menopause brain fog or dementia

Your brain will thank you for giving it plenty of these nutrients. What kind of foggy thinking? Brain fog lasts no longer than a few weeks or months at the most, while symptoms of . DOI: Mayo Clinic Staff. Struggling to understand things that are not occurring in the immediate present is a strong sign of dementia. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. (2), If you find yourself struggling to complete tasks that you used to have no problems with, especially those with numbers, that could be a red flag. We present talking points for clinical counseling on the effects of hormone therapy on cognition and dementia risk in women, including discussion of absolute risk. AARP Membership $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Alzheimer's disease. You may not be able to prevent the brain fog associated with menopause. Avoid eating animal fats and trans fats. Just over 60% of women report cognitive difficulties during their menopause transition. They become easily upset, and will often withdraw from things that they used to love, including hobbies, sports teams, projects at work, even simply going out with family and friends. It starts with difficulty remembering things and having trouble organizing thoughts. Exercise Exercise is essential for the prevention of chronic disease and it is also helpful for managing irritability, helping you sleep as well as maintaining a healthy weight, strong bones and muscles. HRT (hormone replacement therapy) may, in fact, help; hormonal birth control pills in perimenopause can also help by keeping estrogen levels constant. It was there, after a grueling day when my feet, knees, legs, and lower back hurt so bad, that I thought I would have to abandon hopes of our next climb which was Rainbow Mountain! She attributes her "brain fog" and memory lapses during that time to perimenopause, the stage before menopause when hormones fluctuate and periods become irregular. (4). (2017). This site is part of the MLT Enterprises Group Inc. Network 2015 All Rights Reserved. Study subjects who fit one of those criteria actually showed more gray matter (responsible for memory and emotions) than others in the study. I dont often align myself with products but this is one that I just had to share! In addition to chronological aging, women undergo reproductive aging in early midlife: menopause, during which they experience a depletion over time of ovarian hormones such as estradiol, the primary form of estrogen that works in the brain. She was referred to a neurologist for more tests, and the following month she was diagnosed with early-onset dementia. They change your ability to function in your daily life. Theres one other important element. Sign up now and get a FREE copy of theBest Diets for Cognitive Fitness. You have to consider all of the other problems related to menopause that could contribute to brain fog. Further, women with other medical conditions like diabetes and hypertension are at increased risk for cognitive decline. Alcohol Many women find that when they drink alcohol around the time of menopause, it makes hot flushes, night sweats and insomnia worse. I was determined to climb one of the true wonders of the natural world, Machu Picchu, the mystical home of the Incas in Peru. A recent study shows that learning a new skill can help improve brain function and protect against dementia. You might have noticed that you're increasingly forgetful, can't remember names, lose your keys, write endless to do lists, and find it hard to retain information. The biggest difference between brain fog and dementia is how long it sticks aroundoh, and that whole cognitive decline thing. Many women find that their energy and motivation to exercise increases when they start taking HRT.Deep sleepIts common to have trouble sleeping during the perimenopause and menopause, as the brain cant regulate sleep properly without the hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Here are a few of the most common causes: Many of these causes come in pairs, or even trios. Prof Michael Baum brands newspapers article suggesting links between HRT and Alzheimers as unhelpful and misleading. If you are a woman in your 40s or 50s, you may at times have found yourself standing in a room wondering why on earth you are there, or forgotten the names of people you know well, or started a sentence and forgotten what it was that you needed to say. At this age a woman's supply of eggs has run. A review of 37 research studies published inPLoS Onefound that current smokers were 30 percent more likely to develop dementia in general and 40 percent more likely to develop Alzheimers disease than those who never smoked. Healthy weight Achieve and maintain your ideal weight. Even in our twenties, we might lose our keys or forget the name of someone we just met. As well affecting menopausal women, Dr Patel points out that people . Alcohol may also disrupt your sleep. Its common to have trouble sleeping during the perimenopause and menopause, as the brain cant regulate sleep properly without the hormones, estrogen and progesterone. As of now, there's no known direct link between menopause and dementia. Things like familiar recipes, keeping track of bills or expenses, and other common home and work tasks may take you much longer to do and with higher inaccuracy. Hormone therapy tends to be most useful for brain function in the perimenopausal stage. Deep sleep is when all the toxins and impurities are removed, so this phase of sleep is important to keep the brain healthy. "So, while transitioning into menopause makes the female brain more vulnerable, all of these other reproductive history events make it more resilient., AARP Members Only Access to Special Health Content, Access AARP health Smart Guides, articles and special content. If so, why? Mayo Clinic Staff. Weve moved to a bigger home at balance for Dr Louise Newson to host all her content. The Menopause Charity works to improve womens and healthcare professionals understanding of the menopause. Dietary habits (such as the Mediterranean diet, or intake of omega-3 fatty acids like in fish oil) have also had beneficial effects on memory function. (n.d.). Many women find that the quality of their sleep dramatically improves when they begin taking HRT. } As if hot flashes weren't bad enough, . Can Talk Therapy Help Relieve the Symptoms of Menopause? For example, menopause can affect how brain cells are generated, connect with each other, and even die, and these processes impact brain regions that are critical for memory. Henpicked: Is brain fog a common symptom of menopause? Trouble focusing. Its important to have antioxidants in your diet as they can balance out these free radicals and minimise the negative impact of them on your cells.Regular exerciseRegular exercise can also support brain health its important to make time to keep active by doing an activity that you enjoy. Still, there are other things you can do to protect your brain as you go through menopause, she stresses. "Menopause is more like a trigger than a. It is worth mentioning that set of symptoms shared by "menopause brain" and early-onset dementia is so similar that early-onset has been known to be flippantly mis-diagnosed as menopause in people of menopause age, so if symptoms do persist, consider getting a second opinion.. That said, a ny number of things could be causing symptoms and for individuals 40 years old and older who can . Brain fog is just one of the many symptoms causing women with years of experience under their belts to drop out from the workplace. The symptoms of menopause, which can include vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats), vaginal dryness, sleep disturbance, depression, anxiety and "brain fog", can span perimenopause and last for up to 10 years. Bloc These things can all further contribute to hormone-related brain fog. Women with very high blood pressure have been shown to have a 30% increased risk of developing cognitive impairment. If your brain fog gets worse, make an appointment with your doctor to rule out other health issues or to ask about hormone treatments for menopause. As we age, these moments of forgetfulness happen more often. The women in the study noticed subtle changes in memory, but the researchers also believe that a negative affect may have made these feelings more pronounced. Manchester Avoid artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and switch to water as a thirst-quencher. By contrast, the risk for dementia was similar in women and men above the age of 70, indicating that the effects of menopause after 70 are negligible compared to before. Midlife is a turning point, and there are many things you can do to support brain function.A healthy dietThere are clear links between what we eat and our hormone balance. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Testosterone (produced by the ovaries too) strengthens nerves in the brain, and contributes to mental sharpness and clarity, as well as overall energy levels. 6. Research shows us that one size does not fit all, and precision medicine is needed to identify which women may benefit the most. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Memory loss. In one study, researchers share that some 60 percent of middle-aged women report difficulty concentrating and other issues with cognition. Some people notice distinct memory loss, while others describe the experience as "brain fog.". 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. (4). Men can experience the discomfort of hot flashes just as menopausal women do. More severe memory issues may cause you to neglect your personal hygiene, forget the name of familiar objects, or have difficulty following directions. Women going through the changes around menopause experience disturbed sleep, hot flushes and night sweats, and a depressed mood, all of which can contribute to difficulties with thinking and memory. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a FREE second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. lost words. There are things you can do that help decrease your risk of dementia. 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. Oregon Health & Science University is dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for all Oregonians through excellence, innovation and leadership in health care, education and research. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 58. This is an edited extract from How to Keep Your Brain Young by Kerryn Phelps AM, Pan Macmillan, out now, Work your muscles and rethink your diet: how fitness can help you through the menopause. Some common examples include black cohosh, red clover, ginkgo biloba, Bacopa monnieri, and dong quai. Retrieved October 17, 2017, from, https://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp, Maslow, K. (2006, June). The first hormone level to drop is usually progesterone, and this can be related to irritability, mood swings and brain fog. Smoking Tobacco smoking affects cerebral blood flow, which has an adverse effect on brain function. listeners: [], Brain fog can be debilitating, particularly if you need to function day-to-day in a high-performance or pressured environment at home or work. Initiation of hormone replacement (HR) in perimenopause (roughly four to eight years before menopause) or early menopause may have positive effects on brain activity and memory function, although systematic HR trials have not been conducted during perimenopause.