Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl of UCLA offers a self-assessment tool to help women differentiate between memory loss due to hormonal changes and early signs of dementia.
Memory lapses, such as losing a train of thought or struggling to recall familiar words, can leave older adults questioning whether they are experiencing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. However, medical experts suggest that these cognitive blips may often be linked to hormonal shifts, particularly in women undergoing perimenopause and menopause.
Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, a professor of neurology at UCLA and co-founder of Cleopatra RX in Los Angeles, emphasizes the importance of self-assessment for women experiencing memory struggles in midlife. She encourages them to compare their current cognitive function to their performance from a decade ago before jumping to conclusions about their mental health.
“I think they should listen to themselves,” Voskuhl told Fox News Digital during the Livelong Women’s Health Summit in New York City. “They know. Just ask yourself.”
To assist women in evaluating whether their memory lapses are related to hormonal changes, Voskuhl recommends a straightforward benchmark: assess their mental state compared to where it was ten years prior. “The first question is, are you worse than you were 10 years ago?” she said, referencing the Voskuhl Brain Fog Menopause Assessment utilized at UCLA’s Comprehensive Menopausal Program.
According to Voskuhl, recalling what one was like a decade ago can provide valuable insights. “Ten years is a pretty good spot. And they think, ‘What was I doing 10 years ago? What was I like? Was I having problems finding the words? Was I at the point where I couldn’t multitask anymore? Was I slow in my processing?’ And they’ll remember.”
This self-comparison can help women discern whether their cognitive changes are linked to menopause, while also providing a baseline for tracking symptoms over time. Standard memory tests often fail to capture subtle shifts in everyday cognitive function, a phenomenon known as subjective cognitive decline. This occurs when patients notice changes in their memory, even though neurological testing remains normal.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately one in nine adults experience subjective cognitive decline, yet fewer than half discuss these concerns with a healthcare professional. Voskuhl illustrates the limitations of routine tests by comparing them to a high-performing athlete. “If somebody is an NFL football player and he says, ‘I’m weaker than I used to be,’ and I go and do my neurological test, I say, ‘Oh no, you’re still strong,'” she explained. “What the player is feeling still matters, even if a standard test shows no obvious decline.”
Women, too, can often recognize when their cognitive abilities have shifted from their own baseline and should trust their observations, according to Voskuhl. Understanding the distinction between hormonal brain fog and neurodegenerative disease is crucial, as experts agree on the impact of memory loss on daily functioning.
Menopausal brain fog typically involves temporary and inconsistent lapses, such as misplacing items or experiencing slower processing speeds, while overall reasoning skills and independence remain intact, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms can fluctuate and may be exacerbated by stress or inadequate sleep.
In contrast, early dementia is characterized by persistent and progressive memory loss that disrupts basic daily tasks, such as managing finances, navigating familiar routes while driving, or exercising sound judgment. Amid cognitive concerns, experts recommend seeking a comprehensive medical evaluation, which may include brain MRIs or vascular screenings, to rule out underlying issues like blood vessel disease or thyroid imbalances.
For women who feel their concerns are being dismissed by healthcare providers, Voskuhl offers this advice: “When they have doctors who don’t listen to them, they need to find another doctor.”
By utilizing self-assessment tools and advocating for their health, women can better navigate the complexities of memory loss during midlife and beyond, distinguishing between normal cognitive changes and potential signs of dementia, according to Voskuhl.
For more information, refer to Fox News.