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Beyond hormones: PCOS may impair brain function, says new IIT study

Beyond hormones: PCOS may impair brain function, says new IIT study

A new IIT-Bombay study reveals that women with PCOS experience slower reaction times and reduced attention span, highlighting that the condition impacts women beyond hormones and periods
New Delhi
If you're living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), you've probably heard a lot about its effects on your hormones, periods or weight. But here's something new that you may not have expected. A new research has shown that it can affect how well you focus and react too.
A study by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, titled The impact of polycystic ovary syndrome on attention: an empirical investigation, recently published in the journal BioPsychosocial Medicine, shows that PCOS may also impair cognitive functions like attention and alertness. In fact, women with PCOS were found to react 56 per cent slower and make 7 per cent more errors than women without the condition in focused attention tasks.
IIT-Bombay study shows PCOS slows focus and reaction time
Researchers at IIT Bombay, led by Professor Azizuddin Khan and clinical psychologist and PhD scholar at IIT-B, Maitreyi Redkar, compared two groups: 101 women with PCOS and 72 women without the condition. All participants were tested on tasks measuring attention—specifically focused and divided attention—after assessing their hormonal levels.
In focused attention tests, PCOS participants were about 55.96 per cent slower than the control group, with 7 per cent more errors.
PCOS is common and affects 1 in 9 Indian women
PCOS is a common hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. It's typically diagnosed when at least two of the following are present: irregular or missed periods, excess levels of male hormones (androgens), and polycystic ovaries seen on ultrasound.
According to a December 2022 study published in Cureus, the prevalence of PCOS among Indian women is approximately 11.33 per cent—or one in every nine women of reproductive age.
PCOS symptoms go beyond weight and hormones
PCOS can cause a range of symptoms, from acne and weight gain to fertility issues, and is linked to insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Now, the IIT-Bombay study suggests that its impact may go beyond the physical, potentially impairing mental functions like attention and cognitive control.
Attention is key to everyday brain function
According to IIT-Bombay, attention is your brain's way of filtering what's important from all the noise around you. It's the foundation of tasks like listening in class, focusing on a conversation or driving.
Focused attention helps you concentrate on one task while ignoring distractions.
Divided attention allows you to juggle more than one task at a time, like cooking while talking on the phone.
Hormonal and metabolic changes in PCOS affect the brain
The researchers suggest two key factors behind the drop in attention performance:
Hormonal imbalance: Women with PCOS typically have elevated androgen levels, which may interfere with normal brain function.
Insulin resistance: Common in PCOS, this impairs glucose metabolism in the brain. Neurons (brain cells) don't get the fuel they need, leading to slower mental processing.
Mental fatigue, anxiety and frustration—all common in PCOS—can further worsen cognitive tasks, especially those requiring multitasking or memory.
PCOS may explain brain fog and forgetfulness in daily life
From remembering directions while driving to forgetting why you walked into a room, these little things depend on working memory and attention.
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Indian soldiers, drawn from regiments across the country—Gorkhas, Rajputs, Sikhs, Grenadiers, and others—scaled near-vertical cliffs under enemy fire, often in sub-zero temperatures, to retake peaks like Tiger Hill, Tololing, and Point 4875. By July 26, the Indian Army had successfully cleared most of the positions, forcing Pakistan to withdraw and accept a return to the status quo ante. Human cost: A heavy price for victory India lost over 500 soldiers during the conflict. These were not just soldiers, but sons, brothers, fathers, and friends—each with a life and story interrupted. Names like Captain Vikram Batra, Lieutenant Anuj Nayyar, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar became symbols of gallantry. Captain Batra's famous war cry, 'Yeh dil maange more!' resonated across the nation and became emblematic of India's fighting spirit. Awarded the Param Vir Chakra, his actions at Point 4875 are still recounted with reverence. 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Diplomatic wins: Unlike in past conflicts, India took the high road diplomatically. Then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee secured broad international support, particularly from the United States, which pressured Pakistan to withdraw. This isolated Pakistan diplomatically and exposed the façade of the non-state actor used to justify the intrusion. Media and memory: Kargil in public consciousness Kargil was India's first televised war. Channels like Doordarshan and NDTV brought real-time coverage from the frontlines into Indian homes. Images of young officers giving interviews before heading into battle, and the funerals of martyred soldiers, etched themselves into the national psyche. Films like 'LOC: Kargil', 'Lakshya', and 'Shershaah' further immortalized these stories, not as propaganda, but as poignant reminders of bravery. Music, too, played a role—songs like 'Sandese Aate Hain' are still played on Kargil Diwas, invoking teary-eyed recollection. 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