'Brain Fog' In Menopause Is Real, Study Suggests

A new study confirms what has long been a common complaint of women going through menopause: memory lapses, also termed "brain fog," is real.

Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center published a study in the journal Menopause that shows that changes in cognition really do occur when a woman is going through menopause.

"If a woman approaching menopause feels she is having memory problems, no one should brush it off or attribute it to a jam-packed schedule," study researcher Miriam Weber, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, said in a statement.

"She can find comfort in knowing that there are new research findings that support her experience. She can view her experience as normal," she added.

Researchers analyzed the menopausal symptoms and brain functioning of 75 women between ages 40 and 60, who were all either approaching or starting menopause. All the women underwent several tests examining their ability to learn and retain new things, manipulate information, and sustain their attention over a period of time

In addition, the women were surveyed on their menopausal symptoms like difficulty sleeping, hot flashes and depression. Researchers also looked at hormone levels in their blood.

The researchers found that women who had memory complaints were more likely to have issues in certain areas compared to others. For example, women with memory complaints did worse in "working memory" tests -- for example, calculating a tip after a meal -- and focusing attention on a task, like persevering while reading a challenging book.

Researchers also found that the women who reported the memory problems were also more likely to have symptoms of anxiety, problems sleeping and depression.

A small study presented last year at the annual meeting of the Society of Neuroscience suggested that the brains of women who experience brain fog may actually work harder to keep up with mental tasks, the Los Angeles Times reported. That study involved 22 healthy women (aver age 57) who were all post-menopausal.

Comments

[Denice Brown]

12:31 AM on 05/23/2012

Somebody better get me some chocolate. NOW!!! I mean it! Or this old broad is going to cut loose....Hey. What did I come in here for? I can't seem to recall...Hey! Cute kitten videos!!

[giftoflife898]

12:21 AM on 05/18/2012

Well, I feel much better after reading that. Now I know that I am not senile at 48.

[evesapple]

04:49 PM on 03/20/2012

Yea, my family gets chuckles when I come up with the wrong word or just get vapor locked. Their favorites in the past year "Stone Cold" instead of ColdStone for ice cream, and "The roof of the refrigerator"

Aye, yi, yi!

[giftoflife898]

12:23 AM on 05/18/2012

I call my husband "Jeff", Jear. I think that I am trying to say Jeff and Dear at the same time. I always have a hard time saying something. The words are in my mind, but they won't come out.

[Denice Brown]

11:30 PM on 03/19/2012

I'm 56 years old, and have been in complete menopause for 2 years. I am asymptomatic for night sweats, chills or hot flashes. The only thing I have is the brain fog. And it is so frustrating to forget things and be oblivious to others. But I think I got off lightly! So I should not complain.

[Denice Brown]

12:32 AM on 05/23/2012

Gee, I forgot I posted this. Duh!

[stargazer13]

10:44 PM on 03/19/2012

acupuncture

is how I have decided to deal with my years in menopause

sleep deprived and yes forgetfulness and oh my the global warming,s and the Ice ages

flashes of hot sweating bouts followed by freezing cold chills

lolo my heart :)
goes out to all women for until I my self arrived I had know idea ??
womens lives at this time should be free from stress same for our male counter parts also

[demotom]

04:10 PM on 03/18/2012

Wonder which one of the drug companies that love our money paid for the study.

[ginadeoliveira2008]

02:15 PM on 03/18/2012

A new study with a population of 75 women, and another one with 22 women? That's too soon to hit headlines! They must be corroborated.

[ginadeoliveira2008]

03:10 PM on 03/18/2012

Iwas going to add something but I forgot what!

