Menopause and memory lapse tips

1. Menopause
and Memory
Lapse

2. Index
Page
About Memory Lapse 2
Memory Types 3
Hormonal Causes 5
Other Causes 6
Lifestyle Changes 7
Alternative Medicine 8
Medication 11
References 12

3. Menopause and Memory Lapse
For many women going through menopause,
memory lapses can be the most concerning
symptom. They can lead women to believe
their minds are receding into a fog of mental
illness. One study found that women going
through menopause are 95% more likely to
experience memory lapses than women who
have not yet reached menopause.
Memory lapses are sometimes called “brain
freezes” when trying to remember names,
dates, addresses or other similar information.
This can happen even when information has
just been heard.

4. Menopause and Memory Lapse
Memory Types
There are several types that comprise the
extremely complex function of a person's
memory:
• Short-term memory - The ability to
remember information for brief moments,
such as a telephone number for the time it
takes to dial it.
• Recent memory - The ability to recall day to
day events, involved in learning new
information.
• Sensory memory - The ability to recognize
smells, sounds and sights.

5. Menopause and Memory Lapse
• Long-term memory - Also known as remote
memory, concerns itself with the more
distant past.
• Declarative memory - The ability to
remember the meaning of words, facts and
a generalized knowledge of the world.
• Procedural memory - The ability to
remember motor skills - knowing how to do
things - such as how to walk, ride a bike and
eat.

6. Menopause and Memory Lapse
Hormonal Causes
Memory lapses are commonly experienced by
women undergoing the period leading up to
menopause. As a woman approaches
menopause, certain hormonal levels in the
body decrease. These diminishing levels of
hormones, particularly estrogen, have myriad
effects on a woman's body and mind.
In the case of memory lapses, estrogen plays
a special key role. It has a large effect on the
functions of the brain and influences language
skills, mood and attention. A number of other
functions including memory are also affected.
Estrogen is directly linked to verbal word
fluency (the ability to remember names and
words).

7. Menopause and Memory Lapse
Other Causes:
• Excessive amounts of alcohol
• Some medications (sleeping pills,
antidepressants, blood pressure and
heart medications, pain killers and
tranquilizers).
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Poor diet
• Lack of sleep
• Excessive workload

8. Menopause and Memory Lapse
Treatment for Memory Lapse
Lifestyle Changes
These can be dietary adjustments or a
different exercise program. A balanced diet
including additions such as omega-3 acids can
help a woman to concentrate.
In addition, a wide variety of fresh fruit and
vegetables are important in order to obtain
memory-boosting antioxidants and the
vitamins B, C, D and E; all important for
proper mental function. Mental exercises and
games, such as crossword puzzles, Sudoku,
have been shown to improve memory.
Exercise and proper sleep also go a long way
to helping with memory.

9. Menopause and Memory Lapse
Alternative Medicine
Alternative approaches involve little to no risk
and can be an extremely effective way to treat
memory lapses. This level of approach can
involve several different therapies. Herbal
supplements are the most prominent, though
in addition women may turn to such
techniques as acupuncture, biofeedback or
aromatherapy.
All of these can be valid and effective options
for treating memory lapses, though most
women find that herbal supplements are the
easiest and safest alternative treatment to
follow, as the others require a greater time
and monetary commitment.

10. Menopause and Memory Lapse
In the case of herbal supplements, there are
two types of herbs that can be used for
treating memory lapses: phytoestrogenic and
hormone regulating herbal supplements.
Phytoestrogenic herbs (e.g. black cohosh)
contain estrogenic components produced by
plants.
These herbs, at first, do treat the hormonal
imbalance by introducing these plant-based
estrogens into the body. However, as a result
of adding outside hormones, a woman's body
may become less capable of producing
estrogen on its own. This causes a further
decrease of the body's own hormone levels
and can actually increase the incidence of
memory lapses.

11. Menopause and Memory Lapse
Hormone regulating herbs don't contain any
estrogen. These herbs stimulate a woman's
hormone production by nourishing the
pituitary and endocrine glands, causing them
to more efficiently produce natural hormones.
This ultimately results in balancing estrogen
levels that are largely responsible for memory
lapses.
Herbs supplements like Macafem can be
considered the safest way to treat memory
lapses naturally as the body creates its own
hormones and doesn't require any outside
assistance.

12. Menopause and Memory Lapse
Medication
There are a number of drugs that claim to
cure memory problems. Medical guidance can
be sought to discuss these options.

13. Menopause and Memory Lapse
References
• Dr. Devi, Gayatri. "Memory Loss, Estrogen,
Menopause & Alzheimer's Disease". The
New York Memory Services.
www.nymemory.org.
• Dr. Devi, Gayatri; Hahn, Katherine; Massimi
Stephen; Zhivotovskaya, Emiliya. Prevalence
of memory loss complaints and other
symptoms associated with the menopause
transition. Gender Medicine, 2005, vol. 2.
• Myers, Catherine E. "Categories of Memory
Systems". Memory Loss & the Brain.
www.memorylossonline.com.