Ladies, listen up: It’s not just you. Evidence is mounting that brain fog resulting from menopause is real, according to a study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

The study involved more than 200 participants aged 45 to 55. Researchers gave them a series of memory tests and functional MRIs to determine what’s going on. The key link? Estradiol (estra-dy-all). On average, they found that women with lower levels of estradiol, a form of estrogen produced by the ovaries, performed worse on memory tests. Lower levels of this important hormone caused more noticeable changes in brain function. Compared with premenopausal women or those going through the transition, postmenopausal women showed a different pattern of activity in the hippocampus area of the brain.

What was especially interesting to researchers were results showing that despite low estradiol levels, one-third of postmenopausal women who scored highest on the memory tests showed brain activity that resembled that of premenopausal women. The reason “why” is a question for later studies.

For now, the results should give women reassurance that their foggy memory, difficulty thinking and forgetfulness are normal signs of aging, not necessarily the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. More good news: Exercise can help. And it’s possible for brain function to bounce back after menopause.

To ease other menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, managing stress is key. Yoga, meditation and eating soy can help. Be wary of alternative treatments, and be sure to talk to your doctor about any concerns you might have.