Brain fog may be caused by menopause! Study: Most associated with severe depression and sexual dysfunction
Does menopause cause brain fog? Study: Most associated with severe depression and sexual dysfunction
“Brain fog” does not refer to a specific disease clinically, but describes the situation where the brain’s operation is affected by disease, infection or various physiological factors, resulting in slower thinking speed, slower brain response, etc. Common similar symptoms include headache, Dizziness, memory loss, decreased concentration, abnormal understanding, and may be accompanied by anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Recent studies have pointed out that as we age, brain fog may also be a symptom related to menopause in women and is related to the decrease in estrogen secretion after menopause.
A research paper published in “Menopause” collected data from 404 women aged 40-65 who had not received hormone therapy. Among them, women who had stopped menopause for more than 5 years were evaluated for depression and sexual dysfunction. The scores are the highest; women who have entered menopause in the past 5 years have the highest scores for anxiety and hot flashes. The research team claimed that severe depression and sexual dysfunction in menopausal women are significantly related to cognitive function symptoms. However, although the two occurred at the same time, a causal relationship cannot yet be proven.
Why does menopause affect brain cognitive function and is even significantly related to severe menopausal symptoms? Dr. Heather Hirsch, director of the Menopause Center at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said that almost all organs of the human body have estrogen receptors, and body functions are highly sensitive to fluctuations in hormonal secretion. This means that reduced secretion of estrogen may indeed affect the functioning of the female brain. efficiency. Therefore, the higher the decline in estrogen, the more obvious the various menopausal symptoms will be, and the more obvious the “brain fog” problem will be. .
Does estrogen affect brain cognition? 7 things women can do to prevent brain fog
When women go through menopause, the decrease in estrogen secretion may also affect mood and cognition. The research team said that postmenopausal women’s learning ability will be temporarily affected, but as time progresses after menopause and the body adjusts, cognitive and learning functions may gradually improve. After entering menopause, what methods should women take to reduce or avoid brain fog? Heather Hirsch recommends seven major life adjustments women can make:
Think rationally: Menopause is a period of great fluctuation in life. Try to stay calm, be kind to yourself, and think positively.
Moderate challenge: Try to plan new activities, or choose different routes during traffic, create new memories and experiences, and increase brain stimulation.
Regular exercise: Regular exercise helps improve the cognitive ability of the brain and is beneficial to all organs of the body.
Weigh the priorities: Slow down and prioritize the most important things at hand.
Note writing: Write down important things and make good use of various reminder tools in life.
Sleep quality: Night sweats or difficulty falling asleep are common during menopause, causing sleep quality problems. It is recommended to reduce caffeine intake, especially after lunch.
Get treatment: Cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, or a combination of therapies can help with depression and mood problems.
Most memory problems are not serious. In 2 cases, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
“Harvard University Health Publishing” points out that memory loss is one of the most common symptoms of cognitive dysfunction, and most mild memory problems are nothing to worry about. When women face menopausal syndrome, they are prone to have irregular menstruation, night sweats, etc., which may lead to difficulty sleeping at night or feeling “brain fog”. As long as they feel that their daily routine is affected, they can consult a specialist as soon as possible. What is more important to note is that if you have sudden memory problems or are accompanied by hallucinations or delusions, or if memory loss may cause accidental dangers such as dangerous driving, cooking fire accidents, etc., you should seek medical examination as soon as possible.
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