Date of Award

9-6-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Amy Bohnert

Abstract

Females are at two-thirds greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) than males. Due to this notable sex difference in cognitive aging and disease burden, there has been an increased focus on understanding the critical role of the menopausal transition (decline in fertility during midlife) as it relates to cognitive functioning across midlife. Thus, the present cross-sectional study used a sample of midlife females at different stages in the menopausal transition (N=202; Age 40-60 years) as part of a larger, multimodal design study, to elucidate distinct cognitive profiles while accounting for education, which were then characterized by other demographic factors, cardiovascular and metabolic health indicators, and medication use. Using latent profile analyses, four distinct cognitive profiles were identified which differed only based on race. Depressive symptoms significantly differed between the profiles marked by a strength or weakness in verbal learning and memory, with those in the worse performing profile reporting higher levels of depressive symptoms. In the sub-sample of participants with confirmed staging (n=139), menopause stage did not moderate this association. This study confirms prior research findings that suggest negative mood states, particularly sadness and anxiety, are prevalent during the menopausal transition and are related to verbal learning and memory. Further research is necessary to establish causal relations between depressive symptoms, menopause stage, and specific cognitive outcomes to develop effective interventions for improving cognitive functioning during and beyond, particularly for those from marginalized backgrounds. The findings from this study indicate that depressive symptoms are critical to identify and treat, and likely influence cognitive functioning during the menopausal transition.

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