We’ve all had those moments—misplacing our phone, losing track of where we set down our coffee, or drawing a blank on someone’s name just as we’re about to introduce them. These little lapses are just part of being human. But when they start happening more often—like losing your place in a conversation or walking into a room only to feel like you’ve forgotten your reason for being there—it can be unsettling, frustrating, and concerning.
Brain fog is everything from trouble with memory and concentration to difficulty processing information, solving problems, or coming up with words. It is one of the most common symptoms of perimenopause with affecting nearly 60% of women.
Fortunately, there are effective management strategies to help you feeling sharp again. It is also important to know that menopause related brain fog is temporary and in the majority of cases will improve as hormone levels stabilise.
Why does it happen?
Estrogen supports cognitive function and stimulates activity in the part of the brain associated with learning and memory function (the hippocampus). Declining estrogen can affect activity resulting in impaired focus, recall and other cognitive tasks.
Simultaneously, hormone imbalances can affect sleep and mood which can also affect you ability to think straight. When you are sleep deprived, feeling anxious or depressed your concentration is affected.
Management options:
– MHT
– Lifestyle factors: Diet rich in leafy greens and healthy fats, exercise, stress management, prioritise sleep
– Keep your brain active (mind activities, learning a new language etc)
– Cognitive testing if unresponsive to MHT or if there are other concerns
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH ALLY TO GET YOU FEELING ON TOP OF YOUR GAME AGAIN
