248 - The menopause brain: why it might be feeling strange and what you can do about it
Mar 19, 2024
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Dr Lisa Mosconi, world-renowned neuroscientist, discusses how hormones impact the brain during menopause. She empowers women with knowledge on why the brain may feel foggy. The podcast explores the importance of hormones in brain function and offers insights on navigating menopause.
Understanding the role of hormones in brain function is crucial during menopause, impacting cognitive processes and mental health.
Lifestyle adjustments such as diet, exercise, and stress reduction are essential for optimal brain health during menopause.
Deep dives
Lisa Musgoney's New Book: The X-X Brain - Understanding the Female Brain
Neuroscientist Lisa Musgoney shares insights into her new book, The X-X Brain, focusing on women's brain health and the impact of hormones on brain function. She discusses the brain's response to estrogen levels during menopause, emphasizing the importance of understanding the hormonal changes and their effects on mental health and cognitive function. By exploring the science behind menopause and brain health, Musgoney aims to empower women with knowledge to navigate this phase and protect their brains.
Estrogen's Role in Brain Health and Menopause
Musgoney delves into the role of estrogen as a key hormone in women's brain health, highlighting its impact on neurotransmitter synthesis and overall brain function. She explains how estrogen receptors in the brain play a crucial role in cognitive processes, neuroprotection, and energy metabolism. As estrogen levels decline during menopause, women may experience a range of neurological symptoms, from hot flashes to memory lapses, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to brain health during this transition.
Lifestyle Adjustments for Brain Health
Musgoney emphasizes the significance of consistent lifestyle adjustments for optimal brain health, promoting factors such as diet, exercise, stress reduction, and sleep. By prioritizing nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber, individuals can support cognitive function and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative conditions. The focus on sustainable lifestyle changes over quick fixes underscores the importance of long-term brain health management.
Prepare for Menopause with Knowledge and Empowerment
Musgoney advocates for proactive preparation for menopause by understanding the science behind the menopausal brain and embracing the transition as a natural phase in a woman's life. The X-X Brain provides insights into protective measures for brain health, including hormone replacement therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and a mindset shift. By equipping women with information on reproductive brain transitions, the book empowers them to navigate menopause with knowledge and confidence.
The Dr Louise Newson Podcast is celebrating two huge milestones this week: not only is the podcast five years old, we’ve hit six million downloads since Dr Louise started her podcast back in March 2019!
Making a welcome return to the podcast this week is world-renowned neuroscientist Dr Lisa Mosconi, PhD. Her new book, The Menopause Brain is released on 21 March and in it Dr Lisa shares some of the fascinating changes that occur to the brain during menopause.
In this episode, Dr Lisa explains how our understanding of the importance of hormones’ role in the brain is relatively new – man was walking on the moon almost 30 years before scientists realised that the hormones that play an important part in ovarian function also have a fundamental role in the brain.
She explains that she wrote her book to empower women with the information they need to navigate the menopause – by understanding why your brain might feel foggy and the science behind it, she hopes to reassure and enlighten.
You can follow Dr Lisa Mosconi on Instagram @dr_mosconi