Women experiencing night sweats due to menopause may be more vulnerable to cognitive dysfunction, according to a new study. Experts have found a link between sleep duration due to night sweats and prefrontal cortex deficits.
The study presented during The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) annual meeting found that women with a history of breast cancer who experience night sweats due to menopause tend to have greater sleep duration. These same women also became more vulnerable to prefrontal cortex deficits, including decreased attention and executive function, as their sleep duration increased. It was noted in the study, however, that total sleep time was unrelated to cognitive dysfunction.
Advertisement
This study shows a difference between hot flashes during sleep and previous studies that have made a connection between daytime hot flashes and worse memory performance.
“This work presents novel insights into the influence of menopause symptoms on cognitive performance among women with a history of breast cancer and raises the possibility that hot flash treatments could benefit cognition in these women through effects on sleep,” says John Bark, lead author of the study from the behavioral neuroscience doctoral program at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Changing Hormone Levels
Hot flashes and night sweats occur before and during menopause because of changing hormone levels, including estrogen and progesterone, affecting the body’s temperature control. There is no known cure for hot flashes, and women can experience different symptoms. This study shows the relevance of hot flashes during the night in women with a history of breast cancer.
Although conclusions for this study were drawn on a small percentage of women with cancer, research such as this is crucial in helping physicians provide effective treatment options for all menopausal women who are suffering from cognitive decline. Some women learn to deal with menopause-related hot flashes and night sweats and can live a normal life with them, but for others, they can be quite disturbing.
For those who report cognitive difficulties such as forgetfulness, distractibility, and feeling foggy-headed, healthcare professionals need more research to find new treatments to help during this time in women’s lives.
About eight years ago, Mat Lecompte had an epiphany. He’d been ignoring his health and suddenly realized he needed to do something about it. Since then, through hard work, determination and plenty of education, he has transformed his life. He’s changed his body composition by learning the ins and outs of nutrition, exercise, and fitness and wants to share his knowledge with you. Starting as a journalist over 10 years ago, Mat has not only honed his belief system and approach with practical experience, but he has also worked closely with nutritionists, dieticians, athletes, and fitness professionals. He embraces natural healing methods and believes that diet, exercise and willpower are the foundation of a healthy, happy, and drug-free existence.
