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Experiencing brain fog and memory issues is a common part of menopause. But how can you distinguish between the natural effects of ageing and something more concerning, like dementia? Dr

Kellyn Lee, a chartered psychologist and research fellow at the University of Southampton, has now explored this. She's spent decades researching cognitive decline and dementia at a

time when over 944,000 people in the UK have the condition. "So, I've been asked this question this morning," she said in a recent TikTok post. "How do you differentiate

menopause and dementia? Really good question and one that, you know, as somebody who is perimenopausal and as somebody who's worked in the dementia field for decades, this has been

something that at times I've kind of had fleeting moments where I've thought, 'Have I got dementia?' since I've been going through the menopause. The answer is, no,

I don't." Dementia is a broad term to describe various symptoms associated with an ongoing decline in brain functioning. It encompasses multiple conditions, including

Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. On the other hand, menopause is the specific period in which periods stop due to lower hormone levels. This typically affects

women between 45 and 55, though it may happen earlier. Both dementia and menopause can give rise to several cognitive-related signs, such as brain fog, concentration difficulties, memory

loss and mood changes. However, Dr Lee stressed that menopausal symptoms are always temporary, while dementia is 'irreversible'. She continued: "As I say, in terms of

menopause, the brain fog is temporary, it's a temporary symptom. Whereas, with dementia, it is irreversible. "Ok, so what we would see is, you know, as a woman who is going through

the perimenopause, getting my HRT right actually rectified a lot of the problems that I was having in terms of executive functioning and in terms of recall. "If I had dementia, the HRT

wouldn't make a difference to that. Menopause is a natural part of ageing for women. Dementia is not a natural part of ageing, it is where the brain is dying. It is where there is

atrophy, there is shrinkage of the brain." There is currently no cure for dementia, though there are some treatments available to help relieve its symptoms. Even so, Dr Lee emphasised

that dementia is progressive, meaning its effects will only worsen with time. "So, with menopause, you would expect symptoms to get better with time," she added. " However,

with dementia, it will get progressively worse and equally, in terms of impact in daily life. "So, yes, with the menopause, it may have an impact in terms of how I go about my day and

the ease that I can do that with. But with dementia, it will significantly impact my everyday." PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE Besides cognitive issues and mood changes, there are

several other physical symptoms of menopause. According to the NHS, these can include: * Hot flushes, when you have sudden feelings of hot or cold in your face, neck and chest, which can

make you dizzy * Vaginal dryness and pain, itching or discomfort during sex * Skin changes, including dry and itchy skin * Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) * Muscle aches and joint

pains * Changed body shape and weight gain * Difficulty sleeping, which may be a result of night sweats and make you feel tired and irritable during the day * Sensitive teeth, painful gums

or other mouth problems * Palpitations, when your heartbeat suddenly become more noticeable * Headaches and migraines that are worse than usual * Reduced sex drive NHS advice adds:

"Getting advice early can help reduce the impact perimenopause and menopause have on your health, relationships and work." RED FLAGS OF DEMENTIA While signs of dementia can vary

depending on the type, common symptoms during its onset may include: * Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word * Being confused about time and place * Mood changes *

Difficulty concentrating * Finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping * Persistent memory loss The NHS encourages

anyone experiencing these symptoms to seek GP advice. Its guidance reads: "Although there is no cure for dementia at the moment, an early diagnosis means its progress can be slowed down

in some cases, so the person may be able to maintain their mental function for longer. "A diagnosis helps people with dementia get the right treatment and support. It can also help

them, and the people close to them, to prepare for the future." _ FOR MORE INFORMATION, HEAD TO THE NHS WEBSITE. _