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The Brain Fog of Menopause
New York Times ^ | December 17, 2018 | Jane E. Brody

Posted on 12/24/2018 5:34:36 AM PST by reaganaut1

...

Dr. Devi told me that “60 percent of women go through menopause-related cognitive impairment” that, when serious enough to be brought to medical attention, is too often misdiagnosed as “mild cognitive impairment,” a precursor to dementia.

Menopause-related cognitive symptoms are very similar to “chemo brain,” a common complaint among women treated for breast cancer and in some men treated for prostate cancer. Treatment of both diseases often results in an abrupt drop in estrogen levels.

People with so-called brain fog following cancer treatment “have trouble with short-term memory, multitasking, coming up with words and putting cogent thoughts together,” said Dr. Devi, an attending neurologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York and clinical professor of neurology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn.

“Menopause-related cognitive impairment happens to women in their 40s and 50s, women in the prime of life who suddenly have the rug pulled out from under them,” she said. Yet, she believes, the correct diagnosis is missed more often than not.

“Women with menopause-related cognitive impairment are afraid they’re developing some form of dementia, but if they go to a memory disorder specialist, they may not get the right diagnosis,” Dr. Devi said in an interview. Internists may check for thyroid disease, a vitamin deficiency or infection, but rarely connect the woman’s menstrual history to her cognitive symptoms, she said.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: menopause
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To: reaganaut1

"..???..ya might wanna explain that one over the phone"

21 posted on 12/24/2018 6:55:44 AM PST by Doogle (( USAF.68-73....8th TFW Ubon Thailand....never store a threat you should have eliminated)))
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To: EEGator

Meredith Baxter Birney is a lesbian, barf.


22 posted on 12/24/2018 7:17:31 AM PST by bgill (CDC site, "We don't know. how people are infected with Ebola.")
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To: Bonemaker

Estrogen on a short term basis is fine, longer can cause cancer and heart problems, I never touched the stuff.


23 posted on 12/24/2018 7:20:29 AM PST by magamomma
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To: MayflowerMadam

Routine is important. Better to tell yourself that retirement is a new job! LOL

Also, transition is difficult as is experienced by veterans.


24 posted on 12/24/2018 7:21:49 AM PST by huldah1776 ( Vote Pro-life! Allow God to bless America before He avenges the death of the innocent.)
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To: reaganaut1

Treating this with estrogen is not such a great idea, estrogen treatments are found to cause breast cancer, when women are found to have breast cancer they drain you of estrogen, estrogen very bad for breast cancer!!!


25 posted on 12/24/2018 7:28:10 AM PST by Trump Girl Kit Cat (Yosemite Sam raising hell)
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To: allendale

I know thatvin some Islamic cultures the husband “pensions” the wfife off as he takes a new, younger wife and starts procreating with her. I think some areas of China do this as well. He is still financially responsible for her, she still is responsible for duties but no longer shares his bed. If he has the means, she even lives in another home.


26 posted on 12/24/2018 7:28:58 AM PST by riri
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To: magamomma

“Estrogen on a short term basis is fine, longer can cause cancer and heart problems, I never touched the stuff.”

My wife refused it too...still got breast cancer. Fortunately, 2 1/2 years out is cancer free.


27 posted on 12/24/2018 7:34:48 AM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: reaganaut1

I sense a push for more prescription drugs coming.


28 posted on 12/24/2018 7:44:21 AM PST by lastchance (Credo.)
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To: reaganaut1

I’m a bit unclear on this but weren’t we doddering old crones told HRT would make our hearts rebel and kill us? True confession I have MS so some days I have major brain fog so I would not know if it came from that or being older.


29 posted on 12/24/2018 7:46:11 AM PST by lastchance (Credo.)
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To: Trump Girl Kit Cat; All

RE:Estrogen ONLY supplementation by mouth IS a mistake. Appropriate estrogen, progesterone, dhea, and testosterone supplementation of bio Identical hormone creams cycling on and off, AND with regular testing of levels is good. It’s out of balance hormones at menopause (and other times) that causes many problems.


30 posted on 12/24/2018 8:01:00 AM PST by goodnesswins (White Privilege EQUALS Self Control & working 50-80 hrs/wk for 40 years!)
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To: Sans-Culotte

Breast cancer runs in our family so I refuse hormones.

I have found evening primrose oil excellent for curbing hot flashes.


31 posted on 12/24/2018 8:50:16 AM PST by RushIsMyTeddyBear
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To: allendale
Really wonder how long in hunter/gatherer clans women who did not have children and were no longer fertile survived.

They had time for other jobs. Helping to care for the young. Food preparation. Gathering. Etc. More hands are better as long as they are not a burden on the group.

32 posted on 12/24/2018 9:07:22 AM PST by IndispensableDestiny
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To: madison10

The whole menopause issue seems overblown to me.

The article compares menopause “brain fog” with “chemo brain.” Eight years ago, in my mid-40’s, chemo, surgery, and medication-for-life rendered me estrogen-less. And I’ve never been happier.

Sometimes I have trouble thinking of a word to use. But men and women of all ages do that sometimes.

A few months ago, a couple of us ladies posted that we’ve discovered a love of math later in life. Supposedly, loss of estrogen affects verbal skills, but then what explains all the older ladies who do the NYT crossword puzzles?

The one way that estrogen loss might hurt us ladies is that we begin to look older, which might affect job opportunities.


33 posted on 12/24/2018 12:34:49 PM PST by Tired of Taxes
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To: reaganaut1

I had a real problem word-finding during menopause.

How bad?

When I was done and things were much better, my supervisor and some of my co-workers half-joked that they thought they would have to start me on Aricept (an Alzheimer drug). But they thought since I DID find my way to work every day, that it was better to just do watchful waiting. LOL

Now I occasionally cannot find a word, and need to substitute. I can always find it eventually and I am much more alert and less foggy. I did go on estradiol for a few years. Miss it terribly. People stopped saying how I looked 15 years younger than my age about three years after I stopped.

Vain? Me? Absolutely!


34 posted on 12/24/2018 12:42:08 PM PST by Chickensoup (Leftists totalitarian fascists appear to be planning to eradicate conservatives)
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To: Bonemaker

Is there any drug...besides alchohol...for men during this time?

______________

It is effective and time-tested


35 posted on 12/24/2018 12:45:24 PM PST by Chickensoup (Leftists totalitarian fascists appear to be planning to eradicate conservatives)
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To: reaganaut1; AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; ...

It’s weird that it’s not called Womenopause.


36 posted on 12/24/2018 5:50:46 PM PST by SunkenCiv (and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
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To: Tired of Taxes

I really had trouble with the number switching. Fortunately, it was a small office and people caught my errors. Have trouble recalling words, but I am six months from 60.


37 posted on 12/24/2018 8:17:54 PM PST by madison10
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To: Bobalu

Many being treated for estrogen-receptor positive cancers are unable to use estrogen products.


38 posted on 12/24/2018 9:08:32 PM PST by FLAGEDS
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