They Lied About Women’s Brains: The Truth Every Woman Needs to Know | Dr. Lisa Mosconi (Fan Fav)

Jun 8, 2025

Dr. Lisa Mosconi, a renowned neuroscientist and author of The XX Brain, sheds light on the often-ignored nuances of women's brain health. She tackles the alarming statistic that women are nearly twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's and criticizes the 'bikini medicine' approach that overlooks women's unique needs. Mosconi unpacks how hormonal changes, diet, and lifestyle choices impact cognitive health throughout a woman’s life, offering actionable insights on brain wellness, from puberty to menopause.

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INSIGHT

Women’s Alzheimer's Risk Overlooked

Women are almost twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer's disease, a fact rarely discussed.
A woman in her 60s has nearly double the risk of Alzheimer's versus breast cancer.

INSIGHT

The Myth of Bikini Medicine

"Bikini medicine" wrongly assumes women are men with breasts and ovaries only.
Female biology is ignored in research, leading to ineffective or dangerous treatments.

ANECDOTE

Ambien Dosage Oversight Harm

Women were prescribed Ambien based on male metabolism, resulting in overdoses.
Doses were cut in half only after insurance companies raised concerns about car crashes involving women.

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This is a Fan Fav episode. Dr. Lisa Mosconi joins me on Women of Impact to completely reframe how we think about the female brain—and debunk the damaging myth that “bikini medicine” (the idea that women are just men with breasts and ovaries) should guide our health and treatment. We dig into why women are almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s, the striking gaps in research and medical care, and the massive ways that hormones, lifestyle, and stress impact women’s cognitive health, starting from puberty through menopause and beyond.

Dr. Mosconi unpacks the science behind everything from sleep and exercise to diet, stress, and pregnancy’s overlooked impact on brain plasticity. With practical advice, radical truths, and real hope, this episode is the playbook for every woman who wants to understand—and fiercely protect—her own mind.

SHOWNOTES

Why women are nearly twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s—and why no one’s talking about it
00:01:04 – The myth of “bikini medicine” and the failure to study women’s brains
How Ambien became a dangerous example of ignoring female biology in medical research
00:07:11 – XX brain basics: Why women’s brains don’t age—or respond—like men’s
The unique risks women face: anxiety, depression, migraines, stroke, and autoimmune disorders
Puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause: How women’s brains transform across a lifetime
The impact of diet, exercise, caffeine, and hormones on the female brain (and what to do)
Why exercise lowers dementia risk by 30% for active women after 35

How stress sabotages women’s brains more than men’s—and real strategies to fight back

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FOLLOW DR. LISA MOSCONI:
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Website: https://www.lisamosconi.com/

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