PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) has been associated with cognitive impairment in aging.
- The World Health Organization estimates that PCOS could affect up to 13% of women of reproductive age, and that 70% of them go undiagnosed.
- As the name suggests, one of the symptoms of PCOS is the formation of cysts in the ovaries.
- A new study has linked PCOS to cognitive impairment.
The data of a study which lasted 30 years indicate a worrying association between PCOS (ovarian syndrome polycystic) and early aging of the brain.
The women in the research cohort were aged 18 to 30 at the start of the study period. 66 had PCOS. After 30 years of follow-up, they were asked to take a whole series of tests to assess their memory, attention, verbal ability, etc.
PCOS: Affected women perform worse on cognitive tests
The researchers then found that the average score of people with PCOS on Stroop test was about 11% lower than that of women without this disease.
The results on all other tests were also worse in the patients, even after adjusting the data according to the age and education of the participants.
291 women (including 25 with PCOS) also had brain scans at the 25th and 30th years of the experiment. The examinations then revealed lower integrity of white matter in patients with PCOS, which could indicate premature aging of the brain according to the researchers.
“Our findings suggest that people with this condition have poorer memory and thinking skills. They also experience subtle brain changes in mid-life. This could have an impact on many levels, including quality life, professional success or finance“, they write in their report.
“Further research is needed to confirm these results and determine how this change occurs”they also believe.
PCOS Symptoms and Prevalence
The World Health Organization estimates that PCOS may affect up to 13% of women of reproductive age, with 70% going undiagnosed.
As the name suggests, one of the symptoms of PCOS is the formation of cysts in the ovaries. This condition is characterized by hormonal imbalances, which include irregular periods, lack of ovulation, excessive facial and body hair, and weight gain. It is one of the leading causes of infertility and the trigger for comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
In addition to disabling physical symptoms, many people with PCOS suffer from mental health problems.