Menopause, which typically occurs in the late 40s or early 50s, is a normal stage of life when women stop menstruating. Symptoms of menopause vary from woman to woman, but can include irregular periods, heavier or lighter periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and emotional changes such as mood swings. Some women also report experiencing foggy thinking during menopause. However, no consensus on the cause or the cure has been found.
Brain Function and Estrogen
Reference to "foggy" or "fuzzy" thinking began in the 1990s and is used in reference to poor memory and other cognitive problems during menopause, which has been linked to estrogen deficiency. During menopause, ovary function declines; this causes a drop in the production of eggs and the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen affects brain function in several ways; for instance, enhancing synaptic plasticity, which is essential for learning and memory. It also increases formation of neurons in the hippocampus --- which is critical for memory formation --- and protects against cell death. Estrogen also helps to dilate blood vessels to increase blood flow to your brain. Due to these benefits of estrogen to the brain, menopausal symptoms have been treated with estrogen therapy. Long-term estrogen therapy is no longer recommended due to increased health risks such as blood clots and breast cancer. However, short-term estrogen therapy -- sometimes in combination with the hormone progestin -- is still prescribed for some women going through menopause, according to MayoClinic.com.
Natural Menopause Effects
While some scientists suggest that the lack of estrogen contributes to cognitive problems during natural menopause, the link is not yet proven. Instead, other factors such as perceived stress, physical health and mood are more to blame, according to a Stanford University study published in the journal "Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology" in 2008. Adding to the debate is the fact that some studies investigating the use of estrogen replacement therapy do not show a significant improvement in memory or other cognitive function after menopause, as revealed in a study from McGill University in Canada that appeared in a 2006 issue of the journal "Neuroscience."
Surgical Menopause Effects
Surgical menopause refers to the removal of the ovaries, and in some cases the uterus, before going through natural menopause. A study that was conducted by McGill University researchers and published in the "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences" in 2005 revealed that estrogen therapy given immediately after surgical menopause had protective effects on verbal memory. However, those protective effects did not occur if estrogen therapy was given years after surgical menopause. The findings suggest that it's the timing of estrogen therapy that may make a difference in treating foggy thinking and other cognitive impairments related to menopause.
Nutrition
Healthy eating may be able to offset some of the symptoms associated with menopause. As women's diets are often low in calcium and iron, the Cleveland Clinic recommends boosting your intake of these nutrients during menopause. Eat more low-fat dairy foods, broccoli, fish with small bones such as sardines and green leafy vegetables to get more calcium. Leafy greens are also good sources of iron, as are red meat, fish, eggs, nuts and enriched grain products. Fill up on fruits and fiber and limit your intake of alcohol, saturated fats, sugar and salt for improved mental clarity.
Consideration
If you engage in significant amounts of strenuous activity such as running, you may be more at risk for cognitive problems after menopause. In a study published in the "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease" in 2010, a researcher from the University of Toronto found that the lifelong intensity of a woman's physical activity before menopause and her cognitive performance after menopause. Vigorous exercise disrupts sex hormone levels, for instance, lowering levels of estrogen. On the other hand, moderate activity such as brisk walking enhances brain activity.
References
- Cleveland Clinic: Menopause
- Canadian Women's Health Network: Thinking Straight: Oestrogen and Cognitive Function at Midlife
- "Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology"; Cognitive Changes After Menopause: Influence of Estrogen; Victor W. Henderson, MD, MS; 2008
- "Neuroscience"; Estrogen and Cognitive Aging in Women"; Sherwin BB; November 2006
- "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences"; Surgical Menopause, Estrogen, And Cognitive Function in Women: What Do the Findings Tell Us?"; Sherwin BB; June 2005
- "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease"; Intensity of Recreational Physical Activity Throughout Life and Later Life Cognitive Functioning In Women"; Mary Tierney, et al.; December 2010
