Jun
7
Confirming what many perimenopausal women already know, a recent four year NIH study reported that 60% of women experience memory difficulties during perimenopause – but the good news is that it appears that the effect may be temporary. The study found that while women may not be able to learn as well shortly before menopause compared to other stages in life, their memory – which was translated into an ability to learn – improved back to pre-menopausal levels at the end of menopause! (Menopause being the cessation of periods for 12 consecutive months). The women were tested for verbal memory, working memory, and also speed at which they processed information during four stages of menopause. The results showed that in information processing speed, the women in late perimenopause (having no period for three to 11 months before the study began) scored only 28% as well as women in other menopausal stages. Similarly verbal memory performance was comparably compromised during early perimenopause (menstrual irregularity but no “gaps” of 3 months), as well as late perimenopause.
So far so good – but, as we’ve come to expect with menopausal studies, there were further results that fell into the category of “what do I do with this information?” The study also found that taking estrogen or progesterone before menopause (when precisely is unclear) helped verbal memory and processing speed – however taking these hormones after the final menstrual period had a negative effect! The results “ suggest that the ‘critical period’ for estrogen or progesterone’s benefits on the brain may be prior to menopause, but the findings should be interpreted with caution.” Stay tuned.
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Comments
3 Comments so far
Now that you mention it, I haven’t felt as “foggy” as I did before hitting menopause. Now I know why – thanks!
56 and still foggy!!!!!!!
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