Professor Aimee Spector and her team at University College London (UCL) have developed a supportive intervention for the cognitive and psychological symptoms of menopause, successfully trialled in small groups.
They now need to test it on a large and diverse population, to establish its efficacy and potential economic benefits within a clinical trial.
What is brain fog?
Brain fog involves problems with memory (forgetting words or losing a train of thought), difficultly concentrating and the speed of processing information. There is now robust research showing that some people have clinically significant cognitive
decline in peri-menopause, which typically resolves post-menopause. People often feel that that they can no longer perform as well at work, with up to one in ten leaving work due to menopause symptoms. Many more reduce their working hours and
productivity, at huge cost to the businesses and the economy as well as to individual
wellbeing.
Why this matters:
- Brain fog is the most common symptom of menopause (86%), yet is a
temporary symptom which can be managed with the right support. - There is currently no clear guidance in how to manage or treat brain fog,
resulting in loss of confidence, anxiety and depression. - Brain fog is a leading reason for women to quit work, reduce hours or change
jobs. It’s estimated that menopause costs the UK £1.5bn annually in lost
productivity. - There are no evidence-based interventions targeting cognitive symptoms of
menopause.
If this trial shows the intervention to be effective, it could help woman manage their
brain fog, reduce anxiety and both remain and thrive in work, if that’s their choice. If
shown to be cost-effective, benefits to businesses will include increased
productivity, reduced lost working days and significant cost savings. For example,
Oxford Economics suggested that if a woman earning £25,000 a year leaves her job
due to problematic menopause symptoms, it will cost her employer over £30,500 to
replace her.
While many women take hormone therapy, research hasn’t specifically shown that it
reduces brain fog, despite other potential benefits. The team hopes that CST-Meno
will be a great adjunct to hormonal treatments, as well as helping those who cannot,
or do not wish to, take hormone therapy.
Who is Prof. Aimee Spector?
Aimee Spector is Professor of Clinical Psychology of Ageing and director of the UCL ‘Menopause Mind Lab’, a team of researchers and clinicians dedicated to understandmore about the impact of menopause transition on cognition and mental health.
She developed ‘Cognitive Stimulation Therapy’, now the leading NHS treatment for dementia and used in 42 countries. It features in multiple clinical guidelines including National Institute of Health Excellence (NICE, UK Department of Health) and is promoted by the World Health Organisation. With expertise in the global development and evaluation of complex interventions for ageing, she aims to evaluate and support the implementation of CST-Meno following a similar research-to-practice trajectory.
She has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers, 5 book chapters and 11 books. She leads the UCL Dementia Training Academy and is international lead for University College London’s Clinical Psychology doctorate
course. Click here for her full research portfolio