How menopause affects the brain | Lisa Mosconi

Women's Brains: A Neuroscientist's Perspective

In this talk, a neuroscientist discusses the differences between women's and men's brains and how these differences can impact women's health, particularly during menopause.

Women's Brains and Gendered Brain Myth

• There is no such thing as a gendered brain. Pink and blue stereotypes have nothing to do with how our brains are built.

Gender Differences in Brain Health

• Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders, depression, headaches, migraines, and Alzheimer's disease. Two-thirds of all people suffering from Alzheimer's disease are women.

The Role of Menopause in Brain Aging

• Our brains age differently, and menopause plays a key role in women's brain aging. The interactions between the reproductive system and the brain are crucial for brain aging in women. Hormones like estrogen have an impact on brain function and energy production.

Effects of Estrogen Decline during Menopause

• Estrogen decline during menopause leads to neurological symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, memory lapses, depression, and anxiety. These symptoms start in the brain rather than the ovaries. The hypothalamus, brain stem, amygdala, and hippocampus are particularly affected by estrogen levels during menopause.

Brain Energy Levels during Menopause

• Brain energy levels decline by 30% after menopause compared to before menopause. This decline is not observed in middle-aged men of the same age group. Women's brains in midlife are more sensitive to hormonal aging than chronological aging.

Validation and Support

• Women experiencing changes in their cognitive abilities during menopause are not crazy. It is important to validate these changes and provide support for women going through this transition.

Cognitive Performance in Middle-Aged Women

This section discusses the cognitive performance of middle-aged women during menopause.

Cognitive Performance Study

• Studies show that cognitive performance in middle-aged women is affected by menopause, regardless of age. Brain energy levels decline during the transition into menopause, leading to changes in cognitive abilities.

Importance of Understanding Changes

• Understanding these changes is crucial as many women can feel the impact on their cognitive abilities. It is essential to acknowledge and validate these experiences rather than dismissing them as mere tricks of the mind.

Conclusion

The talk highlights that while there are no gendered brains, there are differences between women's and men's brains that can impact health, particularly during menopause. The decline in estrogen levels during menopause affects brain energy levels and can lead to neurological symptoms and changes in cognitive performance. It is important to recognize and support women going through these transitions.

New Section

In this section, the speaker discusses the association between estrogen decline and the formation of amyloid plaques in relation to Alzheimer's disease. They also highlight that middle-aged men have fewer plaques compared to women during the transition to menopause.

Estrogen Decline and Amyloid Plaques

• The decline in estrogen levels may promote the formation of amyloid plaques or Alzheimer's plaques.

• Brain scans show that middle-aged men have fewer plaques compared to women during the transition to menopause.

• Not all women develop these plaques, and having them is a risk factor but not a diagnosis for dementia.

New Section

This section focuses on the connection between Alzheimer's disease and menopause. The speaker explains that negative changes in the brain leading to Alzheimer's can start years before clinical symptoms appear, with midlife and menopause being crucial stages.

Alzheimer's Disease and Menopause

• Studies indicate that Alzheimer's disease begins with negative brain changes years before symptoms manifest.

• For women, this process seems to start during midlife, specifically during menopause.

• Understanding this timeline provides an opportunity to identify early changes associated with Alzheimer's.

New Section

Here, the speaker discusses factors that can influence the timing of menopause and how certain medical interventions like hysterectomy or oophorectomy (removal of uterus/ovaries) correlate with a higher risk of dementia in women.

Timing of Menopause and Medical Interventions

• Most women experience menopause in their early 50s, but it can occur earlier due to medical interventions.

• Hysterectomy or oophorectomy performed before menopause increases the risk of dementia in women.

• It is important for women to be aware of this correlation and seek better understanding of brain changes during menopause.

New Section

The speaker emphasizes the need to understand how menopause, whether natural or medical, affects the brain and how to protect it. They address the question of whether hormonal therapy can help protect the brain but clarify that it is currently not recommended for dementia prevention.

Protecting the Brain during Menopause

• Hormonal therapy can alleviate symptoms like hot flashes but is not recommended for dementia prevention.

• Ongoing research aims to test different formulations, dosages, and time frames for hormonal therapy.

• In addition to medication, lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management play a crucial role in supporting hormone balance and brain health.

New Section

This section focuses on lifestyle factors that can impact hormones and their effects on the brain. The speaker highlights the importance of diet, specifically mentioning the Mediterranean diet's positive impact on women's health.

Lifestyle Factors Impacting Hormones

• The Mediterranean diet has been shown to support women's health by reducing cognitive decline, depression, heart disease, stroke risk, cancer risk, and hot flashes.

• Foods rich in phytoestrogens (estrogens from plants) found in this diet have mild estrogen-like effects in our bodies without increasing cancer risk.

• Stress reduction is crucial as high cortisol levels can lower estrogen levels. Managing stress positively impacts both daily life and brain health.

New Section

The speaker concludes by emphasizing that changing our understanding of the female brain leads to better care and framing of women's health. They encourage women to demand information about protecting their brains during menopause.

Changing Perspectives on Women's Health

• Understanding the female brain differently influences how we care for it and approach women's health.

• Women should seek information about protecting their brains during menopause.

• While hormonal therapy is not currently recommended for dementia prevention, lifestyle factors such as diet, stress management, exercise, and sleep play a significant role in brain health.

The transcript was provided in English.