It starts with a few forgotten names, missed appointments, and words lost on the tip of your tongue. Is it lack of sleep, our crazy lives, or something more ominous?

Most people experience memory losses as they slip past their mid-30s and beyond. Memory mistakes ignored earlier in life suddenly seem worrisome, particularly for women or at least women tend to talk about their anxiety more than men.

Researchers have long dismissed these common complaints as “just” signs of aging, and too minor to merit serious study. But scientists many of them female are starting to take the phenomenon of middle-age memory loss more seriously. They are focusing their research around menopause, which usually occurs when a woman is in her late 40s or early 50s.

A lot of the new research is reassuring.

Although memory does decline during the early part of menopause, it bounces back later in most women, according to findings from the Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study, which began following 500 women in the early 1990s.

Age-related decline may also be generally slower than previously thought, according to a Swedish review of previous research published last month in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences. It found that roughly half of men and women avoid significant mental decline until their 60s, and in about 15 percent, the brain stays well-functioning into their 80s.

Memory loss is so mild for most people in their 40s and 50s that scientists generally have had a hard time even detecting a change. Still, many women report being alarmed by what they perceive as a decline.

“There’s something going on, but whatever it is seems to be pretty small for most women,” said Dr. Victor Henderson, a professor of neurological sciences at Stanford University.

“That’s not to minimize what women are experiencing,” he said. “As people get older, memory and cognition do change. In most instances, it’s for the worse.”

Henderson does have one piece of more encouraging news: Midlife memory loss doesn’t seem to predict Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia later in life.

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Mental wipeout?

SACRAMENTO, CA–(Marketwire -05/11/12)- For anyone looking for a last-minute Mother’s Day gift, it isn’t too late to lavish Mom with a gift she’ll love. The latest article by Skincare-News.com, 10 Mother’s Day Splurges: From New Moms to Mature Women, presents Top 10 luxurious yet affordable beauty products ideal for giving mothers some much-needed pampering.

Many moms feel they’re too busy to take time out for themselves, or can’t justify spending money on quality beauty products. How is the Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System both practical and pampering for moms who want beautiful skin? To find out, visit Skincare-News.com or click skincare-news.com/a-9556-10_Mothers_Day_Splurges_From_New_Moms_to_Mature_Women.aspx

Want to surprise a new mother with a beautifying body kit? Help her remember that she needs TLC too with the Belli Body Bounce Back Kit. How can Belli products nurture and repair mom’s skin after pregnancy? To find out, visit Skincare-News.com or click skincare-news.com/a-9556-10_Mothers_Day_Splurges_From_New_Moms_to_Mature_Women.aspx

All mothers want to look their best, at any age. The StriVectin Ageless Skin Blockbuster Kit is a seven-piece sampler perfect for introducing a mom to anti-aging skincare technology. What’s the best way to integrate wrinkle formulas and eye creams into a mom’s beauty routine? To find out, visit Skincare-News.com or click skincare-news.com/a-9556-10_Mothers_Day_Splurges_From_New_Moms_to_Mature_Women.aspx

Find answers to many more questions about last-minute Top 10 luxurious yet affordable gifts for Mother’s Day and how moms can pamper themselves year-round at Skincare-News.com or skincare-news.com/a-9556-10_Mothers_Day_Splurges_From_New_Moms_to_Mature_Women.aspx

See also:

Skincare & Beauty Calendar: Twelve-Month Guide to Complete Skin Transformation” skincare-news.com/a-8984-Skincare__Beauty_Calendar_TwelveMonth_Guide_to_Complete_Skin_Transformation.aspx

An effective skincare routine is one that can easily be altered throughout the year, such as when the seasons change or when a woman’s skin is going through a transition. Whether a woman is trying to get rid of acne, achieve younger-looking skin or just update a boring makeup regimen, this article will help her create a step-by-step plan, with how-to instructions for every season. The result is a skincare accessory she can use all year long!

