January 1, Doctor Shares Simple 10-Year Test Women Can Use to Spot Real Brain Fog

Wyatt’s Take

• Women in midlife are being told to trust their own gut when memory slips show up, instead of rushing to fear the worst.
• One leading neurologist says a simple comparison to how you felt ten years ago can separate normal hormone changes from serious decline.
• The medical system still pushes expensive tests that often miss what everyday women already know about their own minds.

Many older women worry when they lose their train of thought or forget why they walked into a room. Those moments can spark fears of Alzheimer’s or dementia. Yet medical experts say the same symptoms often trace back to natural hormone shifts during perimenopause and menopause.

Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, a neurology professor at UCLA, says women should measure their current memory against their own past performance rather than against some generic test. She spoke at the Livelong Women’s Health Summit in New York City.

“I think they should listen to themselves,” Voskuhl told Fox News Digital. “They know. Just ask yourself.”

Her quick benchmark is straightforward. Compare how you think today to how you thought a decade ago. The doctor calls it the Voskuhl Brain Fog Menopause Assessment used at UCLA’s Comprehensive Menopausal Program.

“The first question is, are you worse than you were 10 years ago?” she said. “Ten years is a pretty good spot. And they think, ‘What was I doing 10 years ago? What was I like? Was I having problems finding the words? Was I at the point where I couldn’t multitask anymore? Was I slow in my processing?’ And they’ll remember.”

Standard memory tests often fail to catch these subtle, everyday changes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that roughly one in nine adults notice such decline, yet less than half ever mention it to a doctor.

Voskuhl compared the situation to an NFL player who feels weaker than before. A basic strength test might still read normal, yet the player’s own sense of change remains valid. Women deserve the same respect when they sense something is off.

Ordinary menopausal brain fog shows up as temporary slips—misplacing keys, slower recall, or trouble juggling tasks. Overall judgment and independence stay intact, and symptoms often improve with better sleep or less stress. True early dementia, by contrast, brings steady, worsening trouble that disrupts daily life like paying bills or driving familiar routes.

Voskuhl urged women whose concerns are brushed aside to seek care elsewhere. “When they have doctors who don’t listen to them, they need to find another doctor,” she said.

Wyatt Matters

Hard-working women have carried families and communities for generations. They deserve straight answers rooted in common sense, not endless tests that ignore what they already feel in their bones.