Hormones, Midlife, and the Brain.

“First, take care of her brain,” says Dr. Carrie Jones while leading a Rupa Health boot camp about how to use DUTCH testing to evaluate and treat menopausal and peri-menopausal women.  The change in brain health during the menopausal transition, are well understood by women between the ages of 40-55 who find along with the hot flashes, night sweats, and fatigue, women often describe “brain fog.”  This lack of focus, confusion, and forgetfulness can bring on anxiety, especially if a woman is not aware of the root cause (“What You Need to Know About Hormone Therapy for Improving Memory,” 2017). 

In fact, menopause reflects not only a reproductive transition, but a neurological one as well.  The brain is “moving on” from being focused on reproduction, to one which can be markedly productive in other ways.  But, for this to happen more smoothly, many women need support through this transition  (Brinton et al., 2015).

The needed support should be individualized and varied.   First, during the pre-menopausal years, it’s important to focus on the foundations of health: Diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management.  This helps support both the brain, and the adrenal glands, which will be providing the bulk of hormones needed after menopause.   These foundations, are often enough to carry many women smoothly through the menopausal years. 

Additionally, it is important to be mindful of endocrine disrupting chemicals found in many households, skin care products and cosmetics.  You can check the safety of products you use with the Environmental Working Group (EWG).  Know which products should ideally be organic, while avoiding pesticides, and plastics. 

Whether or not to take hormone replacement is a personal decision based on health status, family history, genetic predisposition, and in consultation with a trusted provider.  At Vital Mind, we are trained with using bio-identical hormones in addition to  

Brinton, R. D., Yao, J., Yin, F., Mack, W. J., & Cadenas, E. (2015). Perimenopause as a neurological transition state. Nature Reviews. Endocrinology, 11(7), 393–405. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2015.82

What You Need to Know About Hormone Therapy for Improving Memory. (2017, August 8). Balance Hormone Center. https://www.balancehormonecenter.com/blog/hormone-therapy-for-improving-memory/