menopause brain fog or dementia

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 womens experience of its impact. Sleep well - often, it's lack of sleep that . If you start noticing patterns and habits that are unusual for yourself, do not ignore them or leave them up to stress, aging, and menopause; get tested to be sure that it is not something more serious. Signs that what you are experiencing is in fact dementia and not just menopause are: As you can see, there are some pretty significant differences between the symptoms of menopause and the warning signs of dementia. All trademarks, registered trademarks and servicemarks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners. 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. Some describe this as brain fog. Can Talk Therapy Help Relieve the Symptoms of Menopause? 6. Last medically reviewed on December 22, 2017. 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. Midlife "brain fog" is treatable. She also reveals the . So, I had to set off on my own journey to learn my true path to healing. 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. 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. Incorporate strength training into your routine as well. lost words. Is it just menopause, or might it be early warning signs of Alzheimers disease or dementia? 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. Prof Michael Baum brands newspapers article suggesting links between HRT and Alzheimers as unhelpful and misleading. On average, women perform better than men on measures of verbal memory, beginning as early as post-puberty. Brain fog is just one of the many symptoms causing women with years of experience under their belts to drop out from the workplace. If you notice your brain function has worsened after starting one of these medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist to review the medication you are taking. Sleep Disturbed sleep or lack of quality sleep impairs normal brain function and contributes to brain fog. The transition to menopause can lead to hot flashes that impact sleep, or to depression. (2016). However, womens advantage for verbal memory performance is reduced with menopause. Check out the history, food, and culture site she runs with her twin sister, Feeling moody, depressed, or anxious for extended periods of time, Increased forgetfulness and misplacing things, Forgetting recently learned information and having to continually ask the same questions, forgetting important dates, having to rely increasingly on notes, phone reminders, and friends and family to remember things you used to remember on your own. If you score poorly on these tests or are still concerned about your mental health and abilities, go see your doctor for more in-depth testing on dementia symptoms and to determine a course of action for you. We capture functional cookies and analytic cookies. Brain fog SYMPTOM Brain fog Many of us experience "brain fog" during the menopausal journey. Davina McCall has compared her menopausal brain fog to 'some kind of dementia' and admitted that she feared she would lose her job as a result.. (4). Study subjects who fit one of those criteria actually showed more gray matter (responsible for memory and emotions) than others in the study. 2023 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Do not sell my personal information | Privacy Policy. Dr Louise Newson is a GP and pioneering Menopause Specialist who is passionate about increasing awareness and knowledge of the perimenopause and menopause, and campaigns for better menopause care for all people. You should aim to do eight exercises with 8 to 12 repetitions. She attributes her "brain fog" and memory lapses during that time to perimenopause, the stage before menopause when hormones fluctuate and periods become irregular. Yes, its completely free. The biggest difference between brain fog and dementia is how long it sticks aroundoh, and that whole cognitive decline thing. It starts with difficulty remembering things and having trouble organizing thoughts. For many it's a relief to discover the fog is. Although memory loss and brain fog can be alarming when it happens, theres no need to panic about these menopausal effects on the brain. As if hot flashes weren't bad enough, . Any situation in which they are somewhere unfamiliar or out of their comfort zone will cause great amounts of fear and anxiety. That is, until those signs start becoming much more severe. Further, women with other medical conditions like diabetes and hypertension are at increased risk for cognitive decline. 6) Exercise your mind regularly. 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. Challenge your mind each day with brain stimulations such as crosswords, reading, studying something new, or learning a new language or a musical instrument. Maybe you write reminders to yourself. Menopause can mean brain fog, memory trouble - The Washington Post Menopause transition ushers in memory problems for many women Doctors say hormone changes during perimenopause are a. We now know that this form of brain fog affects around two-thirds of menopausal and perimenopausal women. By age 60, more than half of adults have concerns about their memory. 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. Emails (4). { If you are worried you or a loved one has signs of dementia, take a look at this list of signs from the Alzheimers Association There is a brief cognitive screening test that your primary care provider (or Dr. Shinto herself) can do. If the main problem is vaginal dryness, oestrogen can be used topically as a cream. We use cookies and similar technologies to ensure our website works properly. Forgetfulness. Are women turning to cannabis for menopause symptom relief? There is no strong evidence that hormone therapy benefits brain function around menopause, and it is important to consider the risks as well as the benefits. concentration, helping the cloud of brain fog to lift. Scientists continue to research promising new treatments for Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia. Most of them are far less scary than Alzheimers disease. Brain fog during menopause is common Memory loss and brain fog are very common experiences for women going through the menopause transition. To make matters worse, they lack the ability to retrace their steps to find what they have lost. 2023 Balance App Limited and/or its licensors. Julie Hambleton has a BSc in Food and Nutrition from the Western University, Canada, is a former certified personal trainer, a competitive runner, and a staff writer at The Hearty Soul. Some people might call it menopause brain fog. Retrieved October 17, 2017, from, http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/i-thought-it-was-the-menopausebut-it-was-dementia-90705, Your Old CorningWare Collection Could Be Worth Thousands Of Dollars, Replace Most of Your Dressings and Sauces with This Dairy-Free Tahini Contains Himalayan pink salt, sesame seeds, and olive oil, How to Shift Your Genes From Disease-Causing Mode to Disease-Fighting Mode, The turmeric-hot chocolate recipe that helps your liver, brain and hormones with every sip, Bus Station Opens Its Door To Homeless Dogs And Gives Them Special Beds To Protect Them From Winter, 15 Ways To Remove Bad Odors From Your Home. (2016). . Forgetfulness. Women who had their uterus and ovaries removed and then took hormone replacement therapy had a slower rate of cognitive decline than women who did not take hormones. But there is some hopeful news. It's a fact that two thirds of women experience 'brain fog', during perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause. A brainfriendly diet is one rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as Omega 3 and Omega 6, which are found in eggs, fish, nuts and seeds. 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. However, minor memory lapses that occur with age are not usually signs of a serious problem, such as Alzheimers disease, but rather the result of normal changes in the structure and function of the brain. At first, she chalked it up to the absent-mindedness that often comes along with the transition into menopause, and didnt think much more of it, even her doctor didnt think it was anything to be concerned about. Menopause brain fog usually crops up as trouble with attention, working memory, executive function, and/or verbal memory. We all forget things. These changes are perfectly normal as your bodys hormones are going through quite a large change from your pre-menopausal years. 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. I was desperate. If the mood swings, insomnia, and brain fog is beginning to have a major impact on you and your ability to function effectively, however, should trigger some alarm bells. "You dont have to run a marathon just aim for moderately intensive exercise most days of the week. Plus, exercise has also been shown to be protective against menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, she notes. Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Midlife is such a big turning point in a woman's life, especially as they go through menopause. It's a time when we should be taking extra care of ourselves, rather than less our brain health really depends on it.. (2013). It can be challenging to start a new nutrition and exercise plan, especially if youre dealing with menopausal symptoms. Most likely it is not. Ultimately, it comes down to taking the time to nurture yourself, says Mosconi. 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. 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. 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