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Why does memory decline occur during menopause?
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
"Most women who go through menopause report some problems that they had not previously experienced, particularly cognitive problems such as memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and other changes that were not a concern before menopause," said lead author Miriam Weber, a neuropsychologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center. "Our study shows that these problems are not only common, but also worsen after the first year after the last menstrual period."
The study involved 117 women who were divided into groups according to the “Stages of Female Reproductive Aging” criteria system, which practitioners use to define the various stages of female reproductive function, from adolescence to menopause and postmenopause. The STRAW+10 expert working group developed the criteria in 2011 during a symposium in Washington, USA.
To assess the participants' cognitive skills, the scientists conducted a series of tests and also asked the women about symptoms that arose with the onset of menopause, such as the appearance of hot flashes, sleep disturbances, feelings of anxiety and depression. In addition, the subjects gave blood to determine their current levels of estradiol (an indicator of estrogen levels) and follicle-stimulating hormone.
The researchers analyzed the results to determine whether there were group differences in cognitive function and whether these differences might be related to menopausal symptoms.
The researchers divided the participants into four stages of menopause onset: late reproductive stage, early and late transition, and early postmenopause.
In the late reproductive stage, women first begin to notice changes in their menstrual cycle, such as the length and amount of flow, but their periods continue to occur regularly and without interruption.
Early and late puberty are characterized by large fluctuations in the menstrual cycle – with a difference of seven days or more. Hormonal levels also begin to change significantly during this time. This puberty period can last for several years.
The experts tested the study participants with comprehensive tests to assess various cognitive skills. These included tests of attention, listening and memorization, fine motor skills and dexterity, and “working memory” – the ability to not only accept and store new information, but also to manage it.
The researchers found that women in early postmenopause had poorer verbal learning skills, verbal memory, and fine motor skills compared to women in late reproductive years and late transition.
The researchers also found that symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, depression and anxiety were not predictors of memory problems. In addition, these problems could not be linked to certain changes in hormone levels in the blood.
"These findings suggest that cognitive decline is an independent process and not a consequence of sleep disruption and depression," says Dr. Weber. "Although it is possible that the fluctuations in hormone levels that occur during this time may play a role in the memory problems that many women experience."