The Signs of Menopause Because many symptoms of perimenopause also occur in dementia, some women worry that they are showing signs of young onset dementia, particularly if they have a family history of dementia. At a cellular level, estrogen pushes your brain cells to burn more glucose, which is its main fuel. While you are waiting for menopause to run its course, there are things you can do to manage the situation. Hormone therapy tends to be most useful for brain function in the perimenopausal stage. Retrieved October 17, 2017, from, https://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp, Maslow, K. (2006, June). MHT can be taken as pills, applied as patches or injected as an implant. Incorporate strength training into your routine as well. What's interesting about this diet is that it's also quite rich in foods that contain phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens, such as flaxseeds, sesame seeds, dried apricots and legumes, Mosconi explains. And I applied it all over my body before bed. On average, women perform better than men on measures of verbal memory, beginning as early as post-puberty. Studies have shown that there is an overall reduction of brain energy levels during menopause, which can trigger hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, depression, brain fog, and the host of other cognitive symptoms mentioned.Testosterone (produced by the ovaries too) strengthens nerves in the brain, and contributes to mental sharpness and clarity, as well as overall energy levels. Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight lossfrom exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts. Read Next: What Every Empath Will Try And Hide From You. Some call it the menopause brain drain. Mosconi published a study this past June in the journal Scientific Reportsthat scanned the brains of 161 women between the ages of 40 and 65 who were in various stages of perimenopausal and post-menopausal transition. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. If you are functioning at about the same level, you probably just have healthy brain aging., Preventing Alzheimers disease and dementia. For press enquiries, please email balance@borkowski.co.uk Doctors Spill 7 Secrets On How They Ward Off Sickness and How You Can Too! Video: How Menopause Messes With Your Brain (and Why You Shouldn't Worry About It). We use cookies and similar technologies to ensure our website works properly. It also strengthens arteries that supply blood flow to the brain which is crucial to protect against loss of memory.The good news is that we can support brain health with simple lifestyle changes. by Dr Lucy Wilkinson. Its involves memory problems, a lack of mental clarity, and an inability to focus. And when it cant activate the amygdala, the memory center of the brain, we get depressed, anxious even forgetful.. . Some brain fog or memory loss happens naturally with age. Herbs and supplements Some of the herbs and supplements we use to treat the hot flushes and mood swings of menopause may also help brain fog and memory problems. Over the last 15 years, an increasing number of studies are mapping out the intricate ways in which menopause affects the brain and what helps maintain intact memory. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Prevention is about lifestyle. Jill M. Goldstein, PhD, is a professor of psychiatry and medicine at Harvard Medical School, founder and executive director of the Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine (ICON) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and the, estradiol directly relates to changes in memory performance. Symptoms are different for each woman, and include anything from night sweats to weight gain to thinning hair. In fact, some 61 per cent of postmenopausal women report insomnia issues. What's worrisome is that some women have been misdiagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's when really their memory problems were caused by menopause itself. They may have difficulties with: If the main problem is vaginal dryness, oestrogen can be used topically as a cream. If you struggle to fall or stay asleep, or you wake up in the middle of the night, theres a good chance youre missing out on some of the deep sleep, thats most beneficial for your brain. Mindfulness techniques such as meditation or yoga may help. Some common examples include black cohosh, red clover, ginkgo biloba, Bacopa monnieri, and dong quai. Normally, this is no cause for concern. Emails Rather, their work shows an association between menopause and an earlier emergence of Alzheimer's in the female brain compared with the male brain. Cognition and the menopausal transition: Is perception reality? (2013). The Menopause Charity works to improve womens and healthcare professionals understanding of the menopause. Henpicked: Is brain fog a common symptom of menopause? And . (2), From time to time, we all set things down only to forget where we put them. When the levels of these hormones begin to fall during perimenopause and menopause, this can lead to a range of cognitive symptoms including memory loss, difficulty staying focused, wordfinding difficulties, losing your train of thought and getting confused easily. Whats causing this foggy thinking? However, even if there are no other menopausal symptoms, memory can still be affected by the drop in hormone levels. For people in their late forties and early fifties, the onset of menopause can bring even more brain fog and memory lapses. It's too early to say whether or not peri- and post-menopausal women can benefit by going on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), cautions Mosconi. Of course, I went to see many doctors but unfortunately I didnt find the help I needed. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try Finally, there may be differences in responses in women who are genetically at high risk for brain disorders, like AD, that show increased benefits for using HR. And one of the fears midlife women have is whether their foggy brain is an early sign of an inevitable decline towards dementia. Women with high physical fitness at middle age were nearly 90 percent less likely to develop dementia decades later than women who were more sedentary, according to a 2018 Swedish study published inNeurology. Can Talk Therapy Help Relieve the Symptoms of Menopause? In reality, the Alzheimers Association of America estimates that anywhere from 220,000 to 640,000 Americans are affected by early onset Alzheimers and Dementia, though many go undiagnosed. Others have suggested that brain fog is a 'constellation of cognitive symptoms', which may be due to 'inflammatory molecules' and 'focal brain inflammation'. Safe, joyful movement for people of all weights. There are clear links between what we eat and our hormone balance. Another study also focuses on the idea that women in early stages of menopause may experience more noticeable issues with cognition. Meditation, tai chi, yoga and breathing techniques can help with anxiety, irritability and sleep problems. Practically, brain fog can cause people to forget what they are saying mid-sentence (or even mid-presentation). However, cognitive aging is rarely considered a womens health issue. If you are at all concerned that your memory loss and brain fog might be due to something more than just menopause, there are some at-home tests you can do to test for dementia symptoms first before taking a trip to your doctor. Nearly two-thirds of women experience brain fog as a symptom of menopause. You might have noticed that youre increasingly forgetful, cant remember names, lose your keys, write endless to-do lists, and find it hard to retain information. Sleep Disturbed sleep or lack of quality sleep impairs normal brain function and contributes to brain fog. Going for a daily walk can improve fitness and increase mental and emotional wellbeing. Dont wear heavy clothing or pile on lots of blankets in bed. Work on relaxation. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) offers powerful tools that can be used to treat both the physical and psychological symptoms of menopause. It also strengthens arteries that supply blood ow to the brain which is crucial to protect against loss of memory. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. (n.d.). These include: The Mediterranean diet, in particular, is especially supportive of womens brain health, says Mosconi. Her 2018 study published inNeurology, for example, found that people who strictly followed this eating pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats such as olive oil had fewer beta-amyloid deposits in their brains (a harbinger of Alzheimers) than those who did not. When replenishing fluids, does milk beat water? } 2023 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Do not sell my personal information | Privacy Policy. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a FREE second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. Brain fog is a very common symptom of the menopause, and many women say that their brains feel like cotton wool. What kind of foggy thinking? These changes are not found in everybody, and they are not found to the same degree in everybody. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterised by the build-up of amyloid protein plaques in the brain, and it is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Maybe you forget your glasses or a word every now and then. Medication review As you get older, it may be more likely that you are prescribed drugs for chronic health conditions. For more detailed information about the cookies we use, see our Cookies page. Menopausal foggy brain is the result of decreased estrogen, so it stands to reason the best treatment for menopause brain fog is replacing the estrogen. Cognition in perimenopause: The effect of transition stage. Menopause brain fog refers to the constellation of cognitive symptoms experienced by women around menopause, frequently manifesting in memory and attention difficulties. Some people might call it menopause brain fog. Dealing with brain fog is no easy feat. There are several signs that most people know and associate with the start of menopause, including missed, irregular, or completely non-existent periods, hot flashes, and night sweats. But theres another change that carries even more health implications: an increased risk of Alzheimers disease. The biggest difference between brain fog and dementia is how long it sticks aroundoh, and that whole cognitive decline thing. Alzheimer's disease. More severe memory issues may cause you to neglect your personal hygiene, forget the name of familiar objects, or have difficulty following directions. Have you stopped doing social activities you used to? When it burns glucose, free radicals are formed which have unwanted effects in your body, including the brain, as they make your cells age faster and work less efficiently. MHT is not routinely recommended for menopause brain, and certainly not as an initial response. It has been found that memory loss is actually a symptom of perimenopause and menopause. Memory and other cognition issues associated with menopause may improve with time. Memory loss. By Christmas 2009, however, Judy was beginning to become concerned as her condition was getting worse. 