Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40077615›Full record

ArticleNutrients2025

Cognitive Performance in Relation to Systemic and Brain Iron at Perimenopause.

Amy L Barnett, Michael J Wenger, Pamela Miles, Dee Wu, Zitha Redempta Isingizwe, Doris M Benbrook, Han Yuan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Amy L BarnettPsychology and Cellular and Behavioral Neurobiology, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
Michael J WengerPsychology and Cellular and Behavioral Neurobiology, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-5569-3209
Pamela MilesObstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Dee WuRadiological Sciences, College of Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2737-813X
Zitha Redempta IsingizweGynecological Oncology, College of Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1403-0334
Doris M BenbrookGynecological Oncology, College of Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7606-8245
Han YuanStephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0055-9691

Funding

Iron Status at Perimenopause: Effects on Brain and BehaviorR21ES027909 · NIEHS · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA · PI WENGER, MICHAEL J · 2018 to 2019
$436k
NIEHS NIH HHS R21 ES027909NIH HHS R21 ES027909
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe literature on the relationships among blood iron levels, cognitive performance, and brain iron levels specific to women at the menopausal transition is ambiguous at best. The need to better understand these potential relationships in women for whom monthly blood loss (and thus iron loss) is ceasing is highlighted by iron's accumulation in brain tissue over time, thought to be a factor in the development of neurodegenerative disease.

methodsNon-anemic women who were either low in iron or had normal iron levels for their age and race/ethnicity provided blood samples, underwent MRI scans to estimate brain iron levels, and performed a set of cognitive tasks with concurrent EEG.

resultsCognitive performance and brain dynamics were positively related to iron levels, including measures associated with oxygen transport. There were no relationships between any of the blood measures of iron and brain iron.

conclusionsHigher iron status was associated with better cognitive performance in a sample of women who were neither iron deficient nor anemic, without there being any indication that higher levels of systemic iron were related to higher levels of brain iron. Consequently, addressing low iron levels at the menopausal transition may be a candidate approach for alleviating the "brain fog" commonly experienced at menopause.

Indexed as

BrainCognitionIronPerimenopauseAdultFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMiddle AgedIronagingattentionironmemoryperimenopause

Identifiers

PMID40077615
PMCPMC11901746

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.