Cognitive decline and trouble finding words in 50s

[Anonymous]

62 year old Female

sleep is key
hydration is key
low to no sugar is key
lower carb is better, eat unprocessed foods

[Anonymous]

I couldn’t remember anything during menopause. It all came back afterwards though.

[Anonymous]

Quit alcohol. You will see a big difference.

[Anonymous]

This thread is reassuring. I need to sleep more and be more hydrated.

Thank you for this thread, because this opened my eyes to my own similar problem.

NP

[Anonymous]

54 and menopausal for almost 5 years.

I noticed this when I was taking Zoloft - from she 43-47. Could it also have been perimenopause? Maybe. Switched to Lexapro and not happening as much.

Also had weird thing where I’d say the wrong words-I’d say a soundalike word instead…something like, “cross the sweet. I mean street.” Or, “is this disturbed water? I mean - distilled?”

[Anonymous]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/well/live/the-brain-fog-of-menopause.html

The Brain Fog of Menopause

‘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,’ an expert says.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could very well be menopause-related. Consider hormone therapy. Also consider getting a new doctor as this one doesn't sound great, and for menopause and hormones you want someone experienced and good.

+1 this

Same for me. Incredibly embarrassing sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:54 and menopausal for almost 5 years.

I noticed this when I was taking Zoloft - from she 43-47. Could it also have been perimenopause? Maybe. Switched to Lexapro and not happening as much.

Also had weird thing where I’d say the wrong words-I’d say a soundalike word instead…something like, “cross the sweet. I mean street.” Or, “is this disturbed water? I mean - distilled?”

I’m 46 and I do this. I also blank on words I should know - fireplace, napkin. Stress, lack of sleep, and hunger all exacerbate it.

[Anonymous]

Could also be from COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:62 year old Female

sleep is key
hydration is key
low to no sugar is key
lower carb is better, eat unprocessed foods

I'm sure that hormones played a part in my case, but dementia is considered insulin resistance of the brain. I followed the Dale Bresden protocol for dementia, personally. My livelihood depends on my cognitive function. Reduce inflammation - trying the Whole 30 to find out what is inflammatory for you may work, but I eliminated corn and dairy - those don't work for me. I am low carb - I do not eat grains, beans, but I do eat a lot of vegetables. I used to be vegan to vegetarian, but I couldn't get everything I needed and be low-carb for that, so I am definitely eating meat, but try to keep many days fish, eggs, chicken, etc. I eat almost no processed foods, no sugar, and I intermittent fast. This brought my cognitive function to better than before - it made me realize I had some cognitive decline starting in my 40s, and only noticed it near 50. Bonus for me was that I lost most of that perimenopausal weight. This is now lifestyle for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:62 year old Female

sleep is key
hydration is key
low to no sugar is key
lower carb is better, eat unprocessed foods

I'm sure that hormones played a part in my case, but dementia is considered insulin resistance of the brain. I followed the Dale Bresden protocol for dementia, personally. My livelihood depends on my cognitive function. Reduce inflammation - trying the Whole 30 to find out what is inflammatory for you may work, but I eliminated corn and dairy - those don't work for me. I am low carb - I do not eat grains, beans, but I do eat a lot of vegetables. I used to be vegan to vegetarian, but I couldn't get everything I needed and be low-carb for that, so I am definitely eating meat, but try to keep many days fish, eggs, chicken, etc. I eat almost no processed foods, no sugar, and I intermittent fast. This brought my cognitive function to better than before - it made me realize I had some cognitive decline starting in my 40s, and only noticed it near 50. Bonus for me was that I lost most of that perimenopausal weight. This is now lifestyle for me.

FYI on the Bresden protocol:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7377549/#:~:text=The%20Bredesen%20protocol%20makes%20strong,evidence%20that%20guides%20the%20protocol.
But, as this paper notes, there is good evidence on certain diet (e.g., Mediterraneum diet and lots of leafy greens) being protective of health. Avoiding processed foods is always a good idea. If anyone ever saw Supersize Me, it was sort of amazing how a month of McDonalds made him observedly stupider in just one month. The bad fats are basically clogging your brain so that the good healthy fats can't get in there.
But I eat a pretty decent diet and still forget words all the time! I'm sure it would be worse if I was the McD diet.