Menopause is a natural stage of life when women stop having periods. In the years leading up to
menopause, called perimenopause, hormone levels, especially oestrogen, do not decline steadily but fluctuate unpredictably. Many women during this time report poor sleep, including frequent
night-time awakenings, hot flushes, and difficulty concentrating. Although sleep problems are
common in perimenopause, most research has relied on self-report measures rather than objective biological data. As a result, it remains unclear how daily hormonal changes affect sleep, or how
disrupted sleep influences cognitive functioning such as attention, memory, and decision-making.
This project will investigate whether day-to-day changes in two key hormones, oestradiol and
cortisol, are associated with sleep quality and next-morning cognitive performance. In the first
phase, a sample of perimenopausal women will wear sleep monitors, complete sleep diaries, and
perform brief daily cognitive tasks. A subgroup will also provide hormone samples to assess
hormonal variability. This will allow identification of patterns linking hormone fluctuations,
sleep disruption, and cognitive performance over time.
In the second and third years, these findings will inform the development of a behavioural
intervention aimed at stabilising behavioural and circadian rhythms. The intervention will then be
tested to assess its effects on sleep and cognition.
This research aims to provide objective biological evidence on sleep and cognitive changes during
perimenopause, supporting the development of targeted strategies to improve wellbeing and daily
functioning.