Is there a big change at age 70?

I think this is signs of menopause at that age but im not entirely sure.

The PP just means that most people’s family members live well beyond 70 (average life expectancy is 79 for a bloke and 82 for a woman)

She was being funny not mean

That doesn’t sound entirely normal to me - she’s 71 not 85.

I would get her checked out by the GP, it’s important to do that because if she does have dementia, there are treatments that can slow it down

Why is the doctor still prescribing HRT for her at that age and why is she then taking it intermittently?

Current thinking is that you can carry on taking it indefininately, I believe. It's dangerous if you don't and then start more than ten years after menopause though, due to arterial stiffening which occurs in the interim without oestrogen.

If you're being sharky you'll have to explain yourself more fully. I'm on the pathway for assessment for ASD and that one's gone right over my head

Well, what does your Dad think?
He lives with her, so has he noticed changes too?

Why is the doctor still prescribing HRT for her at that age and why is she then taking it intermittently?

Does she realise when she's said the wrong word?

It really isn’t. I know many people in the 70s, 80s and even 90s. It is not a common feature to be confused. Forgetting the odd word is normal but confusion isn’t. The OP says her mother is getting confused and doesn’t seem with it.

@CadyEastman "Lots of my family have lived far beyond 70,"

Glad to hear it!🤔

My MIL is completely normal and as she's always been, and she's mid seventies now.
My mum was the same until she died aged 77 (but of cancer, nothing brain related).
Everyone is different of course.

It just sounds like normal ageing, I've been like this since my 40s. I don't have any post menopause symptoms but my short term memory and being able to remember words is getting gradually worse.

I would ask the GP to run a check or refer to a memory clinic for dementia having recently read a true life book of a lady who developed dementia aged mid 50's

She said it was very similar to experiencing brain fog in the menopause.

Depression can also cause dementia like symptoms in elderly people.

Mixing up words like sunset and moon can be symptoms of tia (transient ischaemic attack). She might actually think she said the word moon. There's other possible causes and could be normal, but any sudden change, I'd get checked out to be on the safe side.

Everyone ages differently. My dad, who died at 88, was always as sharp as a tack whereas my mum, now 85, has some short term memory loss.

Well, my health is shite at 69 so I'm not offering any benchmarks of how one "should" be at 70! It's important to note, though, that the very wide range of health states becomes more polarised from around the mid-60s. Some people in their 80s are way fitter, more alert and have more endurance than me. And plenty of others my age have already had their first serious stroke, heart attack, or joint replacements.

Pay no attention to how she "should" be, only to symptoms that bother her or hamper her life. If any of those can be fixed, go for it.

Menopause symptoms can, indeed, continue throughout post-menopausal life. I'm doggedly trying to be put back on HRT because I want to see if it will improve my brain fog and depression (I'm already on antidepressants, but succumb to waves of what feels suspiciously like PMT). I get hot flushes, too, though not badly enough to seek medication just for that.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21837-postmenopause#symptoms-and-causes

The average 71 year old in reasonably good health should not be showing a significant cognitive decline. That is unusual. A little forgetfulness? Sure. Slowing down somewhat? To be expected. But not a noticeable cognitive decline.

I wouldn't jump to conclusions about dementia just yet. Some common health conditions and vitamin deficiencies can cause "cloudy" thinking in older adults. Sounds like time for a GP visit and a medication review. Make sure the doctor is aware of any meds your mother takes (including over-the-counter drugs). Older adults metabolize drugs differently (even alcohol!) and mental confusion can be a side effect.

I’d ask the gp to run some blood tests first. Thyroid problems can cause all those issues. Definitely get it looked at further, my DM got diagnosed with dementia at 68

My parents always said there was a massive difference between 70 and 80... not before 70.

No she shouldn’t be like this at 70 unless there is an underlying reason. Perhaps a check up at the GP for the confusion/forgetfulness is needed separate from the hormonal stuff.

Really? Confusion doesn't appear in the list of symptoms for blood cancer. My mum has a form of blood cancer and it presented very differently. I hope your dad is doing ok.

From the NHS website: As you get older, and particularly after the age of 60, the risks of HRT may start to outweigh the benefits.
This is because you'll usually find that menopause symptoms improve as you get older, so you're less likely to need HRT to help with symptoms. Meanwhile the risk of breast cancer increases the longer you take combined HRT.

I'd say your mum doesn't need HRT. I'd be concerned about some form of dementia, and I'd urge her to see her GP.

*GP

When she saw the GO about the hot flushes, did she tell them all of her symptoms? Did the GP do any tests?

Don't want to worry you but night sweats and confusion were my DF's main symptoms of blood cancer.

Do you mean dizzy or ditsy? Dizziness can be caused by low blood pressure which can also cause cognitive impairment. Low sodium can cause confusion. There's any number of things that can cause cognitive issues. She really needs to see her GP for testing.