Dr. Flaminia Ronca highlighted that lifestyle choices, especially consistent exercise, can significantly boost mental agility, often more than hormonal fluctuations.

A recent study from UCL involving 54 women aged 18 to 40 found that reaction times vary across menstrual cycle phases, with the fastest responses during ovulation, especially in physically active women.

Inactive women exhibited reaction times approximately 70 milliseconds slower and made three times as many impulsive errors regardless of cycle phase, emphasizing the cognitive benefits of regular physical activity.

The research indicates that even moderate physical activity can enhance reaction times and cognitive responses, which is particularly relevant for athletes and injury prevention.

To ensure real-world relevance, the study used cognitive tasks like reacting to facial expressions and predicting object collisions, making the findings applicable to everyday situations.

While reaction time differences of a few milliseconds may seem minor, they could be crucial in high-speed contexts like contact sports or fall prevention.

Improved response times during ovulation could enhance safety in sports and help prevent falls, especially for women over 50 at higher risk of osteoporosis-related fractures.

These findings support a shift towards promoting fitness and behavioral interventions to optimize women's cognitive health, countering outdated beliefs about menstrual impairment.

The study tracked women across different menstrual phases, including menstruation, ovulation, and luteal phases, revealing that reaction times slow during the mid-luteal phase due to increased progesterone, but accuracy remains unaffected.

Participants were categorized into four activity levels—inactive, recreational, club, and elite—demonstrating a clear link between increased physical engagement and cognitive benefits.

Dr. Ronca also clarified that feelings of decreased performance during menstruation lack evidence, and mood symptoms should be distinguished from actual cognitive ability.

Participants' activity levels ranged from inactive to elite athletes, illustrating that higher physical activity correlates with better reaction times regardless of cycle phase.

Overall, the research underscores that lifestyle and physical activity play a crucial role in cognitive performance, often surpassing hormonal influences.