Wednesday, 06 March 2024
Researchers have launched a study to investigate women’s experiences of changes in memory and concentration across different stages of the menopause.
Volunteers are needed to take part in the study being run by the University of Nottingham’s School of Psychology who are investigating hormonal changes and lifestyle patterns and their potential impact on executive function, covering aspects such as attention, memory and decision-making.
The research team are looking for women aged between 35-65 to take part in the study from across the menopause stages. These stages comprise of women who have not yet started menopause (premenopause), women going through menopause (perimenopause) and finally, women who have gone through the menopause (postmenopause).
Menopause is defined as the permanent end of ovulation and menstrual cycles in women. The transition to menopause can be difficult with many women reporting problematic symptoms such as hot flushes, low concentration, lack of confidence and poor memory.
Some of these issues are attributed to oestrogen which fluctuates and declines during the transition to menopause. Lifestyle factors such as sleep disturbances, increased responsibility at work and multiple caring responsibilities are also common during these stages in a woman’s life and could play a role in cognition difficulties.
We know that brain fog and memory issues are becoming more widely recognised as being linked with the menopause, but there is little research into this. We want to investigate women’s reported experience of these problems, in addition to their performance on sensitive computerised tests. We aim for our study to enhance understanding in the field of menopause, ultimately contributing to improved support for women.
Participants will have the opportunity to visit the laboratory at the University of Nottingham where they will take part in two surveys and six computer-based tasks to assess menopause symptoms, memory and attention performance, and non-hormonal factors such as lifestyle, working patterns and caring responsibilities.
For more information or to take part go to the research web page here
Story credits
More information is available by contacting the research team on lp-lifespanlab@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
More news…