Stimulants for Cognitive Decline and Memory Loss

During menopause, women may experience a noticeable decline in some cognitive abilities, such as memory. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine are investigating this phenomenon, and whether drugs used to treat disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit (ADHD) might counteract the effect. C. Neill Epperson, an associate professor in Perelman’s departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics/Gynecology, and director of the Penn Center for Women’s Behavioral Wellness, is particularly interested in the neurochemistry in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that is responsible for high-level planning and memory. The interactions between the neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone estrogen may be particularly relevant to menopausal women. More info: www.upenn.edu Video by Kurtis Sensenig Text by Evan Lerner