By Shannon Koehle
EmpowHer.com reporter

Memory loss is a common sign of aging that is now associated with menopause.

Often linked to symptoms that include hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, and increased stress, research and patient complaints now indicate memory loss could be an additional symptom of this natural process.

As president and founder of The American Menopause Foundation Maria Lugano says, there’s not much information to confirm or deny the connection between memory loss and menopause, but it is a symptom.

About six weeks ago, I (mostly) weaned myself off of caffeine and I can’t say that I miss it too much. I still feel like I need to have (decaf) coffee in the morning and still have (decaf) tea at night.

The benefits are that I sleep much better, wake up feeling more refreshed, am far less irritable and critical and much less forgetful. I’ll indulge in the occasional coffee at a local coffee house from time to time, but for the most part, am caffeine free.

I’ve read numerous articles and studies that caffeine is both good/ill but overall, am glad I quit.