Have you been forgetting where you put your keys more than usual? Or maybe you are having some problems remembering names. Menopausal women often complain of memory loss, forgetfulness and difficulty in staying focused.
If this sounds like you, rest assured you are experiencing a normal menopause complaint. You are far from losing your mind; short-term memory loss is very common with mature women and it can usually be treated. Let's look at the physical and chemical causes of memory loss during menopause and what you can do about it.
Memory and the Brain
Memory is a very complex mechanism and even nowadays scientists are still trying to break its boundaries. It is indeed difficult for some to comprehend how we store and access such massive amounts of information inside our brain. But what is it about menopause that seems to trigger memory problems?
Registration, retention, and recall are the three stages our memories have to pass through when they work. Every time we make some kind of observations in our daily life, our brains register what they see, feel, or taste. Have you wondered why children remember songs and poems so well? This is because they continually repeat or remember something they observe. Our brains store this kind of information in our short-term memory.
Estrogen deficits occur at the beginning of menopause, after a sudden event such as a hysterectomy, or may occur due to other physical issues. Low levels of estrogen can bring memory problems, trouble finding your words, loss of attention, not to mention mood swings. You should know that all these symptoms, including memory loss, can be vastly improved, or eliminated, using nutrition, supplements, bioidentical hormone replacement and conventional drug therapies.
Here are some guidelines for evaluating the seriousness of your symptoms.
Do I have Alzheimer's disease?
This is the fear most women have when experiencing cognitive symptoms during menopause. Due to the fact that the discovery might scare them, many women choose not to seek treatment. Resist this fear and seek out the assistance of a healthcare provider. Quite often, menopausal brain fog can be improved or eliminated, given the proper attention.
Does estrogen have an impact on functions of the mind?
Yes it does. Estrogen can influence language skills, as well as mood and attention.
How does estrogen affect the mind?
Sites that store estrogen exist in several regions of our brain, including those involved in memory (such as the hippocampus). Whenever they are activated by estrogen, they activate processes, beneficial to the brain. More than that, estrogen raises levels of brain chemicals, such as neurotransmitters, including those implicated in memory, mood and motor coordination. Estrogen is crucial to the networking between nerve cells, promoting their ability to communicate with one another.
What are some common signs of Estrogen Deficiencies?
- Brain fog and mental fuzziness
- Increased amounts of forgetfulness (names, birthdays)
- Depression
- Anxiety issues, sometimes panic disorders
- Insomnia and difficulty falling asleep
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Mood changes, emotionally unstable
- Unhealthy-looking skin
- Dry eyes, skin and vagina
- Pain during intercourse, due to dryness
- Weight gain
What about medical treatments?
A careful history may differentiate estrogen related cognitive problems from those associated with other conditions. During this time in a woman's life, many problems may also exist, all treatable, such as depression, hypothyroidism, etc. Neuropsychological testing is useful, and it will help you know the nature of the problem. In the same way, testing will establish a cognitive baseline for further comparison and the options you have for treatment depend on the cause or causes of your memory loss.
Treatment options for menopause memory loss may include bioidentical hormone replacement, medication for hypothyroid and synthetic estrogen replacement therapy. Alternative practitioners may recommend nutritional therapies and supplements designed to support hormone balance.
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