Indeed, studies show that some 60 percent of women in perimenopause and menopause report declines in cognitive (thinking and memory) performance. Dr. Maki says that many women with menopause-related brain fog tend to forget recently learned verbal information and have trouble concentrating.
Many women report increased forgetfulness and "brain fog" during the menopausal transition. All women eventually undergo menopause, but there is a large age range for when it begins (from late 40s to early 60s), and substantial variation in women's experience of its impact.
Most females will have mild to moderate symptoms, some will experience severe ones that affect their quality of life, and others will have no symptoms. Brain fog is a common menopausal symptom, which up to two thirds of females experience.
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 ten years.
Ginkgo biloba is a powerful antioxidant that improves blood flow to the brain. It's been used not only as an alternative treatment for menopause brain fog cure but is also being tested in battling alzheimer's disease and dementia cases. Omega-3 fatty acids are neuroprotective nutrients that help improve brain function.
In the post-menopausal woman, gray matter volume returns to normal, especially in areas concerned with some types of memory and cognitive processing. In fact, in postmenopausal women, the gray matter volume was similar to that of males of the same age and increased over the next two years.
Brain fog is the popular name for many cognitive symptoms during menopause, including forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, inability to think clearly or problem solve, and confusion.
The first year of menopause brain is likely to be the worst, and memory and learning ability generally rebound to normal after the menopause process is complete.
Forgetfulness can arise from stress, depression, lack of sleep or thyroid problems. Other causes include side effects from certain medicines, an unhealthy diet or not having enough fluids in your body (dehydration). Taking care of these underlying causes may help resolve your memory problems.
Brain fog is a very common symptom of the menopause, and many women say that their brains feel like 'cotton wool'. 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.
Forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging. As people get older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain. As a result, some people may notice that it takes longer to learn new things, they don't remember information as well as they did, or they lose things like their glasses.
Cognitive deficits have been described in women during the menopausal transition, particularly in cognitive domains such as working memory, attention, reduced processing speed, and reduced verbal memory.
This can be caused by overworking, lack of sleep, stress, and spending too much time on the computer. On a cellular level, brain fog is believed to be caused by high levels inflammation and changes to hormones that determine your mood, energy and focus.
Nuts and Seeds, including almonds, flaxseeds, peanuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds. Soy and soy products, such as soybeans, tofu, miso soup, miso paste. Vegetables, particularly broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, onions, spinach, sprouts.
Changes in your hormones during menopause can impact your mental health as well as your physical health. You may experience feelings of anxiety, stress or even depression. Menopausal symptoms may include: anger and irritability.
Cholinesterase inhibitors are the first choice of treatment for memory loss. The doctor may also prescribe the single-dose drug combination Namzeric to treat moderate to severe memory loss.
B vitamins are essential for energy and mood—“two things a lot of menopausal women struggle with,” says Dr. Petrucci. She suggests a B complex supplement, which often includes vitamin B12, methylcobalamin, folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate.
B Vitamins
When it comes to brain health, focus on the three B's : vitamins B6, B12, and B9 (folate). “These three types of B vitamins are necessary for the brain's normal functioning,” says Dr. Agarwal, “and any deficiency in them may increase the risk of memory loss and other forms of cognitive decline.”
Even if you don't develop anemia, B12 deficiency can cause confusion, memory troubles and depression. To avoid brain fog from vitamin B12 deficiency, doctors recommend that adults get around 2.4 micrograms per day.