Study Reveals How Menopause Causes Brain Fog

A recent study sheds light on how menopause impacts the brain, highlighting the significant role estrogen plays in maintaining cognitive functions. Researchers scanned women's brains before and after menopause, revealing substantial changes due to decreased estrogen levels.

Lack of Estrogen Changes the Brain

The study, led by Dr. Lisa Mosconi, an associate professor of neuroscience in neurology and radiology and the director of the Women's Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell Medicine, shows how estrogen depletion alters brain structure and function. "There’s a very clear feedback loop that connects the brain to the ovaries that we’re born with. It’s dramatically changing as women go through menopause," Dr. Mosconi explained during an appearance on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”

Cognitive and Emotional Symptoms

The brain scans showed that women with more red areas in their scans scored lower on cognitive tests. These women experienced symptoms like mood swings, brain fog, and depression. Dr. Mosconi described menopause as akin to undergoing a "renovation project," with changes in brain energy levels, connectivity, and blood flow.

Women's Health Research Lagging Behind

The study emphasizes the need for more focused research on women's health, particularly in understanding how menopause affects the brain. Mosconi's work aims to bridge the gap in women's health research, which historically lags behind research on men's health.

Raising Awareness

Menopause advocate and journalist Tamsen Fadal hopes the study will raise awareness and help women understand that their symptoms are not "all in their head." Fadal emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the physiological changes that occur during menopause and ensuring women receive the support they need.