Brain Fog Menopause Emotional Symptom No 1

Brain Fog Menopause Emotional Symtpom No 1

Brain issues during menopause are one of the more common symptoms and unfortunatley you will probably experience these to some degree.
Menopause Brain Fog is the most common of these  brain issues.
Have you noticed that some days you just can’t get your act together?
You forget names, can’t remember where you left your keys, or struggle to concentrate for longer than a few minutes.
You even need to make lists just to make it through the day!

Why exactly are our brains impacted by menopause?

Our brains and ovaries are part of the neuroendocrine system, which involves the brain communicating with the ovaries and vice versa.
The health of the ovaries and brain are therefore closely linked.
Estrogen is not only involved in reproduction but also in brain function and is key for energy production in the brain.
At a cellular level, estrogen pushes neurons to burn glucose to make energy.

If your estrogen is high, your brain energy is high and when your estrogen declines, your neurons start slowing down and age faster.
Studies have shown that this process can also lead to the formation of amyloid plaques or Alzheimer’s plaques which are the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

These effects are more acute in specific brain regions, starting with the hypothalamus, which is in charge of regulating body temperature.
Estrogen is important in communicating with the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates body temperature correctly.
Hot flashes are due to the hypothalamus not regulating body temperature correctly.

Also, the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain, is controlled by estrogen.
As estrogen levels ebb in these areas it can affect your mood and memory.
Added to all of this is age, which impacts the circulation of blood and oxygen to the brain causing it to slow down and preventing you to think clearly.

What are some of the symptoms:

• • Forgetfulness
  • Short term memory loss
  • Difficulty in concentration
  • Difficulty in thinking
  • Confusion
  • Mood swings
  • Feeling of losing one’s mind

What can make brain fog worse?

Dehydration Low blood sugars and dehydration can have an effect on brain function.
Dehydration can also affect your motor coordination as well as problem-solving and your ability to pay attention. Even mild dehydration can have a big impact on brain function.

Stress and anxiety Studies have shown that stress and anxiety can impair cognitive function causing:

• Mental slowness
• Confusion
• Forgetfulness
• Difficulty in concentrating

If you are stressed and anxious, that will impair the ability for new information to be stored in your brain.

 

How to beat menopause brain fog

Get a good night’s sleep
Getting poor sleep can interfere with brain function and your short-term memory.

Supplements

• Take herbal supplements such as passion flower or valerian
• Supplement with Omega3 or fish oil as these help with focus and concentration If you’re vegetarian or vegan, try flaxseed oils.

Eat well
Your brain uses up a lot of energy and nutrients during menopause.
Make sure that you’re eating well and regularly.

Exercise
When you exercise regularly, your breathing improves, and that in turn oxygenates your brain.

Brain fog & when should you see a doctor?

If you find that your memory is getting really bad and if it is starting to concern you, then it’s best to seek professional advice.
For most women, however, this tends to be just a phase, something that comes and goes and it is not something that will last all the way through menopause.

Sources healthline.com – menopause and brain fog
webmd.com – menopause brain fog is real
healthywomen.org – brain fog might be to blame