Abstract
Hand function declines with age, and therefore, by implication, after the menopause. The simple ageing process clearly affects both women and men, but women may experience more of a decline of hand function in older age. This is not readily explained in terms of straightforward ageing, but women are more likely to be adversely affected by diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Hormonal influences, particularly in osteoarthritis, may be the reason for women experiencing more severe disease. Both arthritides are multi-factorial in their aetiology, and the same is true of the declining hand function that is seen as part of the ageing process.