Women aged 45-55 found to outperform men in all memory measures

Happens even as women in menopause suffer forgetfulness and 'brain fog'

But, women in earlier stages of menopause process have better memory

Those in postmenopause have lower rates of learning, information recall

From forgetfulness to ‘brain fog,’ women are often plagued by memory-related problems during menopause – but despite the many obstacles, they still have a better memory than men.

In a new study, researchers compared the memory capabilities of middle-aged women and men, and found that women outperform their counterparts across all measures.

The findings also shed light on the memory deficits that occur in postmenopausal women, revealing that those who have entered this stage have more difficulty learning and retrieving previously recalled information.

WHAT THEY FOUND  

In the study, the researchers found that women aged 45-55 outperform men on all memory related tasks.

This is despite the memory-related problems women experience during menopause.

But, the team also found that menopause hinders the rates of initial learning and retrieval of recalled information as a result of lower levels of estradiol.

The study, published online in the journal Menopause, investigated the differences between the sexes along with those among women at various points of the menopause process.

They assessed 212 men and women aged 45 to 55 for episodic memory, executive function, semantic processing, and estimated verbal intelligence.

To test associative memory and episodic verbal memory, the researchers used Face-Name Associative Memory Exam and Selective Reminding Test.

Across the board, the researchers found that women outperformed the age-matched men.

But, they also found that as estradiol levels drop in postmenopausal women, so do their rates of initial learning and the retrieval of recalled information.

This is compared with premenopausal and perimenopausal women, who outperformed postmenopausal women in a number of areas.

According to the researchers, roughly 75 percent of older people experience memory-related problems.

And, this is especially the case for women.

It’s known that women experience forgetfulness and ‘brain fog’ during the menopause transition, and compared to men, women are disproportionately at risk for memory impairment and dementia.

And now, the study has highlighted some of the areas that are affected.

While initial learning and information retrieval declined, the researchers found that memory storage and consolidation remained intact in postmenopausal women.

‘Brian fog and complains of memory issues should be taken seriously,’ says Dr JoAnn Pinkerton, NAMS executive director.

‘This study and others have shown that these complaints are associated with memory deficits.’

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER BRAIN’S ‘FILING SYSTEM’ THAT COULD HELP TO 'DELETE' BAD MEMORIES

In a recent study, researchers from RIKEN-MIT Centre for Neural Circuit Genetics in Japan uncovered vital clues about how the brain erases long-term memories.

The study reveals how forgetting can be the result of an 'active deletion process' - similar to moving a computer file to a virtual bin - rather than a failure to remember.

And the findings may help point towards new ways of tackling memory loss associated with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.

Memories are maintained by chemical signalling between brain cells that relies on specialised receptors called AMPA receptors.

The more AMPA receptors there are on the surface where brain cells connect, the stronger the memory.

The team led by the University of Edinburgh found that the process of actively wiping memories happens when brain cells remove AMPA receptors from the connections between brain cells.

Over time, if the memory is not recalled, the AMPA receptors may fall in number and the memory is gradually erased.

The researchers also showed that actively forgetting information in this way helps the animals to adapt their behaviour according to their surroundings. 

Mailonline