“Prevent Menopause Symptoms Now: 6 Ways to Maintain Healthy Skin” skincare-news.com/a-9038-Prevent_Menopause_Symptoms_Now_6_Ways_to_Maintain_Healthy_Skin.aspx

Hot flashes and hormonal changes are well-known side effects of menopause, but skin-related changes like dryness, age spots and wrinkles can come as a surprise to many women. Developing good skincare habits now can help women take control of their skincare regimen and maintain healthy skin during menopause, and beyond.

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Mother's Day Last-Minute Beauty Splurges: Skincare-News.com Lists Top 10 Luxurious Yet Affordable Beauty Products to …

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New at King Center: Raitt, 'Menopause' musical

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Hot Flashes More Likely for Certain Smokers, Study Says

Genes Can Play an Additional Role, Too, Study Finds

By Salynn Boyles WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

May 3, 2012 — There are countless reasons why women who smoke should kick the habit for their health, but here’s one more.

Smoking women have more hot flashes as they transition through menopause, and this is especially true for women who carry certain genes, a new study finds.

Previous research has linked cigarette smoking to earlier menopause and worse symptoms, but the study is among the first to examine the impact of smoking and genes on hot flashes.

As expected, smokers in the study reported more hot flashes than women who did not smoke.

But smokers who also carried specific gene variations linked to estrogen metabolism and susceptibility to environmental toxins had the most hot flashes of all, says researcher and ob-gyn Samantha Butts, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

Butts says knowing that smoking increases the frequency and severity of hot flashes may convince some menopausal women to give up cigarettes once and for all, even if they have tried to quit before.

About 1 in 5 women in the U.S. — roughly 20 million women — smokes cigarettes.

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Menopause: Smokers Have More Hot Flashes

Editor’s Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Menopause Also Included In: Bones / Orthopedics Article Date: 26 Apr 2012 – 14:00 PDT

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390 Caucasian women, average age 48, from northern Europe were recruited in the Malmo Perimenopausal Study. In this observational study, the females were regularly followed-up after the age of 48.

The authors divided the women into two groups:

56% of the early-menopause women had osteoporosis by the age of 77, compared to 30% in the other group.

A higher risk of fragility fracture and mortality (early death) was also observed in the early-menopause group. The mortality rate in the late (normal) menopause group was 35.2%, compared to 52.4% in the early menopause group. 44.3% of the women in the early-menopause group had a fracture, compare to 30.7% in the other group.

Senior author, orthopedic surgeon, Ola Svejme, said:

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Early Menopause Raises Risk Of Osteoporosis And Early Death

Researchers Find Osteoporosis Symptoms More Common In Women With Early Menopause

According to the results of a 29-year study, women who go through menopause are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with symptoms of osteoporosis at some point later in life.

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that reduces its mineral density. As a result, bone microarchitecture deteriorates and the amount and variety of proteins in the bone is altered.

In addition to the findings, researchers from the Skane University Hospital in Malmo, Sweden, noted that these women are also at greater risk for fracture and an increased death rate.

While the study started in 1977, 390 white women from northern Europe, who were 48 years old at the time, were divided into two groups: those who went through menopause before the age of 47 and those who started menopause at age 47 or later.

As the women were followed for roughly three decades, all of them had their bone mineral density measured on a regulatory basis.

29 years later, only 198 women remained in the study due to deaths, relocation or lack of participation.

By the time researchers concluded their studies, the women were 77 years old.

Results concluded in 56 percent of the women with early menopause having osteoporosis, compared to just 30 percent of those with later menopause.

In addition to the findings, a higher risk of fragility fracture and mortality was discovered in women who started the menopause early.

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Researchers Find Osteoporosis Symptoms More Common In Women With Early Menopause

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Early Menopause Tied to Osteoporosis in 29-Year Study

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Health Tip: Recognize Common Symptoms of Menopause

SACRAMENTO, CA–(Marketwire -04/19/12)- For healthy skin, consulting a professional should be the first step on anyone’s list. But many people have never sought out professional advice for their skin, such as booking an appointment with a dermatologist or visiting an esthetician. The latest article by Skincare-News.com, Understanding Estheticians and Dermatologists: FAQs about Skin Professions and Personal Skincare, reveals the details about how these skincare professionals can pave the way toward healthier skin in the future.

