ADHD Drugs Show Promise for Perimenopause Brain Fog

A systematic review presented at The Menopause Society meeting found ADHD medications may improve executive function during perimenopause.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Alzheimer’s

Isometric editorial illustration of a split capsule beside a sculptural slate-blue brain form on a cream surface. — Researchers presenting at The Menopause Society meeting in San Diego said ADHD drugs lisdexamphetamine and atomoxetine improved executive function in preliminary trial evidence during perimenopause. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you ask your doctor about ADHD screening if you struggled with focus during perimenopause?

Researchers from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis presented a systematic review at The Menopause Society annual meeting, held October 20 to 24 in San Diego. The review of five studies found lisdexamphetamine and atomoxetine improved executive function in preliminary trial evidence.

Why it matters

Executive dysfunction is a common and disruptive symptom during perimenopause, and existing treatment options for it are limited. The findings point to ADHD medications as a possible targeted therapy, though the evidence base is small.

The review pooled five studies, three of them randomized crossover trials, with Brown ADD Scale totals dropping from 35.7 to 21.2 on lisdexamphetamine and from 38.6 to 25.5 on atomoxetine. Placebo comparison scores were 29.8 and 30.1, and the medications showed little effect on delayed recall or processing speed.

The players

The Menopause Society

A professional organization focused on menopause research and clinical care, which hosts an annual scientific meeting.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

A public academic medical center in Memphis, Tennessee, whose researchers conducted the systematic review.

The details

Lisdexamphetamine was associated with increased glutamate levels and neural activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right insula during working memory tasks, according to neuroimaging data. The researchers described the drugs as a novel, targeted approach to executive dysfunction during the menopausal transition.

October 20 to 24, 2025: Annual meeting of The Menopause Society held in San Diego, where the review was presented.

Health Landscape

The findings add to a growing body of research on treatments for cognitive symptoms of menopause, a area that has received less attention than hormonal therapy. The review is a preliminary step, and the five-study evidence base is too small to establish clinical use.

Any use of ADHD medication for perimenopausal symptoms would require a clinician to weigh side effects against the limited evidence. Readers experiencing executive dysfunction should discuss symptoms with a doctor rather than self-treat.

The takeaway

Cognitive symptoms during perimenopause may warrant a conversation with a clinician about all available options. Early and preliminary findings like these should be weighed as possibilities for research, not as settled treatment advice.