[kkdc]

01:19 PM on 03/18/2012

That's a "no brainer." Sorry 'bout that. Thanks for telling us what women already knew, but the pending question is; what's causing it? They measured their hormones; so, were the women who had brain fog lower in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone or all three? Were they anemic from intermittant heavy bleeding that happens to some women as they begin menopause. Was the anxiety from low B6 and B12 in their bodies? so important for relaxed thinking, a sharp memory and a sense of well being. Although we can view the experience as "normal" there's much that can be done to balance hormones, even as the levels drop to those of post menopause, so that the "fall" is not so severe; with all the up and down moods familiar to pre-menstrual syndrome. Herbs like Donq quai can act as an anti-spasmodic and have a mild sedative effect. Phosphatidlyserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylecholine, derived from soy can improve memory, in doses of 100-300 mg. per day. Huperzine, derived from Chinese green moss, can improve concentration. So there. There are a few solutions. Natural plant based hormone replacement after testing a woman's own levels, rather that just "trying" a dose a physician prescribes can save a lot of uncomfortable experimenting; using blood tests or salivary testing.

[wanamoka]

02:39 PM on 03/18/2012

After reading many of the replies here.. I disliked the article for the same reasons you gave, what did the researchers find? exactly?

I also want to add the possibility of hypothyroidism which is usually diagnosed wrong, using a TSH test. Also, fluoride in our water, bromides as fire retardants etc, all depresses the thyroid as it replaces the iodine we need for our thyroid, and breast tissue. Heavy metals from dental amalgams, fish, and even the air etc. BPA 's, GMO's, pesticides, excitotoxins in "foods".

But what do we get from most doctors for all of this brain fog business? anti-depressants. The worst kind of first line treatment you could get, as it screws up the adrenal glands.

[giftoflife898]

12:27 AM on 05/18/2012

I have hypothyroidism (15 yrs.), and these symptons started to appear at the age of 48. I have had memory loss since my heart attack and low oxygen levels. This fog is alot different! I have been worried for the last 3 months, I am glad to read this article.

[jrkeiffer1226]

11:32 AM on 03/17/2012

I've had fibromyalgia for nearly 25 years and anyone else with it knows full well the misery of brain fog. It's more than memory lapse though. It's more like being caught a tick or two shy of being fully awake. Then...I went through menopause. All I can say is, my children find my added goofiness quite amusing.

[wanamoka]

02:39 PM on 03/18/2012

I was dx'd with fibro shortly after a flu shot about 5 years ago. I've tested positive for CPN, EB and Lyme. I drink filtered, non- fluoridated water, had all metal fillings removed and chelated. Eat mostly grass fed meats and veggies as I can afford. The only time it really bothers me now is when the progesterone levels are high.

[jrkeiffer1226]

03:28 PM on 03/18/2012

I also test positive to EB antibodies. We do know viruses can do permanent damage to the human body. Look at West Nile, H1N1 for recent examples. That said, even if it is discovered that a past virus is the cause of our fibromyalgia symptoms, then what? Some things just cannot be fixed and after all these years I'm certain fibromyalgia is one of them because I've seen nothing better than the snake oil I've been given over the last 25 years to treat it. I'm accustomed to it. That does not mean I am used to it but it does mean it's become my normal and I live with it. I sure do miss the former energetic, lean, healthy me though.

[Shannon RinkerHuffman]

11:28 AM on 03/17/2012

To all you people saying it's a "cop out" or an "excuse"... you obviously have no clue what you're talking about! I had a complete hysterectomy over 10 years ago (which forces menopause-the worse kind of menopause because it's not natural menopause) and since my surgery my memory has suffered greatly. It's a horrible feeling to not be able to remember something, especially when everyone around you is remembering it and saying "do you remember that...you should you were right there when it happened", and you feel like an idiot because you can't remember... it's a HORRIBLE feeling and I go through that everyday

[umass13]

11:46 AM on 03/17/2012

you fail to say how old you are. so every woman who is just getting old can now blame menopause on memory loss.
what should men blame it on. i know their prostrate is getting old. that excuse works for me.
quit looking for excuses and try to compensate for your loss of mental acuity.
face it your just getting old like the rest of us

[Shannon RinkerHuffman]

12:04 PM on 03/17/2012

What's wrong with you?? I am now 46 years old... was 34 when I had my hysterectomy and was 36 when my memory problems started

[giftoflife898]

12:29 AM on 05/18/2012

Getting old has nothing to do with memory. Only dementia and alzhiemers affects the memory. I worked in a nursing home and almost all of the patients could remember things as children clearly.

[umass13]

10:33 AM on 03/17/2012

my god now its brain fog. their suffering from PMS and now its brain fog.
when are women going to smarten up and realize that this research is so the drug companies can justify selling women a drug to ease their brain fog.
the drug companies know how women are always looking for a reason to blame their personality disorders on something that is not within their control so when they screw up and get in a fight or act like an ass they can say sorry i forgot to to take my pill today for my brain fog so all must be forgiven

[rolando4rocks]

03:20 AM on 03/18/2012

Listen up..I live with someone that has this..It is a REAL PROBLEM.Are there people who use it as a crutch? Perhaps.People of all types use conditions and diseases as exuses from one time to another i'm sure,however,I can tell you with conviction,that Menopause and these symptoms are REAL.Now,on to drugs.There is VERY little out there for these conditions other than hormone replacement,and that is considered a reasonably high CANCER RISK for many women.Changes in lifestyle/food are some of the BEST things available at this time.I agree that the drug companies oversell,and yes,there are PILL PUSHING drs out there,this is for sure,but this condition is real,and at this stage of the game,there is very little women can do except as I said,lifestyle changes,so give these ladies a break,it's not a very fun disorder.

[umass13]

09:53 AM on 03/19/2012

really, how do you distinguish between just getting old and this disorder.
as men age they report brain fog also.
do men not suffer from this, or is it just women looking for an excuse for their actions.
i dont buy it for a second.
show me where the AMA rrcognizes brain fog as a disorder and i will believe it not a bunch of so called researchers

[rolando4rocks]

05:52 AM on 03/20/2012

UMASS13 doesn't "Buy it for a second",so all you ladies out there that are having these difficulties with your menopause,give him a piece of your mind,or whatever is left at this time

[kkdc]

01:24 PM on 03/18/2012

I have to comment on your take on this issue. It's flat out non-compassionate and actually wrong headed. It is a real but not necessarily permanent phenomenon, and in my mind although many things are promulgated by big pharma to sell drugs, this can be treated nicely with plant based herbs and hormones, while making changes in one's diet, etc. Hot flashes are very real, and very disturbing, and can be controlled to some extent by the above. So either you're male, and you consider this a "personality disorder"...or you're a woman who hasn't gone through menopause, or sailed through it. Not every woman has PMS, cramps and difficult periods, others do. Each person is unique. Not being able to retrieve information in your brain doesn' t constitute a personality disorder. The anxiety and depression that comes with a sudden drop in hormones is quite real, and should, out of compassion, be treated.

[umass13]

10:08 AM on 03/19/2012

compassion has nothing to do with it. i just don't buy brain fog as an excuse for just getting old.
i know that menopause is a real condition and from women to women it can vary to degree of severity. because some researcher comes up with something they call brain fog i am not buying it for a second.
i think that in most people especially women it is difficult to accept the fact that as we age things don't work the way they use to and because women are constantly trying to hold on to their youth, they will go to extremes such as plastic surgery for example. the so called researchers use this knowledge to give women the opportunity to think they can fix it by buying some kind of cure all.
it is easier to pop some placebo and think it will cure the problem because it is easier than changing someones life style.
of all these women that claim they have brain fog , how many eat correctly, exercise regularly and are not overweight.
by the way it didn't state what the average age of these women suffering from this newly discovered disorder

[pwildzz]

