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. 2022 Jul 9;12(7):901.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci12070901.

A Cross-Sectional Comparison of Arterial Stiffness and Cognitive Performances in Physically Active Late Pre- and Early Post-Menopausal Females

Amélie Debray  1   2   3 , Louis Bherer  1   4   5 , Christine Gagnon  1   4 , Laurent Bosquet  3   4 , Eva Hay  3 , Audrey-Ann Bartlett  1   2 , Daniel Gagnon  1   2 , Carina Enea  3
Affiliations

A Cross-Sectional Comparison of Arterial Stiffness and Cognitive Performances in Physically Active Late Pre- and Early Post-Menopausal Females

Amélie Debray et al. Brain Sci. .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: executive functions; vascular health; working memory.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Blood pressure and central stiffness assessed in physically active pre- (Pre-M, white) and post- (Post-M, grey) menopausal females: SBP, systolic blood pressure (top left panel); DBP, diastolic blood pressure (top right panel); cf-PWV, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (bottom left panel); PP, pulse pressure (bottom right panel). Data are presented as mean ± SD with individual values for 16 pre- and 14 post-menopausal females. p value is for an ANCOVA with age as a covariate.
Figure 2
Figure 2
N-Back accuracy (left panel) and reaction time (right panel) in physically active pre- (white bar) and post- (grey bar) menopausal females. Data are presented as mean ± SD with individual values for 13 pre- and 10 post-menopausal females. The p value is for an ANCOVA with age as covariate. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relationship between 3-Back accuracy and cf-PWV in pre- and post-menopausal females. Top panel: pre-menopausal (n = 13) and post-menopausal (n = 10) females combined. Middle panel: pre-menopausal females only. Bottom panel: post-menopausal females only. The r and p values are for a Pearson correlation analysis.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Relationship between accuracy in 3-Back test and total menopausal symptoms (top panels) in pre- and post-menopausal females. Top panel: pre-menopausal (n = 13) and post-menopausal (n = 10) females combined. Middle panel: pre-menopausal females only. Bottom panel: post-menopausal females only. The r and p values are for a Pearson correlation analysis.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Relationship between accuracy in 3-Back test and vasomotor symptoms (top panels) in pre- and post-menopausal females. Top panel: pre-menopausal (n = 13) and post-menopausal (n = 10) females combined. Middle panel: pre-menopausal females only. Bottom panel: post-menopausal females only. The r and p values are for a Pearson correlation analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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