Memory and Menopause

Menopause, which is a natural phase of life, has a significant impact on every women’s life as aging ensues. These changes may start to appear as early as midlife during the menopausal transition, when they begin to experience changes in cognitive function in addition to menopausal symptoms. The neurological symptoms during menopausal transition and menopause, such as sleep disturbances, mood changes, altered memory, attention difficulties are cumulatively termed as “brain fog” or “brain fade.” However these symptoms should be differentiated from other mood-related disorders or cognitive disorders like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease. The phase near menopause is marked by drastic changes in hormonal levels, particularly estrogen. Hence based on this concept, hormonal factors like decline in estrogen are known to contribute for the cognitive dysfunction. Based on the available guidelines, menopausal hormonal therapy is not recommended to treat cognitive concerns at any age, though the neuroprotective action of estrogen therapy has proven to be beneficial when started at an early stage. Lifestyle interventions focusing on cardiometabolic health, physical activity, diet, social relationships, and mind-body therapies have also known to guide women experiencing cognitive changes. In this chapter, we review the main aspects of menopause and cognition, role of sex steroids on the central nervous system, action of menopausal hormonal therapy, and achieving an optimal brain health. Further the role of mind-body medicine has also been discussed, which holds potential in alleviating symptoms of altered cognition around menopause.