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Midlife brain fog: how to talk to your doctor

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Overview

Have you walked into a room only to forget why you went in there in the first place? Do you struggle to concentrate? Are you in the middle of a sentence when you suddenly lose a word you need?

What you may be experiencing is brain fog. This is a menopausal symptom reported by up to 62% of women. It can be a worrying symptom – many women fear they are slipping into early-onset dementia – and you may struggle to explain it to your doctor.

This page is part of our women’s health series, offering simple, practical tips to help you make the most of your medical appointments. This includes advice for:

On this page discover tips and tools that can help you to kick off the conversation and get the treatment that’s right for you.

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Talking about midlife brain fog

Talking about brain fog can be tricky. It’s a symptom that often comes and goes, and can be hard to describe. But Jean Hailes GP Dr Tessa King says that providing details and examples of your experience is crucial.

“If you’re not performing as well at work, or if you’re having difficulty in juggling the schedule of everyone at home, tell the doctor.”

“You can say things like, ‘it feels like a physical fog around me’, or ‘my brain is not working with the same clarity as before’.

“Even using the word ‘brain fog’ can be helpful. The doctor will be trying to make sense of the symptoms, so the more detail you can provide, the better.”

Associate Professor Caroline Gurvich, deputy director of HER (Health, Education, Research) Centre Australia, agrees. “Tell the doctor exactly what is happening:

  • if you have difficulty remembering names
  • if you feel you can’t make decisions as efficiently as you used to
  • and if you can’t find the right words to describe what is happening, use the term ‘brain fog’.”

What to know when visiting the doctor

When you go to the doctor – Easy read

Easy Read fact sheets are about what happens when you go to the doctor, including tips on what you can do before, during and after your appointment.

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