Ovarian hormones, sleep and cognition across the adult female lifespan: An integrated perspective

Nicole J. Gervais*, Jessica A. Mong, Agnès Lacreuse

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

41 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Loss of ovarian function in women is associated with sleep disturbances and cognitive decline, which suggest a key role for estrogens and/or progestins in modulating these symptoms. The effects of ovarian hormones on sleep and cognitive processes have been studied in separate research fields that seldom intersect. However, sleep has a considerable impact on cognitive function. Given the tight connections between sleep and cognition, ovarian hormones may influence selective aspects of cognition indirectly, via the modulation of sleep. In support of this hypothesis, a growing body of evidence indicates that the development of sleep disorders following menopause contributes to accelerated cognitive decline and dementia in older women. This paper draws from both the animal and human literature to present an integrated view of the effects of ovarian hormones on sleep and cognition across the adult female lifespan.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)134-153
Number of pages20
JournalFrontiers in Neuroendocrinology
Volume47
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct-2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Estrogens
  • Executive function
  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Human
  • Memory
  • Menopause
  • Primate
  • Progesterone
  • Rodent
  • Sleep loss

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