Menopause Symptoms + Your Brain (Some Good News!)

Most people think about menopause as only affecting a woman’s fertility, but it can affect the brain too. Declining levels of estrogen and other hormones are responsible for perimenopause symptoms such as trouble concentrating, brain fog, memory problems, anxiety and  irritability. Hot flashes and night sweats are also related to hormone effects on the brain. And, research has shown that the brain’s glucose metabolism slows down as well, becoming less efficient. 

The Good News: The Brain Symptoms are Temporary

The good news is that these changes are temporary due to the adjustment of the brain to changing hormone levels, mostly estrogen. Once full menopause is reached, there is evidence that women’s brains recover to their pre-menopause function. Knowing this is temporary is comforting and won’t feel as scary if or when you notice any changes or symptoms like brain fog.

Researchers from Weill Cornell and the University of Arizona studied brain scans from women 40-65 years old and found that glucose uptake in the areas of the brain responsible for memory and perception were affected. Brain glucose activity is a measure of brain energy and activity. The researchers found that glucose levels dipped during perimenopause and then recovered, or even increased in some areas, after menopause. According to Dr. Lisa Mosconi at Weill Cornell Medicine, there is no evidence that menopause causes Alzheimer’s disease related memory loss, but if you have an Alzheimer predisposition, menopause may accelerate the process.

How To Manage In The Meantime

And there are steps you can take to improve your odds and have fewer symptoms. Basically, eat well, exercise and manage stress.

Studies show that healthy diets containing antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene correlate with higher brain energy in women. Exercise may also protect against Alzheimers and brain aging in both men and women, but especially women and exercise helps combat menopause mood changes and fatigue. Middle-aged women who exercise have a 30% lower risk of dementia compared to those who are sedentary. Managing stress is also super important. Studies have shown that chronic stress accelerates brain aging. 

Unusual Menopause Symptoms: Final Thoughts

What these studies show is that the some symptoms of perimenopause can be unusual, unnerving and affect your brain as well as your body. But the brain symptoms are time-limited and will improve… and you’ll be entering a new chapter of your life.

That explains why so many women talk about “the good years” after menopause. To learn more about how perimenopause and menopause affect your brain, sign up for my Mastering Menopause course so you’ll have all the tools you need when the time comes. 

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