TL;DR
Turn quiet afternoons into listening time
- Thousands of audiobooks, podcasts and originals
- Listen on your phone, tablet or Echo — also offline
- Cancel anytime
A scoping review of five studies found that lisdexamfetamine and atomoxetine were linked to improved self-reported executive function among women with menopause-related brain fog, but not better results on objective cognitive tests. Researchers and an outside expert say the findings are preliminary and need testing in larger, independent trials.
A scoping review presented at the Menopause Society annual meeting found that lisdexamfetamine and atomoxetine were associated with improved self-reported executive function among women experiencing menopause-related brain fog, but neither drug significantly improved their performance on objective cognitive tests. The findings are preliminary and do not establish either medication as a treatment for menopausal cognitive symptoms.
The review, led by Pallavi Khanna, MD, of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, included five studies. Three were crossover randomized controlled trials involving a total of 60 women without prior ADHD diagnoses; they assessed executive function using the Brown ADD Scales (BADDS) and objective cognitive tests. The review also included two cross-sectional studies covering 6,048 women in Iceland and the U.K.
In the trials, lower BADDS scores indicated less self-reported executive dysfunction. For participants taking lisdexamfetamine, scores fell from 35.7 to 21.2, compared with a decrease to 29.8 for those taking placebo (P<0.001). With atomoxetine, scores fell from a baseline of 38.6 to 25.5, compared with 30.1 for placebo (P=0.009). The researchers reported no significant improvement with either drug on objective cognitive tests.
The two observational studies examined ADHD symptoms and menopause symptoms, rather than testing medication effects. In the Icelandic study, women with an ADHD diagnosis had higher menopause symptom scores than women without one, and severe symptoms were more common. In the U.K. study, a formal ADHD diagnosis was not associated with menopause symptoms, while higher scores on an ADHD symptom questionnaire were associated with greater symptom burden.
Self-Reported Relief, Not Test Gains
The findings matter because brain fog and difficulty with executive function can affect daily life, while the report says there are no FDA-approved treatments specifically for menopausal brain fog. The trial results suggest a possible avenue for research, but they do not show that ADHD medications improve cognition broadly or that they should be prescribed for this purpose.
The difference between women’s ratings and objective test results is central. Participants reported less executive dysfunction while taking the drugs, but their performance on cognitive tests did not significantly improve. That distinction leaves open whether the medications change day-to-day symptoms, how those symptoms are perceived, or both. The small number of trial participants also means the results need replication before their clinical relevance can be judged.
The observational findings may help researchers identify who experiences more severe menopause symptoms, but they cannot show that ADHD symptoms cause those symptoms or that treating ADHD symptoms will reduce them. The studies point to a possible overlap in symptom patterns, not a confirmed shared diagnosis or treatment effect.
ADHD medication for menopause brain fog
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Why Researchers Examined ADHD Medicines
Khanna and colleagues searched five research databases for studies connecting menopause with executive function, ADHD, or ADHD medications. Their rationale drew on a possible biological overlap: Khanna told MedPage Today that estradiol, dopamine and norepinephrine levels change during the menopause transition, and that ADHD also involves dopamine and norepinephrine systems. This was the rationale for investigating the drugs, not proof that they address menopause-related brain fog.
Khanna said brain fog is a frequent complaint in her menopause clinic and can resemble ADHD. She also said the team wanted to explore whether women with more ADHD symptoms might experience greater menopause symptom burden. The review’s cross-sectional studies found associations between symptom scores, though they differed on whether a formal ADHD diagnosis itself was linked to menopause symptoms.
The review did not compare ADHD drugs with menopausal hormone therapy. Its authors noted that evidence for cognitive benefits from hormone therapy has been inconsistent, and that the available medication trials came from one research group at one institution. No included study tested methylphenidate, another commonly used ADHD medication.
“This is purely hypothesis-generating and needs to be replicated, but the findings are exciting and warrant testing in larger randomized trials.”
— JoAnn E. Manson, MD, MPH, DrPH, of Harvard Medical School, who was not involved in the study
Lisdexamfetamine for cognitive support
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Limits of the Available Evidence
The review does not establish that ADHD drugs treat menopausal brain fog. The three randomized trials included only 60 participants in total, came from one research group at a single institution, and excluded women with diagnosed ADHD. The report does not provide evidence about longer-term benefits or risks for this use.
It is also unclear whether the self-reported score changes translate into meaningful improvements in daily functioning. The studies did not compare the drugs with hormone therapy, and none tested methylphenidate. The observational studies can identify associations, but cannot determine cause and effect. Manson said the findings need replication in larger trials.
Atomoxetine for executive function
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Larger Trials Needed to Test Benefit
Khanna said larger, independent trials are needed. Future studies would need to test whether the self-reported improvements can be replicated, whether objective cognitive outcomes change, and how benefits and risks compare across treatments. Manson also called for larger randomized trials that include comparisons with menopausal hormone therapy.
Until such research is available, the review offers an early research signal, not a prescribing recommendation. The source report does not identify a planned trial or give a timeline for further results, so the next research milestone remains uncertain.
women's cognitive enhancement supplements
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Did ADHD medications improve menopausal brain fog in the review?
The three small trials found improved self-reported executive-function scores with lisdexamfetamine and atomoxetine. Neither medication significantly improved performance on objective cognitive tests, so the review does not establish that either drug treats menopausal brain fog.
Which medications were studied?
The trials examined lisdexamfetamine and atomoxetine. The review included no study of methylphenidate and did not compare ADHD medications with menopausal hormone therapy.
How strong is the evidence?
The evidence is preliminary: the three randomized trials involved 60 women, came from one research group at one institution, and excluded women with prior ADHD diagnoses. The authors and an outside expert called for larger, independent trials.
Did ADHD diagnosis predict worse menopause symptoms?
The results varied. The Icelandic study found higher menopause symptom scores among women with ADHD diagnoses, while the U.K. study found no effect of diagnosis. In the U.K. data, higher ADHD symptom questionnaire scores were associated with worse menopause symptoms.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
