Impact of Menopause in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Current Perspectives
Lorena Lorefice,1 Maurizio Nicola D’Alterio,2 Davide Firinu,3 Giuseppe Fenu,4 Eleonora Cocco1 1Multiple Sclerosis Center, Binaghi Hospital, ASL Cagliari, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; 2Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of S...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2023-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/impact-of-menopause-in-patients-with-multiple-sclerosis-current-perspe-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWH |
| _version_ | 1811168869624053760 |
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| author | Lorefice L D'Alterio MN Firinu D Fenu G Cocco E |
| author_facet | Lorefice L D'Alterio MN Firinu D Fenu G Cocco E |
| author_sort | Lorefice L |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lorena Lorefice,1 Maurizio Nicola D’Alterio,2 Davide Firinu,3 Giuseppe Fenu,4 Eleonora Cocco1 1Multiple Sclerosis Center, Binaghi Hospital, ASL Cagliari, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; 2Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; 3Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; 4Department of Neurosciences, ARNAS Brotzu, Cagliari, ItalyCorrespondence: Lorena Lorefice, Multiple Sclerosis Center, Binaghi Hospital, ASL Cagliari, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, via Is Guadazzonis 2, Cagliari, 09126, Italy, Email lorena.lorefice@hotmail.itAbstract: Given the aging population, with a peak age-specific prevalence that is shifting beyond the age of 50, several women currently living with MS are very close to menopause. Menopause is usually characterized by several specific symptoms with adverse impacts on different aspects of a woman’s quality of life, such as fatigue, and cognitive, mood and bladder disorders, which overlap with symptoms of MS. Generally, after this biological transition, women with MS appear to be subject to less inflammatory activity. However, several studies have reported an increase of disability accumulation after menopause, suggesting that it is a turning point to a more progressive phase of the disease. This may be attributable to the hormonal and immunological changes associated with menopause, with several effects on neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration increasing due to the immunosenescence of aging. This review summarizes the hormonal and immunological changes associated with menopause, detailing the effects on MS symptoms, outcomes, and the aging process. Furthermore, possible interventions to improve patients’ quality of life are evaluated. In fact, it is increasingly necessary to improve the global management of MS women, as well as their lives, at this multifaceted turning point.Keywords: multiple sclerosis, menopause, hormone therapy, aging, best practice |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T16:32:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9d91da37e939435bb2bd98ac0795aa0e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1411 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T16:32:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-9d91da37e939435bb2bd98ac0795aa0e2023-02-08T22:12:28ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Women's Health1179-14112023-01-01Volume 1510310981252Impact of Menopause in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Current PerspectivesLorefice LD'Alterio MNFirinu DFenu GCocco ELorena Lorefice,1 Maurizio Nicola D’Alterio,2 Davide Firinu,3 Giuseppe Fenu,4 Eleonora Cocco1 1Multiple Sclerosis Center, Binaghi Hospital, ASL Cagliari, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; 2Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; 3Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; 4Department of Neurosciences, ARNAS Brotzu, Cagliari, ItalyCorrespondence: Lorena Lorefice, Multiple Sclerosis Center, Binaghi Hospital, ASL Cagliari, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, via Is Guadazzonis 2, Cagliari, 09126, Italy, Email lorena.lorefice@hotmail.itAbstract: Given the aging population, with a peak age-specific prevalence that is shifting beyond the age of 50, several women currently living with MS are very close to menopause. Menopause is usually characterized by several specific symptoms with adverse impacts on different aspects of a woman’s quality of life, such as fatigue, and cognitive, mood and bladder disorders, which overlap with symptoms of MS. Generally, after this biological transition, women with MS appear to be subject to less inflammatory activity. However, several studies have reported an increase of disability accumulation after menopause, suggesting that it is a turning point to a more progressive phase of the disease. This may be attributable to the hormonal and immunological changes associated with menopause, with several effects on neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration increasing due to the immunosenescence of aging. This review summarizes the hormonal and immunological changes associated with menopause, detailing the effects on MS symptoms, outcomes, and the aging process. Furthermore, possible interventions to improve patients’ quality of life are evaluated. In fact, it is increasingly necessary to improve the global management of MS women, as well as their lives, at this multifaceted turning point.Keywords: multiple sclerosis, menopause, hormone therapy, aging, best practicehttps://www.dovepress.com/impact-of-menopause-in-patients-with-multiple-sclerosis-current-perspe-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWHmultiple sclerosismenopausehormone therapyagingbest practice |
| spellingShingle | Lorefice L D'Alterio MN Firinu D Fenu G Cocco E Impact of Menopause in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Current Perspectives International Journal of Women's Health multiple sclerosis menopause hormone therapy aging best practice |
| title | Impact of Menopause in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Current Perspectives |
| title_full | Impact of Menopause in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Current Perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Menopause in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Current Perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Menopause in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Current Perspectives |
| title_short | Impact of Menopause in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Current Perspectives |
| title_sort | impact of menopause in patients with multiple sclerosis current perspectives |
| topic | multiple sclerosis menopause hormone therapy aging best practice |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/impact-of-menopause-in-patients-with-multiple-sclerosis-current-perspe-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWH |
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