--- title: Are irregular menstrual cycles linked to lower thinking and memory skills in middle-aged women? description: Yes. Women with irregular cycles at ages 29-46 and women with very short cycles (25 days or less) at ages 18-22 both had slightly lower memory scores later in url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-characteristics-across-the-reproductive-lifespan-and-cognitive-2025/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are irregular menstrual cycles linked to lower thinking and memory skills in middle-aged women? Cohort study, 2025 # Are irregular menstrual cycles linked to lower thinking and memory skills in middle-aged women? Yes. Women with irregular cycles at ages 29-46 and women with very short cycles (25 days or less) at ages 18-22 both had slightly lower memory scores later in life. Strong study design 19,904 female nurses, mean age 62.0 ± 4.9 years at cognitive testing ## What they did A study of 19,904 female nurses from the Nurses' Health Study II. Researchers collected information about menstrual cycle regularity and length at ages 14-17, 18-22, and 29-46 years. They tested cognitive function around age 62 using a computerized assessment measuring thinking speed and memory. ## What they found Women with irregular cycles at ages 29-46 scored 0.05 SD lower in learning and working memory than those with very regular cycles. Women with cycles of 25 days or less at ages 18-22 scored 0.05 SD lower in learning and working memory in later life compared to those with cycles of 26-31 days. Women whose cycles were regular when younger but became irregular later also had lower memory scores. ## What it means for you Irregular or very short menstrual cycles may be linked to slightly lower memory skills in midlife. However, the differences are small, and the study measured cycles and cognition at different times in women's lives, so it cannot prove that cycle problems cause memory decline. 19,904 women studied 62.0 ± 4.9 mean age at testing (years) ≤25 days shortest cycle length studied ## About the study Original title Menstrual cycle characteristics across the reproductive lifespan and cognitive function in midlife women Authors Soria-Contreras DC, Wang S, Mitsunami M et al. Journal American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Year 2025 Study design Cohort study Participants 19,904 What was tested Observational analysis of menstrual cycle history and cognitive function Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2025.01.025](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2025.01.025) ## Topics [Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2025 Does alcohol use affect menstrual health in teenage girls? Systematic review, 2020 How common is PMS among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia? Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? Case-control study, 2014 How common is severe period pain and what causes it? Randomised trial, 2010 What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome? Survey study, 2026 Are women who feel mood changes from birth control pills at higher risk for PMDD and postpartum depression? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