How Menopause Impacts a Women’s Cognitive Function

World Menopause Day 2022 is all about understanding how menopause impacts a women’s cognitive function and moods known as ‘Brain Fog’. To understand ‘brain fog’ one needs to understand the role of cerebral circulation and the relationship that estrogen plays in managing oxygen getting to your brain during and after the onset of menopause, and what she can do to offset the impact of ‘Brain Fog’.

Brain fog can mean forgetting appointments, finding difficulty focusing or finishing tasks, losing confidence with short term memory loss and losing important items like her phone or keys. 

During perimenopause and into menopause, a woman’s production of estrogen is unpredictable. Brain Fog during menopause has been attributed to a drop in or excess increases in estrogen production. During this time, thyroid hormone production can become hypo or hyper. These hormone and/or blood pressure shifts can cause a decrease in oxygen level rich blood to the brain due to over or under production of nitric oxide. 

What is Nitric Oxide? 

According to recent studies, estrogen plays an important role in regulating vascular function, acting directly on blood vessel walls (supplying oxygen rich blood) via the production of nitric oxide. During menopause it is then important to have a diet rich in Nitric Oxide which is found in many plant based foods like: 

Several analyses have shown that eating nitrate-rich vegetables can lower blood pressure as much as some blood pressure medications. 

What are Phytoestrogens?

Phytoestrogens are plant-based compounds that can bind weakly to estrogen receptors and have a balancing effect on the estrogen levels in a woman’s body. They can bind to estrogen receptor sites and thwart the onslaught of harmful more powerful estrogens circulating in the blood and causing inflammation during Peri-menopause.

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Exercise and oxygenate your brain

• Deep breathing
• Brisk walking
• Yoga
• Laying on a slant board or inverse machine

Mindfulness techniques to relax stress in the body

• Meditation
• Prayer
• Qigong 
• Journaling 
• Join mindset building support group

Many women can get through the transition by using natural means of support discussed above, however, if her symptoms are severe she may need short-term prescription hormone replacement therapy to stabilize her symptoms. This is a decision she must make with her health care provider. This is a time when the body may need extra vitamins and herbs to support nutritional and organic functional needs. You can connect with us if you need 1:1 advise and also can join our programmes which run through the year. Upcoming Weight loss programme is something really interesting and worth booking.

– Stephanie Niazi. Website: https://stephanieniazi.com