Both dermatologists and estheticians play significant roles in helping people care for their skin. When should one see a dermatologist, and when is it appropriate to see an esthetician? To find out, visit Skincare-News.com or click skincare-news.com/a-9498-Understanding_Estheticians_and_Dermatologists_FAQs_about_Skin_Professions_and_Personal_Skincare.aspx

For anybody who has never had a professional facial, now is a great time to start. When booking an appointment with an esthetician, the first step is to determine skin type. What are the best ways to determine skin type? To find out, visit Skincare-News.com or click skincare-news.com/a-9498-Understanding_Estheticians_and_Dermatologists_FAQs_about_Skin_Professions_and_Personal_Skincare.aspx

If fine lines and wrinkles are a concern, a dermatologist consultation can be incredibly helpful. What types of procedures and products can dermatologists assist with when it comes to aging skin? To find out, visit Skincare-News.com or click skincare-news.com/a-9498-Understanding_Estheticians_and_Dermatologists_FAQs_about_Skin_Professions_and_Personal_Skincare.aspx

Find answers for many more questions about why one should book an appointment with a skincare professional by visiting Skincare-News.com, or click skincare-news.com/a-9498-Understanding_Estheticians_and_Dermatologists_FAQs_about_Skin_Professions_and_Personal_Skincare.aspx

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“Skincare & Beauty FAQ Handbook – Part 15: Skincare Conditions” skincare-beauty-questions.com/faqs_15-skincare-conditions/

Finding the correct cause or treatment for a particular skin condition can be challenging. Whether a person is suffering from hives, sun spots, rosacea or another condition, look to Chapter 15 of the Skincare & Beauty FAQ Handbook for tips on improving overall skin health. Find out how to identify and treat skin conditions, plus prevent future outbreaks from occurring.

“Skincare & Beauty FAQ Handbook – Part 14: Skincare Routine & Lifestyle” skincare-beauty-questions.com/faqs_14-skincare-routine-lifestyle/

A well-rounded beauty routine goes beyond a good cleanser and moisturizer. Knowing how and when to use products, as well as essential lifestyle tips like the potential damage of cigarettes and coffee, are keys to beautifully healthy skin. Learn the ins and outs of exfoliation, the truth about moisturizing and important facts about lifestyle choices and age-specific skincare. Find out more about creating an effective skincare routine in Chapter 14 of Skincare-news.com’s FAQ Handbook.

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Dermatologists and Estheticians: Skincare-News.com Answers Top Questions About Professional Skincare Consultations

Menopause, Your Doctor and You is a guide to help you keep track of your menopausal symptoms and arrive prepared to discuss your concerns at your next visit to your doctor.

Menopause is more than just hot flashes and night sweats. This is a time to evaluate your overall health history and current health habits. Many health issues are not directly caused by menopause itself, but may be more apparent during menopause.

Knowing more about your health and being informed about the latest health news will help you deal with menopause and take control of your health.

Work with your doctor. Speak up when you have questions or concerns. Never leave the doctors office without fully understanding what you discussed and being comfortable with your doctors advice.

Having the information you need in writing helps you to communicate with your doctor. Instead of trying in vain to recall everything you want to talk about, you have all the important facts right there for you to share with your doctor.

*This book allows you to print off the pages you need and record the necessary information for visits with your healthcare team.

*Use a folder, binder, or an envelope to keep all of your health records in one place for easy access.

*Write down as many details as you can about your menopause symptoms and related healthcare issues.

*If you read interesting menopause or health articles in newspapers, magazines or online, clip or print a copy to put in your folder. This way you can ask your doctor for more information or share your concerns about menopause and menopause treatments.

*Check with your doctors office to see if you can email, fax, scan, or drop off some or all of your material in advance of your next visit. Your doctor may be willing to read or scan over your information before seeing you.

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Guite to eBook Menopause, Your Doctor and You

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Long-Term Estrogen Therapy Does Up Breast Cancer Risk: Study

SUNDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) — Several weeks after a study suggested that women who take estrogen-only hormone replacement to treat menopause symptoms may be at lower risk for developing breast cancer, another, much-larger study finds that when used for longer than 10 years, estrogen-only regimens actually raise a woman’s long-term risk for breast cancer.

