BBC Technology Editor Zoe Kleinman’s recent experience with brain fog during a live broadcast has sparked a wider conversation about teh cognitive challenges women face, especially during perimenopause.A personal decision to use notes on air, prompted by a momentary mental block, unexpectedly resonated with countless women who shared similar experiences, highlighting a frequently dismissed yet impactful symptom.The resulting outpouring of support underscores the need for greater awareness and open discussion surrounding brain fog and its effects on professional and personal lives.
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- Author, Zoe Kleinman
- Author title, BBC Technology Editor
Sharing a personal experience about brain fog at work sparked an unexpectedly large response, revealing a common struggle many women face.
The post has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, and I’ve been approached by numerous women wanting to discuss the issue further.
I’ve received hundreds of messages of support and personal stories from people who relate to this experience. While my usual focus is technology news, the overwhelming reaction made it clear this topic deserved attention.
“Brain fog” isn’t a formal medical diagnosis, but many people understand the feeling. It’s that frustrating moment when you can’t recall a common word, or lose your train of thought mid-sentence. It can be embarrassing and disruptive to daily life.
For me, this experience coincided with perimenopause, the transitional stage leading up to menopause, marked by hormonal changes. This connection highlights the importance of recognizing how hormonal shifts can impact cognitive function.
Of course, brain fog can also be a symptom of other neurological conditions, making it important to consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation.
The issue can be particularly concerning for those whose jobs require public speaking. “I’ve spent 30 years expressing myself clearly in a professional capacity,” wrote communications expert Janet Edgecombe.
“Now suddenly I’m forgetting the words for basic things. ‘That gray thing in the oven.’ My husband responds: ‘Ah, the baking sheet.’ Mmm. ‘Yes, that thing.’”
Image source, Getty Images
I also heard from teachers, founders of startups pitching to investors, women leading workshops and giving talks, and journalists like myself reporting live.
Of course, brain fog can also strike during more intimate conversations, just as frustratingly.
My post detailed my decision to use notes while presenting live on the BBC’s 10 o’clock news. A breaking news story had developed late in the day, following an already busy schedule, and by 10 p.m. I knew I was tired and my mind felt clouded.
I was going to discuss a service disruption affecting dozens of websites and apps, and planned to use technical jargon provided by the company, then explain what it meant. But I couldn’t recall the necessary phrasing, and knew I couldn’t continue without it.
I was reporting live from Glasgow. Like many of my colleagues, I don’t use a teleprompter, and never have. So, for the first time, I decided to hold a piece of paper with the phrase written down.
In that moment, it felt like admitting failure. I was taught not to use notes, unless there are many figures to remember or a specific legal reason for precise wording.
Even then, I’ve always prided myself on having a good short-term memory. Using notes is frowned upon in public speaking. Speakers at TED Talks aren’t allowed to use them; they’re expected to memorize their speeches.
Facing the camera and holding that paper live on television was difficult.
According to the Fawcett Society, a UK charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights, around 10% of women have left a job due to menopause symptoms. This data underscores the significant impact of menopause on women’s careers.
And research by Royal London insurance found that half of women experiencing menopause have considered leaving work. I don’t want to do that, so I stood my ground with my solution.
To my relief, some people commented that my report felt trustworthy, assuming it was simply breaking news with new information. Others questioned why I hadn’t used an electronic device, but I felt the risk of dealing with a screen would be worse.
“Let’s start a movement: hold the notes!” wrote Elisheva Marcus, VP of Communications at venture capital firm Earlybird.
And so the hashtag #holdthenotes was born.
Image source, Getty Images
Dr. Louise Newson, a menopause expert, asked me, “Have you ever had your testosterone levels tested?”
She explained that testosterone, despite its reputation as a male hormone, is an essential brain chemical for both men and women, and levels decline with age in both sexes. One consequence is brain fog.
“It’s like being drugged,” she said. “It’s very frightening, a lot of people worry they’re developing dementia.”
“I remember getting my levels checked 10 years ago and thinking, ‘Thank goodness, at least I know why I’m feeling so bad.’”
Newson added that studies dating back to the 1940s suggest testosterone can improve brain function and wellbeing in both women and men. However, controlled trials have focused on improvements in libido.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prescribed by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is traditionally a combination of estrogen and progesterone. Testosterone isn’t routinely included.
Doctors can prescribe testosterone separately to patients, in lower doses than those given to men.
Image source, Getty Images
There’s also a wide range of menopause supplements claiming to relieve symptoms like brain fog. Estimates vary, but it’s a booming multi-billion dollar industry.
According to a survey conducted earlier this year by the nutrition news website NutraIngredients, women in the UK spend an average of £147 (US$192) a year on supplements to try and alleviate menopause symptoms.
“They might help a little,” Newson says.
“I do yoga every day and that helps me feel more clear-headed and focused, but I have a hormonal deficiency; I can’t fix it completely with diet or exercise. Many women spend a fortune trying to improve symptoms of a hormonal deficiency with other things.”
Dr. Joshua Chen is part of the Photobiomodulation Research Group at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. His team is researching how red light frequencies can modify brain mitochondria to improve focus.
Chen describes the treatment as “a facial mask, but for the brain.” He also says it can be applied to the vagus nerve in the neck to reduce stress.
The doctor founded Niraxx, a company that sells a headband called Neuro Espresso, designed to be worn for up to 20 minutes a day.
Chen claims the results are immediate. The headband must be plugged in; for safety reasons, it doesn’t run on batteries.
Image source, Niraxx
Angela Marsh is a nurse and menopause advisor. She says her patients often describe brain fog as feeling like “living life out of focus.”
“I think brain fog isn’t taken seriously enough,” she says.
“Many women are deeply affected by the changes they’re going through. They feel like something is wrong with them or they’re ‘losing their minds,’ when in reality there’s a clear biological reason.”
As for me, I’ve booked a blood test to check my hormone levels.
I’m going to try light therapy. And you’ll probably see me with notes in hand more often.
