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It\u2019s easy to talk about midlife or menopausal brain fog as if there must be one clear cause and one clear fix, but the brain rarely works that way. Hormones, sleep disruption, autonomic nervous system activation, energy metabolism, mood, and attention may all interact. <\/p>\n
If you\u2019d like a quick explanation of how I\u2019m thinking about all these puzzle pieces, you can see my latest \u200bInstagram post here\u200b<\/a>.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t forget scroll on for this week\u2019s neuro-news, including new research on HRT (aka MHT) and dementia risk, postpartum blood pressure and brain health, and why psychiatry\u2019s diagnostic handbook may be heading for a rethink.<\/p>\n Read on for this week\u2019s neuro-news \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n \ud83e\uddee There\u2019s so much noise online about whether hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, protects against or contributes to dementia risk and mental health disorders. But existing studies on how HRT affects the brain have many confounding factors, making it hard to untangle the true effects. So, a recent study has taken a new approach, using natural genetic variation to mimic the effects of HRT. It then analysed whether the pathways that HRT acts on play a role in dementia and mental health risk. There was no evidence that HRT was linked to dementia, changes in brain volume, or anxiety, while the association with depression remained unclear. Though more research is needed, this work is an exciting new methodological step towards better understanding the risks and benefits of HRT. This study was published in \u200bnpj Women\u2019s Health\u200b<\/a>, with a \u200bLinkedIn summary by the lead author here\u200b<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udec0Women who develop high blood pressure during pregnancy, such as from preeclampsia, have an increased risk of dementia and stroke as they age. A new study from the University of Oxford has found that giving these women added clinical support to measure and reduce their blood pressure at home immediately after birth increases their white matter volume at nine months postpartum. This increased volume suggests improving blood pressure postpartum for at risk women may provide extra protection for their longer-term brain health. This study was published in \u200bJAMA Neurology\u200b<\/a>, with a non-academic summary by the \u200bUniversity of Oxford\u200b<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcda If you work in mental health, you\u2019ll know of the DSM. It\u2019s the \u2018bible of psychiatry\u2019 because it provides the diagnostic criteria for every recognised mental health condition (though it certainly has its faults). We\u2019re currently on edition 5 but the APA, the organisation behind the DSM, has recently announced that it may be starting work on the next iteration. To learn more about the DSM and what the future DSM-VI might look like, listen to this episode of Scientific American\u2019s Science Quickly podcast: \u200bPsychiatry\u2019s rule book faces a major rethink\u200b<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf2b\ufe0f Brain fog isn\u2019t a medical term, but it\u2019s how some (not all!) women describe their menopausal experience. It\u2019s like it says on the box, like being covered in a fog, becoming forgetful and lacking concentration. There\u2019s not much research on menopausal brain fog, and the lines between brain fog, dementia, and ADHD are poorly defined, which has left many menopausal women unsupported or confused. In this piece from Monash University, hear from A\/Prof Caroline Gurvich, who\u2019s currently developing guidelines on cognition and menopause, and investigating the lived experiences of menopausal brain fog. \u200bRead it here\u200b<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcac \u201cMany women are concerned they have early signs of dementia, but the cognitive symptoms of menopause are generally not a sign of irreversible decline\u2026 It really is time we reframe what is often thought of as a window of vulnerability in women\u2019s health to a window of opportunity to build brain health and reduce longer-term dementia risk.\u201d A\/Prof Caroline Gurvich<\/p>\n <\/div>\n