According to new research, memory problems may be a real symptoms of menopause, joining hot flashed and night sweats as the primary complaints.
Also called “brain fog”, the research may provide clues about changes in women’s brains as they transition through the “change,” finding key differences between the memory issues women in the study had around the time of menopause and those most often associated with aging.
The study included 75 women who were tested on different aspects of memory and thinking.
All of the women were experiencing menopause-related changes in their menstrual cycles at the time of testing, but had had at least one period during the previous year.
Women who had memory complaints were more likely to perform poorly on tests designed to measure working memory, which Weber describes as the ability to take in new information and manipulate it.
Tasks that involve working memory might include calculating the amount of a tip to leave at a restaurant or changing one’s itinerary at the last minute.
The researchers found little evidence that the women had problems storing and retrieving information,
The study can be found in the journal, Menopause.
Symptoms of menopause
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Weight gain
- Memory problems
Helpful tips
- Avoid alcohol, sedatives, or sleep aides
- Caffeine - in the AM
- Ginko Biloba
- Yoga - relaxation techniques
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy - biofeedback, breathing exercises