Age at menopause and cognitive function and decline among middle-aged and older women in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, 2011-2018.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Chinese women experience higher dementia rates than men, yet sex-specific risk factors are understudied. We examined how menopause age affects cognitive function and decline in aging Chinese women.

Methods

Data were from 7419 postmenopausal women 45-101 years of age at baseline in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS; 2011-2018). Menopause age was categorized using clinical cutoffs (<40, 40-44, 45-49, 50-55, >55 years). Cognitive function was assessed with neuropsychological tests up to four times over 7 years, and associations were analyzed using multivariable-adjusted linear mixed-effects regression.

Results

Compared to menopause at 50-55 years (3661/7419; 49.3%), premature (<40; 235/7419; 3.2%), early (40-44; 623/7419; 8.4%), and

SUBMITTER: Guo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11815216 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature