Perimenopause, Hormones & the Female Brain: What Cognitive and Neuropsychological Changes Mean for Assessment, Formulation and Care in Women’s Mental Health.
Tracks
Ballroom 1
Ballroom 2
Tamborine Gallery
| Monday, August 31, 2026 |
| 8:50 AM - 9:20 AM |
| JW Grand Ballroom |
Overview
Associate Professor Caroline Gurvich, Deputy Director HER Centre Australia
Three Key Learnings
Understand the common cognitive changes experienced during peri- and post-menopause, including memory, attention and executive functioning difficulties.
Explore the relationship between cognitive symptoms, hormonal changes, sleep disruption, mood symptoms and other menopause-related presentations.
Identify evidence-based approaches to assessing and managing cognitive symptoms in midlife women, including differentiating menopause-related changes from other conditions such as ADHD or early dementia.
Speaker
Caroline Gurvich
Deputy Director
HER Centre Australia
Perimenopause, Hormones & the Female Brain: What Cognitive and Neuropsychological Changes Mean for Assessment, Formulation and Care in Women’s Mental Health.
Abstract
Approximately two thirds of women report cognitive symptoms during perimenopause, predominantly related to memory and attention difficulties. For some women, this is a minor inconvenience, for other women, the cognitive symptoms induce anxiety, impact self-esteem and raise concerns about early onset dementia or possible attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This session will address the characterisation and assessment of cognitive symptoms during peri- and post-menopause as well as provide an update on research exploring associations between cognition, neuroendocrine changes and other menopause symptoms (such as sleep, vasomotor and mood). The session will also discuss management options for cognitive symptoms.
Biography
Caroline is an Associate Professor and a Clinical Neuropsychologist. She is the Deputy Director of HER Centre Australia, Monash University, Head of the “Cognition and Hormones Group" and Chair of the Victorian College of Clinical Neuropsychologists.
Caroline’s research interests are related to the neuropsychology of women’s mental health. She is particularly interested in how cognition and mental health can be impacted in some women at times of hormonal change, such as menopause. Caroline has over 100 publications that have contributed to a better understanding of cognition in mental health and mental illness. Caroline also works as a clinical neuropsychologist in private practice.
