In a new development, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have found that polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects not just the body of the menstruator, but also the brain. The study positions PCOS as a cognitive disorder in addition to being a physical and hormonal one, showing that it significantly impacts women’s ability to focus and divide attention.What the Study FoundThe research, titled “The impact of polycystic ovary syndrome on attention: an empirical investigation”, was published in the journal BioPsychosocial Medicine in February. It found that women with PCOS had a 56% slower response time and 10% lower accuracy in tasks requiring focused attention, compared to women without the condition. In tasks that required divided attention, the PCOS group responded about 20% slower and made 3% more errors.The study involved 173 women—101 with PCOS and 72 without—who completed a series of attention-related tests. The participants’ hormone levels were also measured before the tests were conducted.What Is PCOS?PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. It is marked by symptoms such as irregular periods, excess body or facial hair, and difficulty conceiving. It occurs when the ovaries produce an excess of androgens—male sex hormones that are normally present in small amounts in women.In India, over 11% of women are estimated to have PCOS. While its physical symptoms are widely discussed, this new research adds an important dimension to the condition—its impact on cognitive abilities.How PCOS Affects the BrainAttention is considered a fundamental cognitive skill that enables us to take in, understand, and respond to information. The IIT-Bombay study focused on two types of attention:Focused attention, which helps filter out irrelevant information to concentrate on a taskDivided attention, which allows multitasking and switching between tasksAccording to the study, women with PCOS performed particularly poorly in focused attention tasks. The researchers believe this may be due to a combination of elevated androgen levels and insulin resistance, a common feature of PCOS. Insulin resistance hampers glucose metabolism, which in turn affects brain cell (neuron) activity and the ability to focus.Mental Fatigue and Everyday ImpactThe researchers also noted that women with PCOS often experience anxiety, stress, and mental fatigue—all of which can impair cognitive performance, particularly divided attention. This can make everyday tasks more difficult, such as remembering a phone number, following directions while driving, or switching between multiple activities.“Despite the variability in PCOS symptoms and severity, impairments in attention and processing speed seem to be common,” said Azizuddin Khan, professor of psychophysiology at IIT Bombay and lead author of the study.The findings underscore the need to treat PCOS as a complex condition that affects both physical and cognitive health. Khan emphasised that addressing the cognitive and emotional challenges of PCOS through a comprehensive treatment approach—including supportive care—can significantly improve quality of life for affected women.