Premature menopause is associated with long-term negative effects on cognitive function, suggests a study in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Compared to women who experienced menopause after the age of 50, those with a premature menopause had a more than 40% increased risk of poor performance on tasks assessing verbal fluency and visual memory and was associated with a 35% increased risk of decline in psychomotor speed and overall cognitive function over 7 years. There was no significant association with the risk of dementia. Read more.