Editing Estrogen (section)

====Cognition====
[[Verbal memory]] scores are frequently used as one measure of higher level [[cognition]]. These scores vary in direct proportion to estrogen levels throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. Furthermore, estrogens when administered shortly after natural or surgical menopause prevents decreases in verbal memory. In contrast, estrogens have little effect on verbal memory if first administered years after menopause.<ref name="pmid22004260">{{cite journal | vauthors = Sherwin BB | title = Estrogen and cognitive functioning in women: lessons we have learned | journal = Behavioral Neuroscience | volume = 126 | issue = 1 | pages = 123–127 | date = February 2012 | pmid = 22004260 | pmc = 4838456 | doi = 10.1037/a0025539 }}</ref> Estrogens also have positive influences on other measures of cognitive function.<ref name="pmid26109339">{{cite journal | vauthors = Hara Y, Waters EM, McEwen BS, Morrison JH | title = Estrogen Effects on Cognitive and Synaptic Health Over the Lifecourse | journal = Physiological Reviews | volume = 95 | issue = 3 | pages = 785–807 | date = July 2015 | pmid = 26109339 | pmc = 4491541 | doi = 10.1152/physrev.00036.2014 }}</ref> However the effect of estrogens on cognition is not uniformly favorable and is dependent on the timing of the dose and the type of cognitive skill being measured.<ref name="pmid26149525">{{cite journal | vauthors = Korol DL, Pisani SL | title = Estrogens and cognition: Friends or foes?: An evaluation of the opposing effects of estrogens on learning and memory | journal = Hormones and Behavior | volume = 74 | pages = 105–115 | date = August 2015 | pmid = 26149525 | pmc = 4573330 | doi = 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.06.017 }}</ref>

The protective effects of estrogens on cognition may be mediated by estrogen's anti-inflammatory effects in the brain.<ref name="pmid26774208">{{cite journal | vauthors = Au A, Feher A, McPhee L, Jessa A, Oh S, Einstein G | title = Estrogens, inflammation and cognition | journal = Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology | volume = 40 | pages = 87–100 | date = January 2016 | pmid = 26774208 | doi = 10.1016/j.yfrne.2016.01.002 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Studies have also shown that the Met allele gene and level of estrogen mediates the efficiency of [[prefrontal cortex]] dependent working memory tasks.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Jacobs E, D'Esposito M | title = Estrogen shapes dopamine-dependent cognitive processes: implications for women's health | journal = The Journal of Neuroscience | volume = 31 | issue = 14 | pages = 5286–5293 | date = April 2011 | pmid = 21471363 | pmc = 3089976 | doi = 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6394-10.2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Colzato LS, Hommel B | title = Effects of estrogen on higher-order cognitive functions in unstressed human females may depend on individual variation in dopamine baseline levels | journal = Frontiers in Neuroscience | volume = 8 | pages = 65 | date = 1 January 2014 | pmid = 24778605 | pmc = 3985021 | doi = 10.3389/fnins.2014.00065 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Researchers have urged for further research to illuminate the role of estrogen and its potential for improvement on cognitive function.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hogervorst E | title = Estrogen and the brain: does estrogen treatment improve cognitive function? | journal = Menopause International | volume = 19 | issue = 1 | pages = 6–19 | date = March 2013 | pmid = 27951525 | doi = 10.1177/1754045312473873 | s2cid = 10122688 }}</ref>