Brain Fog & Menopause
Dec 01, 2021Over 60% of menopausal women report cognitive difficulties such as problems thinking, reasoning and remembering, also called brain fog. Brain fog isn’t a psychological or medical term, but a lay term that describes the fogginess experienced by many women during menopause. Finding the right word mid-sentence or forgetting people’s names is common-place with menopausal women. Concentrating and making decisions is frustrating especially when this group of women are hitting their professional peak after years of working their buns off to get to where they are now.
Working menopausal women, despite where they work, whether in management positions, CEOs at the height of their careers, employees and entrepreneurs in all sectors of business say brain fog is embarrassing when they are expected to be firing on all cylinders. Because their performance stays generally within the normal limits of functioning, their cognitive decline is not always easy to detect with standard medical tests or evidenced by close family members.
There is a growing interest of the impact of menopausal symptoms in the workplace. More research and advocacy are required by companies to support women suffering as they transition through menopause. The retention of menopausal female workers in the workplace is important to ensure we continue to strive for workforce diversity within our modern workforce.
Hormones produced by the ovaries, estradiol (a type of estrogen) and progesterone are potent brain chemicals that are thought to protect the brain and contribute to memory and thinking. The fluctuations and eventual loss of estradiol has been thought to contribute to cognitive difficulties. Other menopause symptoms such as sleep loss, anxiety, depression and vasomotor symptoms may also contribute to cognitive symptoms.
It’s clear that lifestyle choices are key to women experiencing menopause, however research is needed to determine if lifestyle changes could buffer cognitive problems related to menopause. We do know that exercise can improve cognition during menopause. Programs that include weight-bearing activities such as lifting light weights in the gym, gentle yoga, mindfulness through meditation, and a structured sleep regime are all beneficial routines.
It’s important to note that smoking cigarettes, excessive alcohol, illicit drugs and excessive prescription medications can contribute to increased brain fog. A diet rich in plant-based, organic and unprocessed foods help with brain function. Lastly, regularly utilizing the brain with ongoing education, socialization, fun games and engagement on all levels can fire neurons in the brain to ensure that brain fog doesn’t take over thinking, reasoning and remembering. In summary, be active by using your brain and maintain physical activity of any kind.
