DeepSummary
In this episode, Dr. Lisa Mosconi, a brain scientist and expert on Alzheimer's prevention, discusses the changes that occur in a woman's brain during menopause and how this transition impacts cognitive health. She explains that menopause is not just about the ovaries, but rather a complex neuroendocrine process that rewires the brain. Dr. Mosconi shares brain scan images illustrating the reduction in brain energy metabolism during menopause.
Dr. Mosconi emphasizes the importance of lifestyle factors in managing menopausal symptoms and preventing cognitive decline. She recommends avoiding smoking, engaging in regular exercise (particularly aerobic, strength training, and flexibility exercises), and following a whole foods diet rich in antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3s. She also discusses the role of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and its potential benefits for brain health when administered during the menopausal transition.
Additionally, Dr. Mosconi explores the evolutionary perspective on menopause, suggesting that it may have evolved as a means for grandmothers to contribute to the survival and reproduction of their daughters and grandchildren. She also highlights the potential development of emotional mastery and greater empathy as a neurological adaptation during this life stage.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Menopause is a complex neuroendocrine transition that rewires the brain, resulting in changes in cognitive function and brain energy metabolism.
- Lifestyle factors such as avoiding smoking, regular exercise (aerobic, strength training, and flexibility), and a whole foods diet rich in antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3s can help manage menopausal symptoms and support brain health.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), specifically estrogen or estrogen and bioidentical progesterone, can provide cognitive benefits and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease when administered within the appropriate window during the menopausal transition.
- Menopause may have evolved as an adaptation for grandmothers to contribute to the survival and reproduction of their daughters and grandchildren, known as the 'grandmother hypothesis'.
- Neurological changes during menopause, such as the development of greater emotional mastery and empathy, may represent positive adaptations for this life stage.
- Understanding and supporting women's brain health during the pivotal transitions of puberty, pregnancy, and menopause (the 'three Ps') is crucial for overall well-being and longevity.
- Environmental toxins, processed foods, and a sedentary lifestyle may exacerbate menopausal symptoms and contribute to the early onset of puberty and menopause.
- Women's brain health and the menopausal transition have been historically understudied and underfunded, highlighting the need for more research and awareness in this area.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “So for women who do not have a uterus, usually we only prescribe estrogen, estrogen alone. For women who have a uterus, then you need to take a progesterone. It's called a progesterone in medicine, medical terms, but it's effectively progesterone.“ by Lisa Mosconi
- “So there are new neurological skills that are being developed with menopause, one of which being greater empathy and emotional mastery. And I love this. And I think we need to be aware that there's something to look forward to and really celebrate and appreciate, which is with menopause, there's one part of the brain that's called the amygdala.“ by Lisa Mosconi
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Episode Information
Dhru Purohit Show
Dhru Purohit
4/3/24
This episode is brought to you by BiOptimizers, Lumebox, and AquaTru.
Women can spend up to 40% of their lives in menopause, and we know that they often experience changes in their mood, cognition, and overall brain health during this time. But these changes aren’t discussed openly or discussed with no helpful solutions, leaving women feeling hopeless, alone, or unsupported. Today’s guest is a brain researcher here to shed light on the changes during this time and what we can do to support women entering this phase.
Today, on the Dhru Purohit Show, Dhru sits down with Dr. Lisa Mosconi to discuss what happens to a woman’s brain when she goes through menopause and the connection to Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Mosconi shares how to care for women’s brains during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, how to prevent dementia and the lifestyle habits that can help women navigate the transition into menopause.
Lisa Mosconi, PhD, is an associate professor of neuroscience in neurology and radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine and the director of the Women’s Brain Initiative and the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of The XX Brain and Brain Food.
In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Mosconi dive into (audio version / Apple Subscriber version):
- What happens to the brain during menopause (0:00:20 / 0:00:20)
- Research as validation for women’s experience (13:40 / 10:40)
- Brain changes during the 3Ps in a woman’s life (16:39 / 13:00)
- Life contentment during perimenopause and menopause (20:11 / 16:51)
- Epigenetic’s role in menopause (26:03 / 22:34)
- Lifestyle changes that are critical for optimal brain health (31:15 / 27:45)
- Three types of exercise for menopause and what they activate (37:34 / 33:32)
- What is menopause and when does perimenopause start (45:06 / 41:18)
- Lifestyle factors that cause the early onset of puberty (52:36 / 48:50)
- Environmental toxins that Dr. Mosconi removed from her home (57:30 / 53:35)
- Whole foods diet, fiber, and protein for optimal health (1:00:00 / 56:08)
- The research behind Hormone Replacement Therapy (1:21:32 / 1:17:22)
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