For years, many women experiencing menopause have described frustrating moments of forgetfulness, trouble concentrating and feeling mentally “foggy”.
Now, researchers say those symptoms are not just in their heads.
New research from Monash University has confirmed that menopause-related “brain fog” is a real and measurable cognitive change, affecting around two-thirds of women during the menopausal transition.
The findings validate what millions of women have long reported but often felt dismissed about: that menopause can temporarily affect memory, concentration and mental clarity.
The study, led by researchers at Monash University and published in the journal Menopause, examined women aged roughly 40 to 60 who were going through perimenopause.
Researchers found clear evidence that many women experience changes in cognitive performance during this transition, particularly in areas such as memory and mental processing.
Symptoms commonly described as “brain fog” can include:
Forgetting words or names
Difficulty concentrating
Slower thinking or processing
Trouble multitasking
Misplacing items or losing track of tasks
These symptoms are often temporary, but they can be disruptive – especially for women juggling work, family and other responsibilities.
Professor Caroline Gurvich, one of the researchers involved in the work, said the study helps confirm that these experiences have a biological basis rather than being purely psychological.
Scientists believe the changes are linked to fluctuating hormone levels, particularly declining oestrogen levels during the menopausal transition.
Hormones such as estradiol and progesterone play an important role in brain function, including memory and learning. As levels fluctuate and eventually decline during menopause, some women experience noticeable cognitive symptoms.
Previous research has also shown that perimenopause and post-menopause can be associated with changes in cognitive performance, including slower reaction time and differences in memory and reasoning tasks.
While symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats are widely recognised, brain fog has historically received far less attention.
Yet studies suggest between 60 and 67 per cent of women report cognitive difficulties during menopause.
Researchers say the symptom can be distressing because it may raise fears about dementia or long-term cognitive decline, even though the changes are usually temporary.
Experts emphasise that more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind menopausal brain fog and how best to treat it.
Although there is currently no single treatment specifically for menopausal brain fog, researchers say several strategies may help reduce symptoms.
These include:
Mindfulness techniques and stress management
Good sleep habits
Regular exercise
Managing other menopause symptoms
Discussing treatment options such as menopausal hormone therapy with a doctor
Researchers say the menopausal transition may also be a “window of opportunity” to support long-term brain health, including reducing the risk of dementia later in life.
For many women, simply knowing that brain fog is a recognised and researched symptom can be reassuring.
It means those frustrating memory lapses or moments of mental fuzziness are not a personal failing – but a common part of a major biological transition.
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