- What is brain fog?  Well, brain fog is the term some menopausal women use to describe their perceived memory difficulties.  A recent study set out to confirm whether brain fog in menopausal women really exists.
The study was published in the journal NEUROLOGY.  Study authors analyzed data from 2,362 female participants from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation.
Women participants were given a series of memory and cognition tests over four years, as they went through menopause.

· Study authors concluded that women’s perceived memory difficulties while perimenopausal were associated with deficiencies in memory, cognition, and difficulty learning when compared to levels found before menopause.
· Memory and cognition rebounded to premenopausal levels in postmenopause.
· Authors also concluded that hormone replacement started before the end of menopause was associated with improved memory and cognition.

· This is an enlightening study and supports the idea that menopause can interfere with brain function.
Although hormone replacement in menopausal women is controversial, the study supports a benefit in brain function from hormone replacement during menopause.

Cristopher Geiler, MD
June 2, 2009
NEUROLOGY 2009;72:1850-1857