Your Brain On

Your Brain On... Menopause

Apr 24, 2025
In this conversation, Lisa Mosconi, Director of the Women's Brain Initiative and author of 'The Menopause Brain', teams up with Maria Shriver, founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement. They delve into the higher Alzheimer’s risks faced by women and how menopause accelerates brain aging. The duo discusses estrogen’s protective role, the truth about hormone replacement therapy, and the impact of genetics like APOE4. They emphasize lifestyle changes—including stress management and cognitive engagement—to mitigate neurological changes during menopause.
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INSIGHT

Menopause Amplifies Alzheimer's Risk

  • Women are at twice the risk of Alzheimer's than men, not just because they live longer.
  • Hormonal and neurological changes during menopause significantly impact women's brain health.
INSIGHT

Alzheimer's Starts Decades Early

  • Alzheimer's pathology starts decades before symptoms, often in 30s and 40s.
  • The brain remains resilient and can improve if interventions start early.
INSIGHT

Estrogen's Role in Brain Metabolism

  • Estradiol is crucial for brain metabolism and neuron connectivity.
  • Menopause reduces estrogen, leading neurons to use brain fat, possibly harming white matter.
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