Effect of Different Exercise Modalities on Cardiovascular and Cognitive Response in Postmenopausal Women

Menopause is a natural stage in the female aging process, resulting in increased cardiometabolic risk, making cardio-neuro-vascular disease (CNVD) the leading cause of female mortality worldwide after the age of 60. Indeed, falling ovarian hormone concentrations are associated with altered body composition, increased blood pressure, as well as mild cognitive impairment.

For some women, menopause is also accompanied by symptoms that have a significant impact on their quality of life. Among these, menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS - hot flushes, night sweats...) are the most frequent, affecting 60% to 80% of women for an average of 5 to 10 years. Several studies have highlighted an altered cardiovascular profile (dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, pre-hypertension/hypertension...) and a more marked decline in cognitive performance in women with VMS.

In order to reduce the risk of CNVD and limit cognitive impairment, physical exercise appears to be a particularly interesting non-pharmacological management option for postmenopausal women. Indeed, the latter seem to present a 10-year post-menopausal time window, during which physical activity has a positive vascular and probably neurovascular effect, although the latter remains to be demonstrated. Numerous studies have also shown that physical activity is associated with a lower rate of cognitive decline, and improved quality of life.

However, to date, there is little evidence to determine which exercise modalities are most effective in managing the risk of CNVD in postmenopausal women.

The aims of this study:

• To examine the effect of exercise on markers of cardio-neuro-vascular health and cognition in postmenopausal women.
• Second, to compare the differences in the cardio-neuro-vascular and cognitive response to exercise, dependent on the type of exercise, the physical fitness and the presence of menopausal symptoms.
• Third, to examine the effect of menopausal symptoms, and physical fitness on cardio-neuro-vascular health markers and cognitive health markers.

Inclusion criteria

• Menopausal women (absence of menstruation for 12 consecutive months) for less than 10 years
• Women with or without vasomotor symptoms
• Women covered by the French Social Security system

Exclusion criteria

• Surgical menopause (oophorectomy)
• Premature ovarian failure
• Chronic renal failure
• Respiratory pathology (unstable asthma, respiratory insufficiency or pulmonary hypertension)
• Cardiovascular disease (coronary, valvular, hypertrophic, hypertensive, infiltrative, constrictive or rhythmic)
• Medically treated hypertension
• Severe obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m²)
• Hearing or vision problems that prevent reading or distinguishing colors
• Recent (< 1 year) central neurological or psychiatric disorders
• Moderate to severe cognitive impairment (MoCA < 18).
• Judicial protection or guardianship