Studies show menopause can reduce women’s memory, concentration by 40%

Studies show menopause can reduce women’s memory, concentration by 40%

Women going through the menopause may experience a significant decline in memory, concentration, and the ability to carry out daily tasks, with research suggesting a drop of up to 40 per cent in cognitive performance. This revelation was highlighted at a recent international conference on women’s health.

Experts warn that as many as four in ten women could be affected, making it increasingly difficult to manage work responsibilities or daily routines. Researchers also note that younger women may experience temporary concentration difficulties at certain points in the menstrual cycle due to hormonal changes, performing better when oestrogen levels peak just before ovulation.

Professor Martha Hickey, an obstetrics and gynaecology expert at Melbourne University, told the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Boston that compelling evidence now links menopause with declines in attention span, learning ability, and memory function. She identified possible causes, including a drop in oestrogen levels and sleep disruption from night sweats and hot flushes.

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“Oestrogen decline during the menopause may affect key areas of the brain responsible for memory and concentration, including the hippocampus, midbrain, and prefrontal cortex,” Professor Hickey said. Brain scans have shown changes in these regions in menopausal women, though she noted that previous research likely underestimated the effects due to less sensitive testing methods.

Professor Hickey is currently studying 105 women in the US undergoing oophorectomy (surgical removal of ovaries), which induces menopause, to further explore cognitive effects. Earlier studies, including a 2001 survey of 12,450 US women, found that post-menopausal women were 40% more likely to report forgetfulness. Another US study involving 16,000 women found that four in ten admitted to experiencing memory problems.

The average age of menopause is 52, although it can occur in the 30s or 40s. The condition is marked by the cessation of ovarian oestrogen production, which also leads to mood swings, hot flushes, and night sweats.

Studies show menopause can reduce women’s memory, concentration by 40%