women<\/a>\u00a0who completed a\u00a06-month\u00a0aerobic exercise programme experienced greater improvements in executive function compared with those undertaking stretching and toning exercises, as well as pre-menopausal participants.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nThe findings suggest menopausal status may influence how the brain responds to exercise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Exercise and Cognitive Health\u00a0<\/p>\n
Researchers analysed data from 93 cognitively healthy women aged\u00a0between 20 and\u00a067 years with below-average cardiovascular fitness. Participants were randomly assigned to either aerobic exercise or stretching and toning, completed four times per week for 6 months.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The aerobic programme included\u00a0using a\u00a0treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bicycle, with intensity gradually increased to 75% of participants\u2019 maximum heart rate. Each session lasted approximately 1 hour.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Participants underwent neuropsychological testing and cardiorespiratory assessments at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Menopausal status was also recorded, with approximately 37% of participants classified as post-menopausal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Overall, 76 participants completed 3 months of exercise and 66 completed the full 6-month intervention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Greater Executive Function Benefits After Menopause\u00a0<\/p>\n
Researchers found that menopausal status influenced the relationship between exercise and changes in executive function at both 3 and 6 months.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Women who were\u00a0post-menopausal who undertook aerobic exercise experienced greater improvements in executive function than those completing stretching and toning. The benefits of aerobic exercise were also greater among post-menopausal women than among pre-menopausal women undertaking the same type of exercise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Executive functions are higher-level cognitive abilities involved in planning, switching between tasks, resisting distractions, inhibiting responses, and adapting thinking to changing situations. These skills play\u00a0an important role\u00a0in everyday activities and\u00a0maintaining\u00a0independence as people age.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, the findings did not extend across all areas of cognition. Menopausal status did not significantly influence the effect of exercise on processing speed at either 3 or 6 months.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Exploratory analyses similarly found no significant menopause-related differences in exercise response for episodic memory, working memory, attention, or language.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Because post-menopausal participants were older on average, the researchers also examined whether age could explain the findings. Menopausal status was strongly associated with age; however, the relationship between menopausal status, aerobic exercise, and improved executive function remained significant after researchers accounted for age.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
This suggests that menopausal status may influence how executive function responds to aerobic exercise beyond the effects of chronological ageing alone, although the researchers noted that the effects of age and menopause could not be completely separated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Potential Implications for Women\u2019s Brain Health\u00a0<\/p>\n
The researchers also investigated whether changes in\u00a0estradiol\u00a0hormone\u00a0could explain the findings. However, neither exercise programme produced significant changes in\u00a0estradiol, and hormone changes were not associated with cognitive improvements.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The authors noted several limitations. The study was a secondary analysis of an existing randomised trial and was not originally designed to examine menopause-related differences, resulting in a\u00a0relatively small\u00a0sample.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Menopausal status was also largely self-reported, and researchers were unable to examine\u00a0different stages\u00a0of the menopausal transition, including perimenopause.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the findings highlight aerobic exercise as a potentially important strategy for supporting cognitive health in women\u00a0who are\u00a0post-menopausal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Further trials are needed to\u00a0determine\u00a0how menopause and hormonal changes influence the brain\u2019s response to exercise and whether these benefits could contribute to reducing long-term cognitive decline.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reference
Sanz Simon S\u00a0et al. Can menopausal status moderate the effects of aerobic exercise on executive functions? Evidence from a randomized controlled trial.\u00a0Journal of Alzheimer\u2019s Disease. 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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