17 Marble St Early Onset Dementia: A National Challenge, A Future Crisis. This article lists 11 estrogen-rich foods and explains phytoestrogens effects on. All rights reserved. She attributes her "brain fog" and memory lapses during that time to perimenopause, the stage before menopause when hormones fluctuate and periods become irregular. Meditation/mindfulness Relaxation practices such as meditation, tai chi, yoga and breathing techniques can help with anxiety, irritability and sleep problems. She found a trove of data on brain changes during menopause, including a decrease of both gray and white matter, increases in deposits of the Alzheimers-associated protein amyloid beta, and a decrease in glucose, the main fuel source for your bodys cells. If youre not keen on going to the gym or joining a fitness class, yoga is a great way to relieve stress and promote relaxation. We know this form of brain fog affects around two-thirds of menopausal and perimenopausal women. "These declines are subtle. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Speak with your doctor about the benefits versus the risks of this type of treatment. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. The data clearly showed that women were indeed at a higher risk of dementia below the age of 70, following the decade after menopause, compared to men. Its not a surprise when you think about how many menopausal symptoms including depression, anxiety and even cognitive fog actually stem from the brain rather than the ovaries, says Lisa Mosconi, director of the Womens Brain Initiative and associate director of the Alzheimers Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. This week: what it feels like to suffer from menopause brain fog. What Every Empath Will Try And Hide From You. Just like your body, your brain needs exercise to stay sharp. If you are worried you or a loved one has signs of dementia, take a look at this. Menopause can leave you feeling confused, brain-fogged and forgetful. We think about this hormone as mainly a reproductive hormone, but its actually the master regulator of the female brain, she explains. Alcohol Many women find that when they drink alcohol around the time of menopause, it makes hot flushes, night sweats and insomnia worse. The above symptoms can interfere with your everyday life. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 58. The transition to menopause can lead to hot flashes that impact sleep, or to depression. Further, to date much of the HR research has been conducted in healthy women, and little is known about its impact in women with chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit and other unprocessed whole foods. Sleep disturbance in itself can affect the brains ability to function optimally. People going through menopause often cite brain fog as an issue affecting them. You might have been dismissing your brief lapses in memory as just another quirk of menopause, when in reality, they could be the start of early-onset dementia or Alzheimer's disease. At a cellular level, estrogen pushes your brain cells to burn more glucose, which is its main fuel. We exist to transform the experience of the menopause with better health, happier lives and brighter futures. That night I pulled out a little spray bottle of aceite de magnesio that a friend had given me before I left on my trip. Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Menopause. When Mosconi and her colleagues set out to do this study, she didnt hypothesize that having more kids would be protective if anything, she thought it would have the opposite effect. Not only that, but brain fog may also be connected with sleep issues and vascular symptoms associated with menopause, like hot flashes. You may not be able to prevent the brain fog associated with menopause. Simply put: No. We all forget things. Memory problems. Get smart about new vehicle technology. Download the free balance app - Start tracking your symptoms today! As Mosconi explains, studies show that chronic stress, especially when accompanied by high cortisol levels, accelerates brain shrinkage in midlife and correlates with poor memory. Think about your friends who are your age, suggests Dr. Shinto. So what is menopausal brain fog then? Eat these 11 foods to boost your memory and focus, help prevent disease, and keep sharp as you. Generally those with Alzheimer's are much older than women experiencing menopause which typically happens in your mid-40s to mid-50s. Menopause brain: the inability to think clearly is not 'all in your mind' Some women worry they have the early signs of dementia. Labour says it will urge UK firms to publish menopause action plan, My female boss understands, others dont: UK readers on block to menopause law changes, UKmenopause law change rejected as it could discriminate against men, Menopausal women in NHS England workforce to be offered flexible working, MPscall for menopause to be protected characteristic in UK Equality Act, Hormone replacement therapy to be offered over the counter in UK, Male MPs recreate menopause in hot flush vest then cant wait to take it off, Home menopause tests are waste of time and money, say doctors, UKpharmacists to offer alternatives to out of stock HRT products. Lack of quality sleep impairs normal brain function in the perimenopausal stage transition stage Sickness and you. Activate the amygdala, the memory center of the fears midlife women have is whether foggy! We eat and our hormone balance like hot flashes that impact sleep or! 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