The new study was funded by the National Cancer Institute, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, whereas the previous one was partially funded by drug manufacturer Wyeth.

Researchers evaluated follow-up data from the Nurse’s Health Study collected from 1980 through 2008. The women in the study were 30 to 55 years old in 1976. Overall, the risk for breast cancer was 88 percent higher among women who had taken estrogen plus progesterone for 10 to 14.9 years, compared to women who did not. This risk more than doubled for women who used estrogen-plus-progesterone therapy for 15 to 19.9 years.

Women who used estrogen-only therapy after menopause had 22 percent increased risk for breast cancer if they used it for 10 to 14.9 years, and 43 percent greater risk if they used it longer than 15 years.

There was no increased risk seen among women who took estrogen for fewer than 10 years. Women did not have an increased risk of dying from breast cancer, the study showed.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) fell from grace after the U.S. Women’s Health Initiative study was stopped early in 2002 because HRT was shown to increase the risk of strokes and breast and ovarian cancer. Some subtleties have emerged since that time. For example, short-term use of HRT is now deemed fairly safe for some women who have severe menopausal symptoms. Estrogen-only therapy is reserved for women who have had a hysterectomy; women with an intact uterus who use HRT must take the hormone progestin (synthetic progesterone) with estrogen to prevent uterine cancer.

“For combination therapy there is so much data about the dangers that we really tell people that if they must take it to treat symptoms, they should only do so for a year or two at most,” said study author Dr. Wendy Chen, an associate physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an assistant professor in medicine at the Breast Cancer Treatment Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. “For estrogen alone, there is more safety data for someone who wants to take it for five or six years.”

Chen is scheduled to present her findings at this week’s annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Chicago.

Her advice is for women to think about why they are taking supplemental hormones. “If it is for hot flashes, they don’t last forever,” she said. If vaginal dryness is the issue, there are vaginal hormone preparations. “You are not going to have the systemic effects that you will from talking a pill,” she said.

Dr. Larry Norton, deputy physician-in-chief for breast cancer programs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and medical director of the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center, in New York City, does not recommend that women take estrogen after menopause.

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Long-term estrogen therapy does up breast cancer risk

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Hormone may ease menopause

Win Tickets To Menopause the Musical * denotes required fields

Enter to win four tickets to see Menopause the Musical at Wharton Center (Fairchild Theater) April 17 – 19, 2012. A total of four winners will be chosen, each winning four tickets.

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WLNS TV 6 Lansing Jackson Michigan News and Weather – WLNS.COM | Menopause the Musical

Mar 25 2012

Women may be able to halt the menopause and preserve their fertility after doctors proved ovary transplants remain effective for at least seven years.

Ovarian tissue transplants would allow women more choice about when to have children and would offer hope to those who believe they would never be able to conceive. Three women, who have already received transplants, have given birth to seven children, with one expecting another baby soon.

One had leukaemia and became infertile after treatment, while another began menopause at the age of 22. After having her tissue transplanted at the age of 38, she is about to have her third child.

Stinne Holm Bergholt, from Denmark, was diagnosed with bone cancer and became infertile after chemotherapy. Before undergoing treatment she had one of her ovaries removed and after having tissue transplanted she now has three children.

While two of the women had their own tissue retrieved, stored and later transplanted, the other received tissue from her twin sister. Doctors hope that one day soon, healthy women will be able to choose to have their ovarian tissue stored so they can have it transplanted later in life as and when it is needed.

Dr Gedis Grudzinskas, a consultant gynaecologist based in London’s Harley Street, said this would work as “insurance for fertility purposes”.

He said: “A 25-year-old could have a piece of her ovary taken away and frozen and if she wants to use it later, like to have children at the age of 38, her ovary is only 25 years old. That piece of tissue has a much longer life span that it had before.

“Or at the age of 50 you could have horrific menopausal symptoms so you could put the ovarian tissue back and it would be like HRT but made up of your own hormones and that tissue will continue to function for many years.

“Over seven years (after transplants) three woman have had children. It is like insurance for fertility purposes but unlike freezing eggs, it is useful for more than that. The better the care for reproductive health, the more choices there are.”

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UK & World News: Transplant study offers baby hope

March 24, 2012 Healthy Woman event to be held Event to look at connection between menopause and obesity

Staff Report CNHI The Mt. Vernon Register-News Sat Mar 24, 2012, 12:00 PM CDT

MT. VERNON The latest installment of the Healthy Woman program looks at the connection between menopause and obesity.

Healthy Woman, sponsored by Crossroads Community Hospital, will be held at Green Hills Golf and Country Club on Tuesday. The keynote speaker is Dr. Veena Gupta, medical director of Care First Medical Center and Spa Nirvana Laser Clinic. Her topic, Is the Weight Gain My Fault? A seminar on Menopause and Obesity will begin at 6 p.m. Partner booths and light refreshments will be available at 5 p.m.

According to information from Crossroads Community Hospital, Gupta will discuss what causes the connection between menopause and obesity and what women can do to counteract the hormone changes that happen during menopause.

According to Science News, incidence of chronic health conditions associated with obesity are more prevalent and worse in postmenopausal women. Heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, cancer osteoarthritis are all chronic conditions which can be reduced by weight loss. Postmenopausal women are at risk for gaining weight as they age.

To register for the Healthy Woman event, or to find out more information about the program, call 241-8764 or go to www.crossroadscommunityhospital.com.

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Healthy Woman event to be held

Since the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) was published in 2002, doctors have believed that using estrogen, either alone or with a progestin, to treat the symptoms of menopause increased a woman’s risk of stroke and heart attack. But a new study published in the March 2012 issue of the journal Menopause may have changed that generalization, at least a little.

The authors reviewed 151 earlier studies on women who went through menopause before the age of 50 and looked at their stroke and heart attack risk. The women in the studies were in menopause for many reasons — some had their ovaries removed to prevent cancer or they might have had a benign tumor, or they could have been treated with chemotherapy or radiation that caused their ovaries to stop working and caused menopause before age 50, or they might have been a specific subgroup of women with premature menopause — a medical condition that throws women into menopause before age 40.

The findings of this study are important. Here is why: Before the age of 50, estrogen protects women from stroke and heart attack — the exact opposite of what the WHI study showed. For women between the ages of 50 to 59 years of age, oral estrogen at a dose equivalent to 0.625 mg/day seems to protect against heart disease but increases the risk of stroke. After age 60, estrogen seems to increase a woman’s risk of stroke and heart attack.

This positive information about estrogen adds to a 2011 study in JAMA that showed women who have had their uterus out and therefore only need to take estrogen but not progestin do not have an increased risk of breast cancer. For a video about this study, click here.

Here is what this new study means for you. The decision to take estrogen or HRT must be an individualized one — a conversation between you and your doctor that takes into account your risks, your age and your history. Prepare your questions before your visit and find out if estrogen is right for you, especially if you have had your uterus removed (hysterectomy) or if you are under the age of 50. I’ve made a video about this article below. For more information, visit my website, DoctorSeibel.com.

For more by Mache Seibel, M.D., click here.

For more healthy living health news, click here.

For more on women’s health, click here.

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Mache Seibel, MD: Estrogen Prevents Stroke, Heart Attack for Some

Public release date: 22-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mary Rice mary.rice@riceconseil.eu ECCO-the European CanCer Organisation

Vienna, Austria: Researchers from The Netherlands have found that the menopausal symptoms caused by giving chemotherapy or hormonal therapy to younger women with breast cancer can be ameliorated considerably through the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)[1] and physical exercise (PE). These interventions can be effective in dealing with such distressing symptoms as hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, weight gain, urinary incontinence and sexual problems, a researcher will tell the 8th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-8) today (Thursday).

The researchers studied 422 breast cancer patients with an average age of 48 years recruited from 14 hospitals from the Amsterdam and Rotterdam regions of the Netherlands. They were randomly assigned to four groups CBT alone, PE alone, CBT and PE combined and a control group. Compared with the control group, all those patients who received one or both interventions showed an overall decrease in the levels of menopausal symptoms, in addition to reporting an increase in sexuality and an improvement in physical functioning. These positive effects were still apparent after six months.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the efficacy of these two interventions specifically in women who have experienced acute, treatment-induced menopause,” Dr. Marc van Beurden from The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, will say. “This is a very important issue for the quality of life of younger breast cancer patients. Unlike healthy women starting the menopause, they are unable to take hormone replacement therapy to alleviate their symptoms. There are other drugs available, but they are only moderately effective and have troublesome side-effects.”

The CBT programme consisted of six weekly group sessions of 90 minutes each, including relaxation exercises. The primary focus of the CBT was on hot flushes and night sweats, but other symptoms were also addressed. The PE programme was a 12-week, individually tailored, home-based and self-directed exercise programme of two and a half to three hours per week. Initial training and follow-up was provided by physiotherapists. The goal was to exercise at an intensity level that achieved a target heart rate.

The researchers believe that the CBT reduces stress levels and helps women cope effectively with the symptoms they are experiencing. Physical exercise is intended to reduce hot flushes through an effect on the thermoregulatory system. “There was already evidence that both interventions were effective in women undergoing the natural menopause,” says Dr. van Beurden’s colleague, Dr. Hester van Oldenburg. “We are pleased to have established that they also work in women with induced menopause, which is significantly more difficult for patients to deal with both because it is caused by cancer treatment, which is distressing in itself, and because the symptoms often come on so quickly that there is little or no time to get used to them.”

Patients said that participation in the CBT programme made them more aware of their symptoms and how to deal with them. “Before, I more or less accepted them unconsciously. Now I’m more alert about my symptoms, their effect, and possible ways to cope with them. By sharing my experiences with others, I’ve learned to put my symptoms in perspective and to cope with them,” said one participant.

While the evidence that the interventions worked was convincing, compliance with them was poor, the researchers say. In the case of CBT, it was difficult to schedule the group sessions at a time that was convenient for women who often had both work and parenting responsibilities. The frequency and intensity of the PE programme was also a challenge for many women.

“We think that we have made an important step forward in improving the quality of life of these patients,” Dr. van Beurden will say. “Based on input from patients, we are now developing an internet-based version of the CBT programme. We hope that this will further increase the accessibility and convenience of the interventions and lead to more women benefiting from their results.”

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Non-drug treatments help alleviate symptoms of treatment-induced menopause in breast cancer patients

ST. LOUIS, March 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –For years, women experiencing the unpleasant effects of hot flashes may have felt frustration from conflicting news stories about whether soy may be of benefit. Perhaps due to small sample sizes and inconsistent study methodology, results often varied. However, a new large-scale statistical analysis, published in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Association, offers clear and compelling evidence from a review of 19 studies examining more than 1,000 women. The conclusion: soy isoflavones reduce menopausal hot flash frequency and severity by approximately 50 percent. The results were highly statistically significant. Soy isoflavones, although different from the hormone estrogen, are plant compounds that exert a mild estrogen-like effect in certain conditions.

Authors Kyoko Taku, PhD, MD, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Japan; Melissa K. Melby, PhD, University of Delaware; Fredi Kronenberg, PhD, Stanford University; Mindy S. Kurzer, PhD, University of Minnesota; and Mark Messina, PhD, Loma Linda University reviewed research that included 1,200 women in studies evaluating frequency and 1,000 women in those evaluating severity. On average, studies provided participants with 54 mg of soy isoflavones daily for six weeks to a year.

In addition, the analysis assessed whether isoflavone products with higher genistein, one of the two primary types of soy isoflavones, are more effective than those with lower amounts. Dr. Melissa Melby commented, “Our analysis found isoflavone supplements containing at least 18.8 mg of genistein were more than twice as effective at reducing frequency than lower amounts.”

During menopause, hot flashes can persist for an extended period of time and can interfere with daily activities and sleep. Hormone therapy (HT) containing estrogens or a combination of estrogens and progestins used to be a standard choice for alleviating hot flashes, but safety concerns led to recommendations that HT treatment be taken at the lowest doses for the shortest period of time. The benefits observed in the newly published meta-analysis make isoflavones an effective option for women who don’t want to take HT. A small survey also published in Menopause found that 70 percent of women seeking a non-hormonal treatment for hot flashes would be satisfied with an approach that provides at least a 50 percent reduction in symptoms.

Lisa Kelly, a registered dietitian for the United Soybean Board, added, “While this study used soy supplements, many women prefer to eat soyfoods. Traditional options, such as soymilk, tofu and tempeh, are a significant dietary source of isoflavones.” Each gram of soy protein in soybeans and traditional soyfoods provides approximately 3.5 mg of isoflavones, so a full serving yields about 25 mg. For more information on soy’s health benefits and recipes, visit SoyConnection.com.

As a final note, menopausal women concerned about breast cancer may be relieved to know that clinical evidence indicates soyfoods and soy isoflavones do not harmfully affect breast tissue and epidemiologic evidence indicates soy consumption improves the prognosis of breast cancer patients. And, for their daughters, another meta-analysis found an association between consuming soy starting in the childhood or adolescent years and decreased risk of breast cancer later in life.

About USB

The 69 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy’s customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff. For more information, please visit UnitedSoybean.org and SoyConnection.com.

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New Findings: Soy May Alleviate Hot Flashes

TUESDAY, March 20 (HealthDay News) — The memory blips and distractible moments that women say they experience during menopause may be as real as the hot flashes and poor sleep, a new study suggests.

Researchers gave women who said they were experiencing “menopause fog” a series of cognitive tests to see how well their abilities matched their complaints. Sure enough, the women who felt they had more memory problems were also the ones who did not keep track of information or maintain their focus as well.

“The main point of this study is that women are really good monitors. If a woman says, ‘I’m having memory problems,’ she probably is,” said study co-author Pauline Maki, director of Women’s Mental Health Research in the department of psychiatry at University of Illinois at Chicago.

On the other hand, people with age-related mental decline do not usually identify the problem, suggesting the memory issues in this study are not just because the women are getting older, Maki added.

The study, published in March in the journal Menopause, could help women and their doctors appreciate the reality of menopause fog. “I think some attribute it to, for example, poor sleep because of hot flashes, or poor mood, and that’s why it’s helpful to have these analyses,” Maki said.

Previous research has found that about two-thirds of women going through menopause describe memory problems.

The current study involved 75 women who rated their memory performance based on factors like how often they forgot details and how serious their forgetfulness was. Researchers also gathered information about the women’s overall health, mood and hormone levels.

The women in the study were going through an early stage of menopause called perimenopause, meaning they were having less frequent periods and beginning to experience symptoms of menopause. The participants were between 40 and 60 years of age.

Overall, 41 percent reported having forgetfulness that was serious. The women who felt their mental shortcomings were more severe were more likely to score poorly on tests of working memory and attention.

In day-to-day life, women with working memory problems would probably have to reread a story several times to make sense of the details, Maki explained. And if there were a noise in the background like a siren, women with poor attention would struggle to stay focused on the story.

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Study Suggests Mental 'Fog' of Menopause Is Real

3/20/2012 1:21 AM ET (RTTNews) – The first generic versions of Roche-owned Genentech’s Boniva, a once-monthly product to treat or prevent osteoporosis in women after menopause, has been cleared by the FDA.

The manufacturers that have gained FDA approval to make generic 150 milligram Boniva are Apotex Inc., Orchid Healthcare, and Mylan Inc. (MYL: News ).

The once-monthly branded version of oral 150 mg Boniva was approved by the FDA in March 2005 while the 2.5 mg daily formulation of Boniva was approved in 2003. Sales of Boniva were 696 million Swiss francs in 2011, down from 1,013 million Swiss francs in 2010.

According to the National Institutes of Health, in the United States more than 40 million people either already have osteoporosis or are at high risk due to low bone mass. Medications like Boniva, which belong to a class called bisphosphonates, help increase bone mass and reduce the chance of having a spinal fracture.

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FDA Approves First Generic Versions Of Osteoporosis Drug Boniva

Editor’s Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Menopause Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry Article Date: 16 Mar 2012 – 16:00 PDT

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Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the University of Illinois at Chicago finally validated the claims of many women in their 40s and 50s who complain of “brain fog” or forgetfulness. 75 women from ages 40 to 60 were give an array of cognitive tests which not only confirm the problem but also provide some explanation as to its occurrence and explain what is happening in the brain during menopause.

Miriam Weber, Ph.D., the neuropsychologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center who led the study explains :

The tests included attention span over time as well as the ability to learn and manipulate new information. The researchers found that only some of the problems were linked to memory deficit. The women were also questioned about their menopause symptoms, including depression, anxiety, hot flashes, and sleep difficulties. Blood levels of the hormones estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone were measured.

Those who complained of a foggy memory did poorly on tests designed to gauge what is called “working memory”, this gives a person the ability to take in new information as well as manipulate it mentally. An example might include adding up numbers in your head or adjusting an itinerary or schedule. Problems also included maintaining attention span on a long drive or getting through a long book.

Weber points out that what people consider memory, such recalling items needed on a shopping trip or remembering a phone number is only a small part of memory function, and most women were not having issues with these simpler traditional kinds of memory function.

Although there was no link found between hormone levels and memory function, researchers did note that those with memory problems were generally more prone to other symptoms of menopause, such as sleeping difficulty and anxiety.

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Menopause Linked To Memory Loss

New Research Finds Differences in Menopausal Memory Problems and Age-Related Memory Loss

March 16, 2012 — Along with hot flashes and night sweats, memory problems are a common complaint of menopausal women. Now a new study finds evidence that menopause brain fog may be real.

The research provides clues about changes in womens brains as they transition through the change, finding key differences between the memory issues women in the study had around the time of menopause and those most often associated with aging.

I think the take-home message is that there is something to the complaints about memory during this phase of life, says University of Rochester Medical Center neuropsychologist Miriam T. Weber, PhD. The memory issues we saw were distinctly different from the kind of issues seen in older populations.

The study included 75 women who were tested on different aspects of memory and thinking.

All of the women were experiencing menopause-related changes in their menstrual cycles at the time of testing, but had had at least one period during the previous year.

Women who had memory complaints were more likely to perform poorly on tests designed to measure working memory, which Weber describes as the ability to take in new information and manipulate it.

Tasks that involve working memory might include calculating the amount of a tip to leave at a restaurant or changing ones itinerary at the last minute.

The researchers found little evidence that the women had problems storing and retrieving information, which is common in patients with age-related memory loss.

Psychiatry and psychology professor Pauline Maki, PhD, who also worked on the study, says menopausal women tend to be much better than older people at recognizing and assessing their memory deficits.

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Menopause ‘Brain Fog’ May Be Real

FRIDAY, March 16 (HealthDay News) — Women who suffer the unpleasant and sometimes debilitating symptoms of menopause are more likely to miss days at work, a new Dutch study finds.

“If you have really bad menopausal symptoms, which could be insomnia, mood swings, irritability, you may be calling into work sick,” says Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician-gynecologist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

Menopause, which typically occurs after age 45, marks the end of a woman’s periods, when the ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Although previous studies have looked at work productivity, this is the first to correlate menopausal symptoms with a broader concept known as “work ability.” Work ability tries to take into account how well a person’s abilities correlate with job demands while also attempting to predict future job performance, including how often a person will miss work.

The researchers, from Nij Smellinghe Hospital in Drachten, the Netherlands, enlisted more than 200 women, aged 44 through 60, who worked at the hospital or a nearby home-care organization.

Women filled out a web-based questionnaire asking about 21 symptoms potentially related to menopause, such as anxiety, depression, hot flashes and sexual dysfunction.

Participants also provided information on how often they called in sick, how they rated their current work ability vs. past ability and any diagnoses made by a physician.

Women who reported more menopausal symptoms were more likely to rate themselves lower on the work ability index, including reporting more days missed from work.

The findings, published in the March issue of the journal Menopause, probably won’t surprise millions of mid-life women, their families and health-care providers.

“What they’re trying to show intuitively probably a lot of people know,” says Dr. Brooke Leath, a staff physician in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Scott & White in Round Rock, Texas.

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Menopause May Cost Women Sick Days