Copious evidences show that premenopausal initiation of chemotherapeutic approaches based on pathologic mechanism of the brain significantly reduces cognitive impairment linked with menopause in middle-aged women, as opposed to postmenopausal initiation of therapy.
Estrogen is a female sex hormone released from the ovaries of female vertebrates. Animal and in vitro models have shown that estrogen hikes the levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine (feel-good), serotonin (relaxation) and acetylcholine (memory), promotes neurogenesis, boosts neuronal network and synaptic strength, scavenges free radicals, regulates second messenger systems and calcium homeostasis.
Timely commencement of chemotherapeutic remedies such as the use of cholinesterase inhibitor (C I), anti-inflammatory drugs, antioxidants, menopausal hormone therapy (HT), acetyl-L-carnitine, choline alphoscerate and food supplements have been shown to effectively forestall cases of perimenopausal cognitive impairment.
Non chemotherapeutic Remedies
Non chemotherapeutic remedies to perimenopausal cognitive impairment (brain fog) is of great importance, as they only involve lifestyle adjustments, that could be commenced far before the onset of menopause, and attract little or no cost. They are not associated with any adverse effect or rigorous processes. And are also very efficacious, as they could be easily commenced before mid-life. These remedies include:
Exercise
Repeated evidences show that the brain is renewed by adequate and regular doses of exercise bouts by generation of new brain cells. Exercise also elevates and improves mood, owing to the release of some mood-elevating hormones such as adrenaline, and neurotransmitters like dopamine (feel-good neurotransmitter) that bring about mood stability and mental acuity during menopause.
Regular Brain Stimulation
A lot has been said on this blog about brain stimulation, and how it reduces cognitive decline and brain aging. Brain stimulation can take the form of continually widened spaced repetition, meditation, self hypnosis, good distraction, constant reading and writing, playing brain-charging games, learning of new things like languages, music and so on.
Brain-stimulating activities increases the generation of new brain cells, adequate myelination of new and old neurons for fast processing and transfer of information (data), and the rewiring of the neurons in the neuronal networks of the various brain areas to keep the brain young and memories fresh. This has been harnessed extensively in the prevention and treatment of so many brain diseases like attention disorder and dementia. And there is no doubt that it prevents mild cognitive impairment, or possible late life dementia linked with menopause in middle-age women.
Obesity Check
Several strong evidences have correlated obesity with cognitive decline in both male and female subjects. A certain study published in 2014 showed that a group of obese young women performed significantly lower than their normal weight female counterparts in a computer-based test. Another study in 2017 showed a similar result.
Therefore, pre- and perimenopausal women should put their body mass index (BMI) under check to avoid its adverse effect on their brain health.
Stress Control
Stress which is caused by excessive attention demand hampers brain health and intelligence quotient (IQ), owing to so many mental and physical phenomena associated with it. Stress could be caused by anxiety, poor planning, worry, anger and so on.
It is therefore, needful to avoid o stress-causing lifestyles before and during menopause to forestall or abate possible cognitive impairment.
Prevention of depression
Depression inhibits cognition, psychomotor process and memory -- the three promoters of learning. Recent statistics show that menopause-related depression is common among western middle-aged women, especially their African-American counterparts. It is linked with low levels of serotonin in the brain.
Therefore, the control of depression could be achieved through serotonin-boosting measures such as regular exercise, sticking to serotonin boosting diet (egg, avocados, pineapple), exposure to sun (bright) light (known as light therapy), and meditation to maintain high amounts of serotonin in the brain.
Other healthy lifestyles such as regular medical checkups, and timely treatment of ailments are necessary steps toward the prevention of menopause-related cognitive impairment.
Festus C. Anaba, B Med.
