Everyday Wellness with Cynthia Thurlow ™

BONUS: Understanding Menopause: Hormonal Shifts in Women's Brains with Dr. Lisa Mosconi

Sep 30, 2024

Dr. Lisa Mosconi, an Associate Professor of Neuroscience and a leading voice in women's health, sheds light on the profound changes women's brains undergo during menopause. She discusses the historical neglect of women's health research and the alarming consequences of medical gaslighting. The conversation highlights hormonal roles like estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone and suggests lifestyle interventions and evolving treatments. Dr. Mosconi emphasizes the need for greater awareness and cultural support for women navigating these life transitions.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 4min

Hormones and Brain Health in Women

03:51 • 13min

Navigating Digestive Health in Menopause

17:12 • 9min

Metabolic Changes in Women's Brains During Menopause

25:49 • 19min

Exploring Clean Protein and Hormonal Health

44:42 • 2min

Navigating Menopause: HRT and Lifestyle Changes

47:02 • 14min

Celebrating New Insights in Women's Health

01:01:24 • 2min

I am delighted and honored today to interview Dr. Lisa Mosconi. She is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience in neurology and radiology at Cornell Medicine and Director of the Women's BRAIN Initiative and the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital. She is also a globally acclaimed neuroscientist with a Ph.D. in neuroscience and nuclear medicine and the author of the New York Times bestseller The XX Brain and, more recently, The Menopause Brain.

In our conversation, we discuss how women’s brains change during perimenopause and menopause, looking at the significance of puberty, pregnancy, and perimenopause, as well as the lack of medical research on women and medical gaslighting. We explore the concept of bikini medicine and its misconceptions regarding women's health and hormones alongside the crucial roles of hormones like estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone in our neuroendocrine system. Dr. Mosconi also provides insights into evolving menopausal treatments, including lifestyle interventions.

Dr. Mosconi is an esteemed figure in neuroscience and a prominent voice in women's health. I am confident you will gain valuable insights and perspectives from my discussion with her today.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

How women's brains change during perimenopause and menopause
How the lack of information for young girls can lead to medical gaslighting and confusion during perimenopause
Dr. Mosconi explains how a simple sugar is used as a tracer to track glucose metabolism in the brain during perimenopause
Why brain changes during menopause may lead to mental fatigue and brain fog
How the lack of training and research on menopause in medical residency programs leads to a poor understanding among clinicians
Why women need to consider their brain and metabolic health during perimenopause
Why estrogen is essential after menopause
The benefits of HRT for menopausal women
How stress impacts hormone production

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn
Check out Cynthia’s website
Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com

Connect with Dr. Lisa Mosconi

On her website
On Instagram