Perimenopause is the time when hormone fluctuations (and the associated symptoms) mean you're heading to the complete cessation of your periods, called menopause. It often starts in your mid-40s and lasts eight to 10 years.
But how each person experiences it can vary as wildly as the symptoms.
Contending with those symptoms — which may include hot flashes, brain fog, night sweats, low libido, insomnia, urination urgency, and vaginal dryness — can be challenging. And according to new research, this leads to even greater health challenges down the road.
A study in the journal PLOS One identified a connection between the amount of perimenopause symptoms you have and an increased risk of cognition problems, behavioral changes, and dementia later in life.
Fortunately, the researchers also found a helpful remedy: estrogen-based hormone therapy, which significantly reduced study participants' risk of later-in-life behavioral problems such as lack of motivation, impulsiveness, and difficulty with social interaction.
If you're experiencing difficult perimenopause symptoms, the Cleveland Clinic suggests doing weight-bearing exercises; eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats; adopting stress-reducing techniques such as meditation; and limiting alcohol and caffeine intake.
In addition to hormone therapy (used with low-dose aspirin and plenty of water to avoid a blood clot, if your doctor agrees), medical solutions include taking gabapentin, fezolinetant, oxybutynin, and antidepressants to ease hot flashes.
For more ways to stay brain-healthy, check out my book "The Great Age Reboot."