Menopause and physical function in older women from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) and the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS)

Poor physical function appears earlier and at greater frequency in women than in men. Our objective is to assess if the excess of poor function in women is due to reproductive characteristics, such as the age at menopause, and type of menopause (surgically-induced vs. natural). In addition, we aim to investigate the role of hormone therapy, cardiovascular disease, and social support, on the relationship between menopause and physical function. We will use data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging Comprehensive cohort (CLSA, 7 cities across Canada) and the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS, 5 cities around the world). By analyzing these different cohorts of women, we will be able to identify risks related to poor physical function in women with a broad range of experiences across the life course, as well as different social norms and expectations.

Our work supports that 1) age at natural menopause (ANM), especially premature menopause (ANM less than 40 years), is a risk factor for poor physical functioning later in life. Differences across study sites (Latin America, Albania, Canada), suggest that women in socially disadvantaged areas may reach menopause with different physiological reserves than those from more advantaged settings, leading to greater losses in muscle strength in postmenopausal years. 2) In terms of risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), our research suggests that compared with age at natural menopause from 50 to 54 years, earlier ages at natural menopause have a higher CVD risk.