Everyone experiences small lapses in memory from time to time, especially when they are under stress. Many women who experience an increased number of memory lapses as they get older and enter menopause are concerned that their cognition is declining. However, menopausal memory lapses are rarely a sign of a cognitive condition. As seen in the studies below, minor memory issues during menopause are very common.
- 60% of women ages 33 – 55 notice “an unfavorable change in memory over the past few years.”
- Women in perimenopause are 1.4 times more likely to report forgetfulness than women before this transition.
- Around 44% of perimenopausal women and 42% of postmenopausal women report having memory lapses.
What Causes Memory Lapses?
Hormone fluctuations greatly impact short-term memory during the menopause transition, both directly and indirectly. Directly, estrogen plays a role in regulating serotonin, a neurotransmitter that influences mood and memory. When estrogen levels naturally shift during menopause, serotonin levels may decrease, which can result in memory lapses. Estrogen also regulates other aspects of the central nervous system, such as how the brain sends messages.
Indirectly, other symptoms of menopause can cause memory lapses. These symptoms – like hot flashes and night sweats – also stem from hormonal imbalance during menopause. Estrogen also regulates cortisol, the hormone related to stress. With higher cortisol levels when estrogen declines, women are more likely to experience stress, hot flashes, and anxious feelings, all of which can increase the incidence of memory lapses.
Triggers of Memory Lapses
While hormonal changes during menopause can make memory lapses more likely to occur, some factors can trigger instances of forgetfulness. These include:
- Severe hot flashes
- Stressful situations
- Taking on too much responsibility
- Lack of sleep
- Excessive alcohol consumption
How Macafem Diminishes Memory Lapses
Macafem balances the body’s levels of estrogen and other hormones via the action of its beneficial alkaloids and essential micronutrients. These compounds nourish the glands of the endocrine system, helping them produce the hormones that the body needs, even while hormone levels are fluctuating during menopause.
This supplement does not contain any synthetic or plant-based hormones, but rather supports the body in the production of its own natural hormones. This can relieve not just memory lapses, but also other menopause symptoms that influence memory and cognition.
Learn more about how Macafem works.
Memory Lapses FAQs
1. Can exercises help improve memory?
Yes, both aerobic exercise and brain-training exercises can help with memory lapses. Aerobic activity can increase brain volume in adults over 60, and for people of all ages, it helps to reduce stress levels. Brain exercises like reading and solving arithmetic problems also improve cognitive function in older adults.
2. What can I do to relieve stress?
Taking time out to unwind and do something you enjoy is essential, even if it means saying “no” sometimes. Mindfulness-based practices, such as meditation, have also been shown to help with stress and symptoms of menopause like anxiety and sleep disorders.
3. Can medications cause memory lapses as a side effect?
Yes. Sleeping pills, anxiolytics, antihistamines, and some antidepressants and pain medications can cause memory lapses as a side effect. It is important to see your doctor before stopping your medication or changing the dosage. Your doctor can prescribe an alternative for your condition that has fewer or no side effects.
4. Do memory lapses warrant a visit to the doctor?
Menopausal memory lapses alone typically don’t indicate cognitive decline and do not require a physician’s attention. However, certain signs warrant a visit to the doctor’s office. These include memory problems that greatly interfere with daily life as well as confusion, such as getting lost in a familiar place or completely forgetting an important person in one’s life. However, such signs are rare during menopause.
5. How should Macafem be taken for memory lapses?
The general Macafem dosage is three tablets a day with breakfast. However, this can be adjusted from one to six tablets a day depending on the severity of a woman’s symptoms and the body’s response to the supplement. If memory has not improved after a month of taking Macafem daily, the standard dosage can be increased to six tablets daily, three with breakfast and three with lunch.
Other Symptoms of Menopause
Memory lapses and other menopause symptoms are all connected to fluctuations in estrogen and other hormones. Because of this common link, Macafem can relieve all the symptoms of menopause, the most common of which include:
