While many people are familiar with certain symptoms that may accompany menopause, such as hot flashes and shifts in mood, not everyone is aware of how this process can affect overall brain health. In addition, the early onset of menopause – the term that applies to the time in a woman’s life at which her menstrual cycles have ceased – has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a September study from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
In addition to these concerns, medical researchers have also begun to investigate a possible correlation between menopause and memory loss. In a recent press release, the Mayo Clinic stated that its scientists had conducted a study that utilized blood samples as a way to evaluate whether a post-menopausal woman may be more likely to experience a form of cognitive decline that could cause her to lose her memory.
The researchers reportedly recruited 95 post-menopausal women for the study and used magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) to monitor the formation and growth of “white matter hyperintensities” – a type of brain damage associated with memory loss and increased stroke risk. And, based on their findings, the scientists determined that blood clotting could be an indicative factor.
“This study suggests that the tendency of the blood to clot may contribute to a cascade of events leading to the development of brain damage in women who have recently gone through menopause,” Dr. Kejal Kantarci, the lead study author, said in the release.
While it is natural for your memory to get a bit hazier as the years go on, research has shown that certain lifestyle choices may essentially act as brain enhancers. In addition to taking part in regular aerobic exercises, eating foods and taking supplements that provide ample nutrition for the brain could also help keep your cognitive faculties intact.
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