PCOS, a painful condition for millions of women, linked to memory loss, study finds

Statistically, you know someone — or several someones — who have it. It affects an estimated 8–13% of reproductive-aged women, according to the World Health Organization, and continues to be one of the most ubiquitous yet mysterious conditions in modern medicine.

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a female hormonal disorder defined by irregular menstruation and high levels of the hormone androgen. It comes with a slew of undesirable, uncomfortable, and even dangerous symptoms, from irregular periods and ovarian cysts to type 2 diabetes and endometrial cancer. There are so many symptoms associated with the condition that it is often difficult to diagnose, as many of these symptoms could have a variety of causes, according to Women’s Healthcare of Princeton

Now, a new study has found yet another hardship associated with PCOS: cognitive decline in mid-life.

Researchers followed 907 women for 30 years, according to the study published Jan. 31 in the journal Neurology. At the beginning of the study, all participants were 18-30 years old, and 66 of them had PCOS. 30 years later, at the end of the study, the researchers gave the women tests to measure memory, verbal abilities, processing speed and attention.

The researchers found that the people with PCOS scored lower (about 11% lower) on tests in memory, attention and verbal abilities, compared to those without PCOS.

The study also included brain scans of a subset of the participants. Analyzing the scans, researchers noticed that the participants with PCOS had significantly reduced integrity of the white matter in their brains.

White matter “connects regions that send and receive signals, affecting the ability to focus and learn, solve problems, and stay balanced when walking,” according to the Gillings School of Public Health. “It’s a significant area of interest for public health experts since conditions that impact white matter can lead to significant cognitive impairment and increase the risk of long-term neurological problems.”

According to the study, this could be further evidence of early brain aging among participants with PCOS.

In a news release, study author Heather G. Huddleston spoke about the impact this kind of decline could have on people’s lives, aside from just forgetting where they put their keys.

“This could impact a person on many levels, including quality of life, career success and financial security,” she said.

But all is not lost. Next, Huddleston said future studies should examine how to possibly mediate the adverse cognitive effects of PCOS for those who live with it.

“Making changes like incorporating more cardiovascular exercise and improving mental health may serve to also improve brain aging for this population.”