Biological and social reproductive factors and late-life cognitive function in middle-aged and older Chinese women.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Few studies have concurrently examined the biological and social reproductive factors in relation to women's cognitive aging.

Methods

We analyzed 8577 women and 7872 men ≥45 years of age from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Biological reproductive factors included reproductive span, age at menarche, and age at menopause; social reproductive factors included number of children and age at first live birth. Multivariable regression models were sequentially adjusted for age, childhood cognition proxy, education, and current health and lifestyle factors.

Results

Longer reproductive span was associated with better cognitive performance in women, whereas a higher number of children were linked to poorer cognition in both sexes, particularly i

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12541285 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature