Review of the impact of menopause symptoms on longevity

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundEmerging evidence suggests that experiencing specific symptoms during menopause can heighten risks of developing conditions which can impact lifespan and long‐term vitality including dementia, cardiovascular disease, psychiatric conditions and cancer. In addition, it is now recognised that, while women live on average about 5 years longer than men, they often have poorer health which could be linked to this increased risk. The aim of the present review was to assess past literature to understand how distinct menopausal symptom presentations can impact lifespan and propensity for developing life‐limiting conditions.MethodThe following databases were searched: Google Scholar, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. Keys words aimed to capture factors relating to menopause, menopausal symptoms, mortality, and life limiting conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, liver disease, and suicide susceptibility.ResultFindings suggested that cognitive symptoms experienced during menopause were related to heightened risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and premature mortality. Vasomotor symptoms were related to increased risks of stroke and cardiovascular disease mortality. Psychological symptoms during the menopause transition were related to increased suicide risks and cardiovascular disease. Sleeping problems during menopause were related to heightened risks of cardiovascular mortality, cancer‐related mortality, and premature death from all causes.ConclusionThese findings warrant further investigation through robust analyses of public health data, to evaluate whether these outcomes are replicated within the general population. Should these findings endure, these outcomes suggest a need to improve the health of women during midlife, as doing so may prolong wellness in later life and also have consequences for socioeconomic costs. Furthermore, clarifying these associations may enable women and their health providers to recognise whether they are at risk of developing life‐limiting conditions, thus enhancing their vitality by increasing their likelihood of accessing preventative or early interventions and treatments.