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

• Published in: Frontiers in neuroendocrinology Vol. 47; pp. 134 - 153
• Main Authors: Gervais, Nicole J., Mong, Jessica A., Lacreuse, Agnès
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Cognition - physiology; Estrogens; Estrogens - blood; Executive function; Female; Hormone replacement therapy; Human; Humans; Memory; Menopause; Primate; Progesterone; Progesterone - blood; Rodent; Sleep - physiology; Sleep loss; 5-CSRTT; Executive function; Sleep loss; MTL; WCST; Estrogens; Menopause; Memory; HRT; NOIP; PFC; DNMP; E2; DR; PVT; DNMS; Aβ; FSH; EB; EC; GnRHa; Human; AD; PSG; EEG; PRh; NOP; PSR; HFs; HPC; RM; E; ERT; NREM; DRST; OVX; P; SD; WM; NHP; Rodent; SWA; DMP; DMS; N1-N3; SWS; Primate; Hormone replacement therapy; Progesterone; REM; DRL; RAM
• ISSN: 0091-3022; 1095-6808; 1095-6808
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2017.08.002

•Sleep is modulated by ovarian hormones in females across adult lifespan.•Ovarian hormones also influence certain cognitive domains.•Sleep loss impacts similar abilities, but biological sex often not considered.•Animal models are crucial for understanding the benefits of sleep on cognition. 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.