Self-assessment of memory function and memory test performance in perimenopausal women

It is commonly reported clinically that perimenopause in women is associated with complaints of memory disorder. Given the literature demonstrating cognitive and neuroanatomical effects of estrogen loss in humans and animals as well as preliminary evidence of the cognitive protective effects of estrogen replacement therapy, it is theoretically plausible that estrogen loss associated with perimenopause would affect cognitive functioning. However, there have been no research studies examining neuropsychological functioning in perimenopausal women. The following study examined self-report of memory function and neuropsychological performance in perimenopausal and premenopausal women. It was hypothesized that perimenopausal women would have significantly more memory complaints as well as significantly worse neuropsychological performance. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that there would be a greater difference in memory complaints than in memory performance in perimenopausal women and that there would be a significant relationship between memory complaints and psychological distress. The results indicated that the perimenopausal women had significantly more memory complaints than controls. However, there were no significant differences on neuropsychological test performance between perimenopausal women and controls. A significant relationship was found between memory complaints and psychological distress. The results suggest that memory complaints in perimenopausal women are more related to psychological distress than to actual cognitive problems.