with lower working memory accuracy compared to late pre-menopause, but this difference is not explained by increased arterial stiffness.
Early post-menopause linked to working memory deficits without stiffness changes in active females; leaves open alternative pathways for cognitive effects.
Menopause accelerates increases in arterial stiffness and decreases cognitive performances. The objective of this study was to compare cognitive performances in physically active pre- and post-menopausal females and their relationship with arterial stiffness. We performed a cross-sectional comparison of blood pressure, carotid−femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) and cognitive performances between physically active late pre- and early post-menopausal females. Systolic (post-menopause—pre-menopause: +6 mmHg [95% CI −1; +13], p = 0.27; ŋ2 = 0.04) and diastolic (+6 mmHg [95% CI +2; +11], p = 0.06; ŋ2 = 0.12) blood pressures, and cf-PWV (+0.29 m/s [95% CI −1.03; 1.62], p = 0.48; ŋ2 = 0.02) did not differ between groups. Post-menopausal females performed as well as pre-menopausal females on tests evaluating executive functions, episodic memory and processing speed. Group differences were observed on the computerized working memory task. Post-menopausal females had lower accuracy (p = 0.02; ŋ2 = 0.25) but similar reaction time (p = 0.70; ŋ2 < 0.01). Moreover, this performance was inversely associated with the severity of menopausal symptoms (r = −0.38; p = 0.05). These results suggest that arterial stiffness and performance on tests assessing episodic memory and processing speed and executive functions assessing inhibition and switching abilities did not differ between physically active pre- and post-menopausal females. However, post-menopausal females had lower performance on a challenging condition of a working memory task, and this difference in working memory between groups cannot be explained by increased arterial stiffness.
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Debray et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Menopause. Early post-menopause vs. Late pre-menopause was evaluated on carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) (MD 0.29 m/s, 95% CI -1.03 to 1.62, p=0.48). Early post-menopausal females had lower working memory accuracy (p=0.02) but similar arterial stiffness (cf-PWV difference +0.29 m/s; 95% CI -1.03 to 1.62; p=0.48) compared to pre-menopausal females.
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