Brain fog in menopause: a health-care professional's guide for decision-making and counseling on cognition.

Journal: Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society

Volume: 25

Issue: 6

Year of Publication: 2022

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Psychiatry, Psychology and OB/GYN, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service and University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Abstract summary 

Midlife women commonly experience changes in their cognitive function as they transition through menopause and express concern about whether these changes represent the initial stages of a more serious cognitive disorder. Health-care practitioners play an important role in counseling women on cognitive changes at midlife and normalizing women's experience. The aim of this commissioned International Menopause Society White Paper on cognition is to provide practitioners with an overview of data informing the clinical care of menopausal women and a framework for clinical counseling and decision-making. Among the topics presented are the specific cognitive changes occurring in menopause, the duration of such changes and their severity. The role of estrogen and menopause symptoms is reviewed. We present talking points for clinical counseling on the effects of hormone therapy on cognition and dementia risk in women, including discussion of absolute risk. Lastly, a brief review of modifiable risk factors for age-related cognitive decline and dementia is presented, with guidance for counseling patients on optimizing their brain health at midlife and beyond.

Authors & Co-authors:  Maki P M PM Jaff N G NG

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  2
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1080/13697137.2022.2122792
SSN : 1473-0804
Study Population
Women
Mesh Terms
Humans
Other Terms
Menopause;cognition;dementia;memory;menopausal hormone therapy;perimenopause
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Mali
Publication Country
England