Menopause is finally in the spotlight — but most women still don’t understand what’s happening to their bodies in their late 30s, 40s, and beyond. Even worse, many doctors misdiagnose or dismiss symptoms like brain fog, night sweats, weight gain, and mood swings as “just stress.”

About Dr. Alicia Robbins:

Dr. Alicia Robbins is a board-certified Gynecologist and Lifestyle Medicine physician, founder of The Elm, and creator of The Robbins Method. She is recognized as a leading voice in perimenopause and midlife health, dedicated to providing compassionate, proactive care and rewriting the narrative on women’s midlife.

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I’m Louisa Nicola — clinical neuroscientist — Alzheimer’s prevention specialist — founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain — reducing Alzheimer’s risk — and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

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Follow Dr. Alicia Robbins

The Elm: https://theelmgreenwich.com/

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Topics discussed:

00:00:00 — Intro

00:01:32:10 — Menopause is “in the spotlight”; what’s actually happening with women’s hormones ~35+

00:02:43:11 — Ovaries as the primary source of estrogen/progesterone/testosterone

00:11:32:08 — Estrogen’s role in the brain

00:13:15:05 — With estrogen loss, chronic low-grade brain inflammation

00:15:12:17 — What replaced HRT: rise in sleep aids, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines.

00:32:55:20 — Women’s testosterone: low “total T” numbers, variable symptoms/benefit; brain fog and fatigue are multifactorial.

00:33:38:00 — Practical regimen notes: layering hormones; balance affected by stress/cortisol

00:44:14 — Longevity hype vs reality: trendy biohacks vs basics like walking, resistance training, and consistent diet

00:44:34 — Cultural/societal neglect of women’s midlife health; undervaluing cognitive preservation in women

00:45:10 — Lack of specialty in menopause medicine; OB/GYN training gaps; bias toward fertility/pregnancy funding

00:47:20 — Emerging shift: younger physicians and social media spreading awareness

00:48:15 — Longevity basics reaffirmed: lifestyle interventions are more impactful than costly interventions

00:49:00 — Empowering women to advocate for care

00:50:12 — Future outlook: preventative care, lifestyle foundations, and individualized hormone therapy for healthy aging
00:54:53: Increase in divorce rate because of hormones?

00:55:53: HRT and risk of breast cancer

00:58:11: What doctor should a woman in her late 30s/early 40s go see?

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