Cognitive Task Sensitivity in Perimenopause and Nutritional Status

Perimenopause is when you have symptoms of menopause but your periods have not stopped. Brain-related changes are just one of the many symptoms that occur, and changes to memory and concentration ("brain fog") are frequently reported to be a challenge to those experiencing them. Diet is also understood to play an important role during menopause, however there is still more to learn about the direct impact of nutrition on brain-related symptoms associated with perimenopause. The aim of this research is to identify mental tasks capable of capturing perimenopause-related changes and to better understand how diet might account for differences in mental task performance.

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 40-55 years * Self-assess as healthy * Experienced troublesome perimenopause symptoms for at least the past 6 months (as assessed by the Menopause Rating Scale) * Not post-menopause (defined as 12 months with no periods) * Non-smoker (including vaping) * Not lactating or pregnant (or seeking pregnancy) * Oral contraception and hormone replacement therapy allowed if taken for at least 3 months prior * Cognitive symptoms/brain fog are not required for participation Exclusion Criteria: * Post-menopause (12 months with no periods) * Medically induced perimenopause symptoms * Antidepressant/antianxiety medication or other medication likely to affect cognition in the past 6 months * Receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy * Nutritional supplementation (apart from vitamin D) within the last month (more than 3 consecutive days or 4 total)