What You Should Know About the Link Between Hormones and Brain Fog

It can feel frustrating when your memory slips or your focus fades halfway through the day. While it’s easy to dismiss as a bad night’s sleep or stress, brain fog often has a physiological root. 

Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and pregnenolone help regulate memory, focus, and energy. When these hormone levels shift or decline, especially during menopause or andropause, the effects can ripple into how your brain works day to day. In these cases, supporting your hormonal balance may make a difference. 

Pellecome offers clinically developed supplements and BHRT (bio-identical hormone replacement therapy) delivery systems. Our company was founded by Dr. Enrique Jacome, a board-certified OB-GYN with decades of experience in hormone therapy. His vision was to improve hormone balancing through precise dosing, making it easier for more people to experience real relief from various symptoms, including brain fog.

How Hormones Affect Brain Function

Each of these hormones plays a distinct role in keeping your brain sharp. When levels are off, your mental clarity can suffer. Here’s a closer look:

• Estrogen: Supports verbal memory, attention span, and mood. A decline during menopause is strongly linked to forgetfulness and brain fog.¹
• Progesterone: Has a calming effect on the brain. Low levels may lead to sleep issues and trouble concentrating.²
• Testosterone: Helps with mental energy, motivation, and memory, especially in men, but also in women. A drop may contribute to slower recall and reduced focus.³
• Pregnenolone: Often called a “mother hormone” because it’s the precursor to many others. It plays a role in memory formation, stress response, and overall cognitive resilience.⁴
• DHEA: A precursor hormone involved in the production of estrogen and testosterone. DHEA and its sulfate form (DHEA-S) have shown some positive correlations with cognitive functions like working memory, attention, and verbal fluency, particularly in women.⁵

When these hormones decline due to aging, menopause, or other health factors, the brain can start to feel foggy.

Finding Relief Through Supplementation and BHRT

For some, supporting hormonal balance through supplements or bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) may help clear the fog. Pellecome offers scientifically developed supplements like pregnenolone and DHEA, along with BHRT options using estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone.

Pellecome-trained professionals across the United States work with these hormones regularly, and your provider will personalize your therapy to match your body’s needs.

If brain fog is interfering with your daily life, find a Pellecome provider near you who may be able to help you reconnect with clarity and focus.

1. Hampson E. Estrogens, aging, and working memory. Curr Psychiatry Rep [Internet]. 2018;20(12):109. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0972-1 
2. Berent-Spillson A, Briceno E, Pinsky A, Simmen A, Persad CC, Zubieta J-K, et al. Distinct cognitive effects of estrogen and progesterone in menopausal women. Psychoneuroendocrinology [Internet]. 2015;59:25–36. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.04.020 
3. Yeap BB, Flicker L. Testosterone, cognitive decline and dementia in ageing men. Rev Endocr Metab Disord [Internet]. 2022;23(6):1243–57. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11154-022-09728-7 
4. Lin YC, Cheung G, Espinoza N, Papadopoulos V. Function, regulation, and pharmacological effects of pregnenolone in the central nervous system. Curr Opin Endocr Metab Res [Internet]. 2022;22(100310):100310. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coemr.2021.100310 
5. de Menezes KJ, Peixoto C, Nardi AE, Carta MG, Machado S, Veras AB. Dehydroepiandrosterone, its sulfate and cognitive functions. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health [Internet]. 2016;12(1):24–37. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1745017901612010024