Does general physical activity affect memory and thinking in menopause? What 13 studies found

A systematic review of studies in postmenopausal women found physical activity was linked to lower rates of cognitive and physical decline and reduced all-cause mortality.

Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2014PostmenopausalCited 35 timesPubMed

In 120 perimenopausal women, 8 weeks of yoga reduced hot flushes, night sweats and sleep disturbance and improved memory and attention test scores more than supervised physical exercise.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 120 women · 8 weeks · 2008PerimenopausalCited 54 timesPubMed

A review of 14 studies found that higher perimenopausal leisure time physical activity was linked to lower risk of dementia later in life.

Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2024PerimenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed

Low-income middle-aged Korean women did an 8 week lifestyle program including physical activity, nutrition and stress management, and reported better health-promoting behavior, cognitive function and lower blood pressure than controls.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 63 women · 8 weeks · 2021Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed

A scoping review of 19 studies found movement, mostly aerobic training, was linked to brain health benefits, such as executive function, in 68% of studies on perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women.

Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2025PerimenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed

In a 15-year cohort of postmenopausal Danish women, those reporting physical activity at least once weekly had a lower risk of developing dementia than less active women.

Reported an improvementCohort study · 5,512 women · 2016PostmenopausalCited 29 timesPubMed

In a 6 month trial of moderate intensity exercise versus usual care in postmenopausal women with breast cancer, exercisers with higher APOE gene methylation showed improved cognitive outcomes.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 102 women · 26 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed

In 136 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, more moderate to vigorous physical activity measured by accelerometer was linked to faster information processing speed, especially among overweight women.

Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 136 women · 2015PostmenopausalCited 42 timesPubMed

Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors with higher physical activity levels showed better performance on executive function and attention tests than less active survivors.

Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 136 women · 2015PostmenopausalCited 35 timesPubMed

In 73 postmenopausal women with early breast cancer, higher daily steps, activity levels and fitness were associated with better attention, memory and psychomotor speed on cognitive tests.

Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 73 women · 2021PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed

In 93 midlife women aged 35 to 63, regular exercise, especially resistance training, was associated with faster reaction time and better working memory under high cognitive load.

Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 93 women · 2026Midlife womenPubMed

A narrative review reported that physical exercise, especially combined physical cognitive training, was linked to cognitive benefits in obese individuals with or without menopause.

Reported an improvementOther · 2022PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed

A review described how regular physical activity including aerobic exercise, resistance training and yoga in midlife women supports cognition, sleep, mood and reduces chronic disease risk.

Reported an improvementOther · 2025Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed