Menopause and the mind: understanding 'brain fog'

Understanding Brain Fog

We're thrilled to welcome Professor Aimee Spector to The George Institute for Global Health to discuss the crucial topic of 'Menopause and the Mind: Understanding Brain Fog'.

Many women describe the menopause transition as a time when their mind just doesn’t feel the same — focus fades, and memory seems unreliable. This so-called “brain fog” affects around 60% of women and can be frustrating, distressing, and often misunderstood. For some, these cognitive changes persist for years, intertwining with physical symptoms, anxiety, and low mood.

Emerging research is helping to unravel what’s really happening in the brain during menopause — and importantly, how this differs from conditions like dementia. With up to one in ten women leaving work during this period, understanding these changes isn’t just a health issue, it’s a societal one.

This talk will explore what the science tells us about menopause and cognition, clear up common myths, and share new insights into how women can better supported through this pivotal stage of life, including emerging ideas of clinical management.

Professor Aimee Spector

Professor of Clinical Psychology of Ageing, University College London (UCL)

Professor Aimee Spector is Professor of Clinical Psychology of Ageing at University College London (UCL). She developed Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) for dementia within her PhD, now the primary non-pharmacological treatment offered in the UK National Health Service and implemented globally. Aimee directs theInternational Cognitive Stimulation Therapy centre at UCL. This involves working with 42 countries and supporting CST training centres across Europe, Asia, the US, New Zealand and now Australia. Her expertise lies in the global development and evaluation of complex interventions for ageing. She also directs the UCL ‘Menopause Mind Lab'; a research group focused on the impact of menopause transition on cognition and mental health. Aimee has published over 190 peer-reviewed papers, six book chapters and ten books. She leads the UCL Dementia Training Academy and is international lead for UCL’s Clinical Psychology doctorate course.

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