Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, May 26: A new study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has revealed that Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a common hormonal disorder among women, may impair cognitive functions, particularly attention and response time.

While PCOS is already linked to irregular periods, polycystic ovaries and elevated male hormone levels, the latest findings suggest that it also affects the brain's ability to focus and respond quickly.

The study, conducted by Maitreyi Redkar and Prof Azizuddin Khan from the Psychophysiology Laboratory at IIT-B’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, tested 101 women with PCOS and 72 healthy participants. The results showed that women with PCOS were significantly slower and more error-prone in attention-based tasks.

“In focused attention tests, women with PCOS responded over 50% slower and made 10% more errors than healthy participants,” Prof Khan explained. “Even in divided attention tasks, they performed 20% slower, with more mistakes.”

The researchers noted that hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance — both common in PCOS could reduce alertness and affect brain cell function, leading to longer reaction times and mental fatigue. This, in turn, impacts real-life tasks like driving or recalling phone numbers.

Prof Khan said the findings underscore the need for greater awareness about the cognitive effects of PCOS, especially given its high prevalence among women of reproductive age.