Cognition and the menopause transition.
Complaints about forgetfulness, "brain fog," and difficulty concentrating are common in women transitioning through menopause. Women with these cognitive complaints often express concern about whether these problems are normal, related to menopause, or represent a symptom of Alzheimer disease or another serious cognitive disorder. In this Practice Pearl, we provide a brief summary of the scientific literature on the frequency of cognitive complaints in midlife women, the validity of complaints in relation to performance on standardized cognitive tests, and the influence of menopause on cognitive performance. We then offer recommendations for healthcare providers and women to address cognitive concerns.
1University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Chicago, IL 2Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Pauline M
PM
Maki
Victor W
VW
Henderson
D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged