The Dr Louise Newson Podcast 31 - Could it be perimenopause? How hormones influence the brain
Oct 28, 2025
Dr. Mariza Snyder, a functional medicine doctor and hormone specialist, sheds light on the often-overlooked signs of perimenopause. She discusses how hormonal fluctuations can affect mood, cognition, and trigger migraines. The conversation dives into the misdiagnosis women face and the importance of tailored hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Mariza also offers practical strategies for managing migraines through lifestyle changes, emphasizing the need for sleep, nutrition, and movement. Her insights provide clarity and action steps for navigating this transformative stage in women's health.
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Perimenopause Is A Brain Transition
- Perimenopause is a neuroendocrine transition where the brain reorganizes in response to erratic hormone shifts.
- Dr. Mariza Snyder links most perimenopausal symptoms to brain-related changes rather than just ovarian decline.
A Doctor's Personal Perimenopause Story
- Dr. Mariza Snyder watched her mother's cognitive and mood collapse during perimenopause and felt blindsided.
- She then experienced similar low stress tolerance, irritability, and dread when perimenopause hit her personally.
Symptoms Move From Cyclical To Erratic
- Symptoms often begin as cyclical but become an erratic continuum as hormones decline.
- Listening to symptom patterns helps distinguish early perimenopause from later erratic hormonal states.