08:35 AM on 03/17/2012

This is VERY important. Do not ever let your doctor include foggy thinking on your medical record. Talk off the record. I had the same probelm described in the article. Lack of sleep from menopause hot flashes kept me awake. In addition, my husband had a terrible snoring problem. I became overly tired, every day I felt foggy and was having trouble staying mentally sharp. I went to the doctor's. He included all this in my chart...including my husband's snoring keeping me awake. Eventually symptoms subsided. Husband had sinus surgery. Five years later I applied for long term care insurance and was REJECTED because the insurance company said my forgetfulness was an indicator of future mental issues like Alzheimers. I kid you not. My physcian wrote multiple letters saying the chart had been misinterpreted and that I had no symtons of organic brain dysfunction. Did not matter. I cannot get long term care insurance. FYI. I'm only 62. Very active. Very healthy. Be careful what you tell your doctor.

[umass13]

11:41 AM on 03/17/2012

i agree with you but not for all the same reasons. doctors are always quick to jump on the bandwagon when something new is diagnosed, it gets them off the hook if something goes wrong with a diagnosis. there is safety in numbers. they, like everybody else are looking for the easy way out.
if you aren't careful with what you tell them it stops them from looking for the real cause of the problem.
doctors aren't gods though they would like you to think they are
this brain fog is diagnosis is just the new gimmick

[Kellybelle22]

11:24 PM on 03/17/2012

It's not a new gimmick. It's a very real problem that women have had a hard time being taken seriously about for almost two decades. We heard less about it 20 years ago and further back because HRT was more prevalent back then than it is now

One of the little known facts about middle-aged brain fog is that the same thing that helps alleviate hot flashes also eases the brain fog: cardiovascular exercise. It's the cheapest, most effective treatment available for any type of neuro-cognitive decline, from menopausal brain fog to mild cognitive impairment (the pre-cursor to Alzheimer's) to Parkinson's to frontal and temporal lobe dementias.

[pwildzz]

02:05 PM on 03/18/2012

I appreciate your position however, there was no diagnosis by my doctor and he went to great lengths to annotate sleep deprivation as the cause of "fogginess." He even wrote a letter to the insurance company stating their conclusion was wrong and that he had known me for several years. I can't tell you how frustrating this has been. My forgetful ness was events like not being sure which row the car was parked in ourside the grocery store, or where are my keys were. Never, never allow a doctor to document such little things.

[kkdc]

01:27 PM on 03/18/2012

As a doctor who charts and has to be complete about things, even on lab slips issued for testing to find out what's wrong with a patient, we have to assign a diagnosis, which is like labeling someone with something forever, even if it's treatable. We used to be able to write R/O, ie rule out "anemia" or "Hypercholesterolemia" but not now. I try never to chart something that I think an insurance company can use against someone, however, when I order x-rays and they come back with all kinds of degenerative changes called out by the radiologist, there's nothing I can do about it.

[mem60]

04:40 AM on 03/17/2012

FINALLY!!!
I have an excuse!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[umass13]

10:35 AM on 03/17/2012

this isn't an excuse its a cop out

[jojo5]

11:07 AM on 03/17/2012

You must be a man.............

[rolando4rocks]

04:32 AM on 03/17/2012

Sure seems like to me that over the years,NOT ENOUGH has been done about this condition for women.Its all been about cancer,aids,als,ect.,ect.,ect.,and let me make myself clear;those are TERRIBLE diseases,all of them.I am not discounting them,it just seems that female menopause has been put on the back burner by the drs & researchers.Menopause really can be a NASTY thing,in many cases debilitating;robbing women and their husbands of a "normal" lifestyle in many ways.I would like to see more done,and NOT with hormone replacement,something quite dangerous to many women..

[William Capen]

12:15 AM on 03/17/2012

Good god, men have been saying this for 200 years. How much tax money was spent on this?

[marycfb]

10:18 AM on 03/17/2012

Are you serious? Or just a jerk?

[William Capen]

10:43 AM on 03/17/2012

I am very serious! Why, do you have brain fog?