Could Menopause be making you dumb?
One of the little-known symptoms of perimenopause and menopause is neurological changes.
One reason I’ve chosen to write this blog post today is because perimenopause marked the point where I began linking brain changes with life stages. Different phases in life significantly influence how the brain functions. I personally had things happen that made me question my sanity and my intelligence.
I started to forget things that I would never have before , which made me feel more confused and anxious than I had ever felt before. I had never considered myself an anxious person . In fact , I prided myself on my down-to-earth , easy outlook on life, the way I didn’t sweat the small stuff , and that I could always see the bright side of a depressing situation. But around my early forties , this changed dramatically and with no warning. I went to my GP to get some answers , and instead , I was told that maybe I needed some counselling and antidepressants. This did not sit right with me as I didn’t feel sad as such , just confused and frustrated at the lack of understanding. I went so far as to ask for a referral to a specialist , and off I went to a neurologist. I did an oral test to assess my cognition and an MRI to check my brain. What I got from that is a massive bill and again no real answers. He told me I was depressed and emotional following the passing of my father the year before. So I turned to the internet , and what I found there shocked me but also gave me great comfort. What my GP had failed to tell me when she prescribed me HRT medication and also mentioning my perimenopausal symptoms , was that those symptoms of brain fog, forgetfulness , and confusion were all very common symptoms of menopause. I was experiencing changes to my brain because of the hormonal changes in my body. To think my GP was a woman as well , I was astounded at the lack of understanding , but at least I knew what was causing it.
Menopause consists of three stages: perimenopause, the multiyear transition leading up to a person’s last period; menopause; and postmenopause, or all the years beyond menopause. It’s a natural part of aging and marks the end of being able to bear children. During this process, ovaries stop releasing eggs , and the production of estrogen and progesterone hormones declines.
The menopause stage is confirmed when a person has missed their period for 12 months, but symptoms can occur all the way through. Approximately 70% of women experience neurological symptoms during the menopausal transition. While historically menopause was associated only with the ovaries , it’s now understood that symptoms such as hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood changes , and insomnia are all neurological symptoms. The neurons that support ovulation and enable pregnancy are no longer needed. It’s the brain’s chance to recalibrate, which can lead to some discomfort , an understatement. In fact , there have been studies that show an association between frequent hot flashes and an increased likelihood of having Alzheimer’s disease. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you will definitely develop Alzheimer’s if you have hot flashes , but with hot flashes comes disruptions in your sleep , and we know how important good sleep is in avoiding Alzheimer’s. So it stands to reason.
So how can we minimize the effects of menopausal brain changes and also reduce our risks of developing Alzheimer’s following menopause? Here are a few ways:
HRT: Hormone replacement therapy can help. If HRT is taken soon after the menopausal symptoms begin, there is a higher chance your brain will be protected from brain disease. There is a 26% reduced risk of dementia if hormones are taken for more than 10 years. But if a woman begins estrogen-progesterone therapy after the age of 65 or more than 10 years after the start of menopause, dementia risk rises. I know a lot of women are put off taking HRT due to misinformation and debunked studies on the risks of HRT and the likelihood of developing hormone-related cancers. But for most women , it is safe, although in some cases , it may not be a good fit. This is something you should speak to your doctor about.
Reduce your alcohol consumption: Yes , I can hear your collective moans and groans ; I am guilty of a few groans myself. Many of us use alcohol as a way to relax after a tough day at work. During menopause , alcohol can cause you to have an interrupted sleep. I have personally found that alcohol can cause a very disrupted sleep. Red wine (my favorite) is also seen as one of the most common triggers of hot flashes. One survey found that women who drank alcohol daily were much more likely to report hot flashes and night sweats . Booo.
Exercise blah blah blah , but yes, exercise is another way we can help reduce symptoms. Exercise can help you to reduce anxiety, stress , and depression , which , as I mentioned earlier , are all symptoms of which many of us suffer from. The more physical benefits of exercise at this time in our lives are stability , strength , and greater muscle mass.
Mindfulness: Mindfulness can really help you to manage your symptoms. Simple techniques such as practicing meditation or even listening to a guided meditation on YouTube or downloading a mindfulness app can be beneficial. I personally use BREETHE but there are other popular ones such as Calm. Mindfulness can help to put you in a better frame of mind and also help you to quieten the anxious thoughts that pop up. Kindness to yourself and better self-talk can also help you through the more trying times. Mindfulness can also help with avoiding the stress that this puts on our brain and therefore protect us from harm.
So my advice to you is if you start to experience any of the neurological symptoms mentioned here , do speak to your doctor and discuss your options on how to move forward and find ways to deal with and manage the symptoms. Be kind to yourself and take the time to deal with the changes that are happening in your body and mind. It is a new stage in your life and you need to come to terms with it. Lastly , arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible. Unsurprisingly , there are not nearly enough studies on the effects of menopause on our brains , but the topic is coming more to light than ever before. And remember , menopause is not making you dumb — you are the most amazing person ever!
The Healthy Brain 
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