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Functional Neurology: Midlife Brain Fog in Women

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Do you have low brain endurance when it comes to focus and concentration? Do you often feel like you must drink coffee or exercise to improve brain function? Have you been experiencing noticeable variation in your mental speed? How often do you pick up your smartphone and forget why? Many women commonly struggle to remember everyday tasks throughout their 40’s and 50’s. Research studies have determined one prevalent cause for midlife brain fog in women: hormones.  

 

What is Brain Fog?

 

Brain fog is a health issue associated with feelings of confusion and disorientation. It can make a person feel as if they’re not thinking, understanding, and remembering things as they should. Other terms utilized to describe brain fog include memory fog, forgetfulness, fogginess, and cognitive or cognition issues. People with brain fog frequently forget names they used to know, lack the ability to remember things without writing them down, and they may not feel as sharp as they used to be.  

 

One research study that began analyzing women at age 35 demonstrated that many women report forgetfulness and concentration problems throughout their menopausal transition. Healthcare professionals can help regulate this process for women who are transitioning into menopause as well as allow them to know how women’s brains can be sensitive to fluctuating levels of estrogen for mood and cognitive ability. Hormones also play an important role in midlife brain fog.  

 

Brain Fog and Hormones

 

During an interview with Dr. Marcie Richardson, Women Living Better (WLB) advisor, she states, “there’s a lot of research studies which haven’t proven a definitive connection between brain fog and changing hormones, however, we do know that there are estrogen receptors found in the human brain”. She adds, “but, there is very clear scientific evidence for sleep affecting cognitive function, so if you are dealing with disrupted sleep, it is likely contributing to your cognitive problems”.  

 

The December 2018 New York Times article by Jane Brody cited a 2010 research study that followed women for 6-years to see whether her anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, and vasomotor symptoms, were the cause of a decline in her cognitive function right before menopause or in late perimenopause. However, it concluded these were not the causes.  

 

Brain Fog Remedies to Consider

 

It’s essential to keep in mind that research studies demonstrate that women can begin to experience brain fog early in the menopausal transition which will then resolve on its own. Many women worry that their brain fog may be a sign or symptom of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but these have not been associated with each other in research studies to date. While there aren’t any definitive treatments for brain fog, there are several natural remedies or coping techniques available, such as recognizing the symptom, utilizing tools like notes to self, setting alarms for reminders as well as acknowledging and accepting when a name doesn’t come back to you right away, generally when you are no longer feeling stressed out about it. Keep in mind that disrupted sleep, which comes with hormonal changes for many women, can also contribute to brain fog.  

 

According to Research Studies

 

A sample of several recent research studies associated with midlife brain fog and cognition problems in adult women has been demonstrated below. As you can see, it’s inconclusive. The research study on midlife brain fog in women suggests that:  

 

  • Many types of problems with memory are associated with lower ratings of health and depressed mood. Problems with current memory and remembering past events are associated with higher levels of reported stress, which many women commonly attribute to the increased burden of having to meet multiple role demands, among other demands.
  • Women in the earliest and middle stages of perimenopause, as well as those who utilize hormones, have more problems associated with memory than the previously mentioned women in late-stage menopause or perimenopause.
  • About 72 percent of women reported problems remembering names at least some of the time. About 50 percent have a problem remembering where they put things, recent phone numbers, things others told them or they told others, keeping up a correspondence and forgetting what they were doing. None of these are considered a serious problem.

 

Another research study, from 2009, concluded that “consistent with transitioning women’s perceived memory difficulties, perimenopause was associated with a decrement in cognitive performance, characterized by women not being able to learn as well as they had throughout premenopause. Improvement rebounded to premenopausal levels in postmenopause, suggesting that menopause transition-related cognitive difficulties may be time-limited, according to the research study”.  

 

A recent meta-analysis set out to “synthesize the existing research studies of the relationship between menopausal stage and neuropsychological performance and depression”. However, it concluded that although “the menopausal transition is a time of increased vulnerability for cognitive decline and increased risk of depressive symptoms and depressive disorders, these results from the research studies looked at can’t necessarily be generalized”. Although it’s reassuring that there was no documentable cognition decline across research studies, the weakness in these research studies is that cognition decline is generally measured as the ability to complete a test in an experimental setting, a setting with one focus and no interruptions.  

 

The research study doesn’t accurately emulate real-life settings or measure the type of forgetfulness midlife women report. A fourth research study also found that cognitive function does not change linearly across perimenopause. Decreases in attention/working memory, verbal learning, verbal memory, and fine motor speed may be most evident in the first year after the final menstrual period, according to the research study. Further research studies are required to determine the association between midlife brain fog and hormone changes in perimenopause and menopause in adult women.  

 

El Paso Chiropractor Staff and Doctor

Symptoms for menopause for women in their 40’s or 50’s are different for each woman, and these can commonly include anything from night sweats to weight gain to thinning hair. However, many women have also reported feeling symptoms of brain fog. According to research studies, hormonal changes in women going through menopause or perimenopause can cause brain fog. However, further research studies are required to demonstrate how hormones can ultimately cause brain fog and other mental health issues. – Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight

 


 

Neurotransmitter Assessment Form

 

The following Neurotransmitter Assessment Form can be filled out and presented to Dr. Alex Jimenez. Symptoms listed on this form are not intended to be utilized as a diagnosis of any type of disease, condition, or any other type of health issue.  

 


 

In honor of Governor Abbott’s proclamation, October is Chiropractic Health Month. Learn more about the proposal.  

 

Do you have low brain endurance when it comes to focus and concentration? Do you often feel like you must drink coffee or exercise to improve brain function? Have you been experiencing noticeable variation in your mental speed? How often do you pick up your smartphone and forget why? Many women commonly struggle to remember everyday tasks throughout their 40’s and 50’s. Research studies have determined one prevalent cause for midlife brain fog in women: hormones.  

 

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .  

 

Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez  

 


 

Additional Topic Discussion: Chronic Pain

 

Sudden pain is a natural response of the nervous system which helps to demonstrate possible injury. By way of instance, pain signals travel from an injured region through the nerves and spinal cord to the brain. Pain is generally less severe as the injury heals, however, chronic pain is different than the average type of pain. With chronic pain, the human body will continue sending pain signals to the brain, regardless if the injury has healed. Chronic pain can last for several weeks to even several years. Chronic pain can tremendously affect a patient’s mobility and it can reduce flexibility, strength, and endurance.

 

 


 

Neural Zoomer Plus for Neurological Disease

 

Neural Zoomer Plus | El Paso, TX Chiropractor  

Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate neurological diseases. The Neural ZoomerTM Plus is an array of neurological autoantibodies which offers specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. The Vibrant Neural ZoomerTM Plus is designed to assess an individual’s reactivity to 48 neurological antigens with connections to a variety of neurologically related diseases. The Vibrant Neural ZoomerTM Plus aims to reduce neurological conditions by empowering patients and physicians with a vital resource for early risk detection and an enhanced focus on personalized primary prevention.  

 

Formulas for Methylation Support

Xymogen Formulas - El Paso, TX

 

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Please call our office in order for us to assign a doctor consultation for immediate access.

 

If you are a patient of Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic, you may inquire about XYMOGEN by calling 915-850-0900.

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Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Functional Neurology: Midlife Brain Fog in Women" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
License Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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