Many women in perimenopause notice changes in focus, memory and organization. Perimenopause is the transition years before periods stop for good, and these changes are often called "brain fog". The Menopause Society, a professional organization, issued a press release about a new review. The review asks whether two medicines used for ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) might help. Its early answer is mixed. Women reported feeling better organized, but formal memory and attention tests showed little or no change.
What the researchers did
A team led by Jennifer Tat at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center carried out a scoping review. This is a structured search that maps the studies already published on a question. It does not run a new trial. The team looked for studies of two medicines: lisdexamfetamine, a stimulant, and atomoxetine, a non-stimulant. The studies had to involve women aged 45 to 60 whose last period was less than 10 years earlier. The team excluded studies of women with sleep disorders, early or surgical menopause, or a history of cancer. The press release does not say how many studies or participants the review found.
What they found
In the studies reviewed, women taking either medicine reported better "executive function" than women taking a placebo, a dummy pill. Executive function means the mental skills used to plan, start and keep track of tasks. Women rated these skills themselves on a questionnaire called the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scale. Brain scans from some of the women taking lisdexamfetamine pointed the same way.
Objective tests of working memory and sustained attention showed little or no meaningful change. Working memory is the ability to hold information in mind for a short time. In other words, women said they felt more on top of things, but the measured performance changed little. These are two different outcomes, and the review does not treat one as proof of the other.
A possible link with ADHD symptoms
The review also looked at studies that measured people at a single point in time. In those studies, women with more ADHD symptoms tended to report heavier menopause symptoms. This is an association: it does not show that one causes the other. Results on whether a formal ADHD diagnosis changes physical or emotional complaints were inconsistent.
What remains uncertain
The findings are preliminary. They were presented at The Menopause Society's annual meeting in October 2026. The press release does not mention a peer-reviewed journal article, meaning one checked by independent specialists. The authors and the Society both say larger studies must check safety and effectiveness before these medicines could be recommended for this use. The lead author suggests a quick screening for ADHD symptoms could help women get the right care. That is her recommendation, not a tested result. This review does not support starting or changing any medication.
