Menopause or dementia?

[Noeuf]

I’m definitely peri (periods/flushes/tiredness) but yesterday and today something happened while driving which was really scary. Yesterday I was on a familiar (as in weekly) road and I just had this real panic of where was it / where was i and eventually I came to the end and realised I turned right etc. This morning I was driving the kid to school and only at the last minute realised I should turn right not left.
Normal? Or sinister? Google doesn’t help - being easily disorientated in familiar places is a bad sign apparently.
This isn’t normal for me , I’m really good at direction and knowing my way around.

I don't know the answer but this has happened to me.

I completely lost my sense of direction in my 30s. I know that sounds weird.

I even get confused in routes that are familiar and can't picture them in my head.

I think it's to do with how much information you have to keep in your head at any given time.

Brain fog is a well known symptom of peri. Head over to the peri/meno board on here for loads of discussion and advice on this

Please contact your GP, I have seen patients with this.

It could also be a UTI.

I know someone who has experienced this when she was pregnant (in her 20s) brainfog caused by hormones. It freaked her out too.

If you feel really worried then have a chat with your GP about it.

I had a moment just yesterday that I couldn’t remember which side of the road to drive on.
I asked myself the same question. I’m 46

God thank you for not leaving me worried, I really appreciate people replying. I might have a chat but I’m very scared of dementia. (I’m already racing ahead to care homes and being bankrupt. I still haven’t raised the kids and sorted my finances for even a pension yet it’s so expensive.)
What was it in patients in the end - please say it wasn’t always dementia.

There is some research that HRT helps reduce brain decay/dementia. Lots more needed but it does all seem to be linked. Worth reading up on it and talking to your gp ASAP

I have adhd & actually turn left when supposed to go right, etc.

One of the reasons I got a proper diagnosis is that it can be confused with a dementia, particularly at peri-menopause & menopause.

Get yourself checked out at the GP.

This isn’t normal for me, maybe I need to talk about HRT. Also have a very painful cut so maybe infection? Messed two words up today.

My colleague said it was this type of experience that made her stampede for HRT. She has high risk of ovarian cancer in the family but decided quality of life mattered more.

I think this may be the solution. It’s quite scary but I know that once you notice something you start seeing it all the time.

Happened me when l was very stressed over family issues. I couldn't remember which side of the road to drive on. Complete blank. So scary. Thought l was on the downward slope to dementia. Its about 10 years ago. I was 50. No issue since so blaming hormones and stress together.

Brain fog is so common with peri menopause. I thought I was going a bit mad. Hrt has made me normal again.

Ah interesting I’m thinking it’s HRT time maybe

You can always try it and see if it works for you. GPs only prescribe a month or Yeo to start with anyway

Sounds to me like you were tired, in autopilot or that you have brain fog. I wouldn't be thinking Dementia based on these 2 events.

A Dementia diagnosis is based on a lot more than just memory issues.
Functional decline is just as important as
Cognitive decline.
Also some medications can cause cognitive deficits.
Menopause also.
If you are concerned speak with your gp if you have these types of symptoms for six months or more.

Thank you lovely posters for being reassuring. We are in a calm after the storm period (very ill child for several years ) so I thought stress would be less of an issue now. I think because I’m usually very precise and accurate it’s shocked me.

I recently drove 20 miles in the opposite
direction to where I was heading. 100% menopause brain. I've lost count of the stupid things I've done.

I hope to god it’s menopause similar has happened to me and I’ve roast few years I was convinced I had dementia till all this menopause chat about brain fog I realise this must be it. Taking hrt it’s early days but seeing a definite improvement.

I am on day 2 of HRT for similar. Brain fog, generally anxious.
I am hoping for an improvement as have been worrying about dementia. I am 55 and probably should have started hrt sooner...

OP - listen to the Fortunately podcast on BBC Sounds with Bridget Christie as the guest - this is pretty much what she said - thought she had dementia so went to her GP and diagnosis of peri

I done this today and its happened to me in the past im 51. I was drving in a familiar place in work and it looked like a place id never been before, everthing looked different, ive read about derealisation linked to stress its so spot on

Derealization is a state of mind where you feel disconnected from your surroundings, and people and objects seem unreal. This altered experience