The Effect of Cumulative Lifetime Estrogen Exposure on Cognition in Depressed Versus Non-Depressed Older Women. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oughli, Hanadi Ajam; Nguyen, Sarah A.; Siddarth, Prabha; Fox, Molly; Milillo, Michaela; Ercoli, Linda; Lavretsky, Helen
• Is Part Of: Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology. Volume 35:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 832
• Page End: 839
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: depression -- lifetime estrogen exposure -- cognitive function -- women's health -- reproductive life history; Geriatric neurology -- Periodicals; Geriatric neuropsychiatry -- Periodicals; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.97689
• DOI: 10.1177/08919887221090216
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-9887

Abstract

Objectives: Two-thirds of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease are women. Declining estrogen levels influence mood and cognition. Cumulative lifetime estrogen exposure (CLEE) correlates with cognition later in life. We examined the relationship of CLEE to depression and cognition in older women with major depression compared to non-depressed women. Design: Older women (age ≥60 years) with depression were compared to non-depressed women using a lifetime estrogen exposure questionnaire. CLEE was defined as combined durations of reproductive span (age of menopause minus age of menarche) and any post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy use. Higher vs lower CLEE groups were based on a median of 474 months of estrogen exposure. Setting: University hospital outpatient research program Participants: 135 women ≥60 years; 64 depressed and 71 non-depressed Measurments: Participants completed a comprehensive cognitive test battery. General linear models were used to examine the association between cognitive domain scores and CLEE in depressed and non-depressed women, controlling for age, education, and ethnicity. Results: Depressed and non-depressed groups had significantly different levels of CLEE, measured in months: mean 495.7 (SD 108.6) vs 456.4 (SD 66.0) months, F(1, 130) = 5.01, p = .03. Within the non-depressed participants, higher CLEE was associated with improved delayed recall (F(1, 59) = 5.94, p = .02, effect size = .61), while no such relationship was observed in the depressed group. Conclusion: Higher CLEE was associated with improvement in delayed recall among non-depressed, but not among depressed participants. This suggests a protective role of estrogen on memory in non-depressed older postmenopausal women. Further research should examine the role of the CLEE in antidepressant response and cognitive decline.