A study conducted by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has shed new light on the less-explored cognitive impacts of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
The research indicates that women affected by PCOS are likely to experience compromised performance in attention-based tasks, significantly impacting their speed of response and accuracy.
PCOS, a prevalent endocrine disorder in women, is well-known for its physical manifestations such as irregular periods, polycystic ovaries, and elevated androgen levels.
While the physical burdens are widely acknowledged, the mental and cognitive effects have remained less understood.
Previous research has highlighted an increased prevalence of anxiety and depression among Indian women with PCOS, often leading to social avoidance and feelings of hopelessness.
The new study, led by Maitreyi Redkar and Prof. Azizuddin Khan from the Psychophysiology Laboratory, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Bombay, specifically investigated the impact of PCOS on focused and divided attention – crucial cognitive processes that underpin all vital information processing.
The research involved two groups: 101 women diagnosed with PCOS and 72 healthy women.
Both groups underwent rigorous task-based tests, including the Flanker Task and the Posner Cueing Task, to assess their accuracy and response time.
The hormonal levels of all participants were also evaluated prior to the study.
The findings were striking. Women with PCOS demonstrated a significant impairment in their attentional abilities.
In focused attention tests, they exhibited over a 50% slower response time and made approximately 10% more errors compared to their healthy counterparts.
Similarly, in divided attention tasks, PCOS women performed about 20% slower with 3% additional errors.
The impact was more pronounced in focused attention.
“The cognitive experiments are specifically designed to capture the subtle millisecond-level differences in how individuals respond to critical stimuli,” said Prof. Khan, who spearheaded the study.
“These minute delays reveal significant impairments in attention, which may impact our real-life functioning. In the specific context of focused attention, it is not just about concentrating on the task at hand to respond at the right time, but also inhibiting irrelevant distractors.”
The researchers suggest that hormonal imbalances associated with PCOS, particularly elevated androgen levels and insulin resistance, could be key contributors to decreased alertness and longer reaction times.
Insulin resistance, a common co-morbidity with PCOS, affects glucose metabolism and brain cell activity, potentially leading to poorer performance in focused attention tasks.
Furthermore, the study links mental fatigue associated with PCOS, such as anxiety and frustration, to challenges in divided attention tasks.
This decreased accuracy in divided attention can potentially hinder working memory, making everyday activities like remembering directions while driving or recalling a phone number more challenging.
Despite the challenges highlighted, the study offers a beacon of hope. The researchers suggest that cognitive improvements are possible through targeted interventions.
Engaging in brain games focused on attention and memory can enhance response time and accuracy. Relaxation and stress reduction techniques are also recommended to alleviate stress and anxiety, thereby improving focus and speed.
The findings highlight the critical need for a comprehensive understanding of PCOS, recognizing it not merely as a physical ailment but as a complex medical condition with significant cognitive implications.
The researchers advocate for a holistic intervention approach that encompasses diverse aspects, including supportive care, to enhance the overall well-being of women living with PCOS.
