The Menopause Brain
Author: Lisa Mosconi, PhD
Year Published: 2024
Page Count: 264 pages – 6 hour read time.
What it’s about:
“Menopause and perimenopause are still a black box to most doctors, leaving patients exasperated as they grapple with symptoms ranging from hot flashes to insomnia to brain fog. As leading neuroscientist and women’s brain health specialist, Dr. Mosconi unravels these mysteries by revealing how menopause doesn’t just impact the ovaries – it’s a hormonal show in which the brain takes center stage.
The decline of the hormone estrogen during menopause influences everything from body temperature to mood to memory, potentially paving the way for cognitive decline later in life. To conquer these challenges successfully, Dr. Mosconi brings us the latest approaches – explaining the role of cutting-edge hormone therapies like ‘designer estrogens’; hormonal contraception; and key lifestyle changes encompassing diet, exercise, self-care, and self-talk.
Best of all, Dr. Mosconi dispels the myth that menopause signifies an end, and demonstrates that it’s actually a transition. Contrary to popular belief, if we know how to take care of ourselves during menopause, we can emerge with a renewed, enhanced brain – ushering in a meaningful and vibrant new chapter of life.”
The take aways:
After reading The Menopause Brain you’ll come away with:
- The latest data on how menopause impacts your brain health and function;
- Evidence-based hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options;
- Lifestyle interventions that are critical for your brain health and longevity;
- Confirmation that you are not going crazy!
Consider this:
“As a society, insofar as we have understood menopause at all, it’s generally only half of what it’s all about – the half that pertains to our reproductive organs. Most people are aware that menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle and, therefore, her ability to bear children. But when the ovaries close up shop, the process has far boarder and deeper effects than those associated with fertility. Far from the spotlight, menopause impacts the brain just as much as it impacts the ovaries – directly and powerfully, and in ways we are only beginning to gather real data about.
What we do know is that all these baffling symptoms – the heat surges, the feelings of anxiety and depression, the sleepless nights, the clouded thoughts, the memory lapses – are, in fact, symptoms of menopause. The real kicker, however, is that they don’t originate in the ovaries at all. They are initiated by another organ entirely: the brain. These are, in fact, neurological symptoms that come from the ways that menopause changes the brain. As much as your ovaries have their role in this process, it’s your brain that’s at the wheel.”
Why you should read this book:
Deeply researched and accessible, The Menopause Brain reassures us that menopause is not something to be dreaded. It is in fact a time of renewal, rich with opportunities and new beginnings. By understanding how and why menopause impacts the brain, we can chose the best way to manage this important transition. In addition to providing a comprehensive overview for symptom management, Dr. Mosconi also provides a roadmap for how to best take care of our brains in menopause and beyond.
