A scientific study has shown that a longer fertile period contributes to slowing the decline in cognitive functions in women as they age.
Scientists define the fertile period as the time between the start of menstruation and the start of menopause. This period reflects the duration of exposure to estrogen, a hormone believed to play an important role in maintaining brain function. Because cognitive decline often occurs at a faster rate in women compared to men, researchers have long sought to understand the effect of hormones on this process.
To understand this mechanism, scientists analyzed medical data related to fertility and cognitive status of 14,000 women, collected over 30 years. The data analysis showed that women with the longest fertile period retained better memory and other cognitive functions as they aged, and the use of hormone therapy, even in the early years after menopause, showed little to no effect on cognitive functions.
The researchers emphasize that these findings do not necessarily imply intervention in the hormonal system in women, but they contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of brain aging, noting that natural factors related to hormone levels may play a more important role in maintaining cognitive health than was previously thought.
