Compared to males of the same age, women undergoing the menopausal transition have significant alterations in brain biomarkers. The neurological changes occurring around this time cause symptoms that in turn trigger depression and anxiety, as well as AD, in a fraction of women.
"Multiple studies have shown cognitive complaints by women that are going through the menopause transition both subjectively like, 'Oh gosh, I keep forgetting where my keys are. ' And also objectively when they do cognitive tests, they see changes in executive function," says Dr. Kling.
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.
While the menopause isn't a mental health condition, it can affect your mental health. Hormone changes during the menopause can sometimes make mental health conditions worse. If you have a history of depression, you're more likely to be depressed during menopause.
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.
Increased feelings of irritability, nervousness, and sadness may make you feel like you're losing your mind, but there's no need to panic. Every woman undergoes menopause as a normal part of aging, and with it comes many mental and emotional changes that can throw a wrench into daily life.
Recovery after menopause
This resetting of the brain may explain why symptoms like hot flushes ease 2-7 years from their onset. Neuroimaging confirms these findings. In the post-menopausal woman, gray matter volume returns to normal, especially in areas concerned with some types of memory and cognitive processing.
Menopause is divided into three basic stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. During this time, the ovaries begin to atrophy which causes a decline in the production of the hormones that stimulate the menstrual cycle; estrogen and progesterone.
The greatest sign of menopause being 'over' is when you begin to intuitively feel that your disruptive symptoms are easing. This means your body is adjusting to the “new normal” of your hormone levels.
The good news is that brain fog associated with menopause is temporary. Here are tips from Jean Hailes for Women's Health to help combat brain fog. Exercise regularly. Try mindfulness and meditation to help reduce levels of anxiety and stress.
It's a feeling of constantly feeling drained, zapping your energy and motivation, and causing issues with concentration and your overall quality of life. Fatigue at this level impacts your emotional and psychological well-being, too. Many women experience symptoms like these while they're going through menopause.
If you're experiencing depression during menopause, hormone imbalance treatment with estrogen (and progesterone if you still have your uterus) may help increase serotonin and decrease your risk for depression.
The late stages of perimenopause usually occur when a woman is in her late 40s or early 50s. In the late stages of the menopausal transition, women begin missing periods until they finally stop. About 6 months before menopause, estrogen levels drop significantly.
The five pillars are about taking an integrated and personalised approach to menopause management, blending herbal medicine, nutrition, physical activity, mental wellbeing and HRT, each of which work individually but together are even more effective at optimising health and wellbeing in menopausal women.
Menopause is the time that marks the end of your menstrual cycles. It's diagnosed after you've gone 12 months without a menstrual period. Menopause can happen in your 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States. Menopause is a natural biological process.
Exercise is key in getting to and staying at a weight that supports your health at any age. During menopause, it can help you lose belly fat. Doing “targeted" abdominal exercises to get rid of belly fat sounds like it would help, but you can't tell your body exactly where to shed pounds.
However, if you're also experiencing bloating, quickly feeling full when eating, unintended weight loss, pelvic pain, changes in elimination (like constipation), and incontinence, make an appointment with your doctor. Cognitive challenges that go beyond brain fog.
Low confidence can impact anyone at any age but can be particularly pervasive in menopause. It's difficult to put an exact figure on it, but: Menopausal women report feeling less confident in their work abilities. Levels of confidence and self-esteem typically peak around middle age and then decline after 60.
Changes in your brain affect everything.
Menopause triggers mood swings, temper tantrums, and depression – or can make them worse if they're pre-existing conditions. Many women feel like they're going crazy or don't feel like themselves. But it's not personality change.
Brain fog can happen with menopause. Pycnogenol, an herbal extract from European pine trees, in Meta-Balance has been linked to better attention and memory. The supplement may help with night sweats and hot flashes, along with skin elasticity.
It can be a real pulsing pain or a throbbing pain. Some women find that they start to see flashing lights just in front of their eyes, while others they get a complete aura in their vision, and for some women, they start to vomit or feel nauseous.