But while these common menopausal symptoms can add to the severity of memory problems, they are not the primary cause of cognitive issues in these women, she said.Ī six-year study of 1,903 women who were at midlife found that menopause-related symptoms like depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance and hot flashes did not account for declines in memory, learning and how fast the brain processes information during the menopause transition. Women often describe these deficits as “brain fog,” and they and their doctors may blame the sleep deprivation associated with hot flashes and night sweats, which are definitely “taxing to the brain,” Dr. Maki, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, noted that “not only do women more frequently report cognitive difficulties as they transition from premenopause to perimenopause to postmenopause, but they also perform more poorly on standardized neuropsychological tests, particularly tests of verbal memory, aspects of executive function, and processing speed.” Devi chose to publish her report in the obstetric journal because many women in midlife use their gynecologist as their primary care physician “and I want them to know this condition exists and often responds to short-term treatment with estrogen to tide the brain over.” Yet, she believes, the correct diagnosis is missed more often than not.ĭr. “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. Devi, an attending neurologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York and clinical professor of neurology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. 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. Treatment of both diseases often results in an abrupt drop in estrogen levels. 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. 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. Talk with your doctor before taking any off-label medications.This woman’s case was admittedly extreme, but Dr. It’s important to note that testosterone replacement therapy is not recommended for men with a history of prostate cancer since it may stimulate cancer cells. It also noted that the anticonvulsant gabapentin is the best-studied and potentially most effective of the nonhormonal treatment options. Estradiol and testosterone replacement therapy can also help.Ī 2012 study also suggested that multiple antidepressant medications may help. One older 2010 study found that taking antidepressants, progestin hormones like megestrol, or anti-androgen hormones like cyproterone (not available in the United States) may help treat hot flashes in men. Improving your diet, sleep patterns, and overall fitness may help reduce discomfort during hot flashes. Treating and preventing hot flashes in men Low testosterone levels, or “low T,” can result from a variety of causes, but men with this condition can experience hot flashes as well. More research is needed to fully understand how these symptoms correlate to hot flashes. These symptoms may be the result of stress, depression, or anxiety. Hot flashes in men sometimes coincide with other symptoms like: It’s estimated that as many as 80 percent of men who undergo this form of therapy have hot flashes. This treatment works by restricting the production of testosterone so that it can’t stimulate cancer cell growth. Hot flashes in men are most likely to occur as a result of a prostate cancer treatment called androgen deprivation therapy. In fact, men experience a less than 2 percent drop in testosterone every year after 30.

On the other hand, men don’t experience a natural sharp decline in testosterone. Women experience hot flashes from a sudden fluctuation in hormones as they age.

Hot women in their 50s