What is ‘menopause brain’ and how can people navigate it? 

What’s unacceptable is that women are not told enough about perimenopause or menopause This needs to change

It's mind blowing to me that more than half of the world's population will unequivocally reach menopause provided they live long enough, but the medical community knows so little about it. Women's health is simply not a priority yet, and that makes me frustrated and sad.

I'm 46 and for a second I was excited that maybe in my lifetime we might get medical equality... then they said "Needs Congressional Approval" and I realized... Not in this lifetime.

I'm 45 and I went through menopause early in my 30's. I was getting hot flashes, forgetting my students name and what happened the day before or a few days ago. I would forget words or if i locked my house doors. It was so frustrating. Then at 40 I was depressed, had insomnia, my body aches, and I had anxiety. I talked to my primary doctor about my depression because there was no reason for me to be depressed. She suggested depression meds. I did eventually get some, but the meds just made me sick so I stopped taking it. Then a friend showed me a FB post about Menopause brain and I am so glad that I finally got some answered. I'm so thankful for this discovery!!

I’m 48, and have been in menopause for three years. My mother didn’t talk to me about menopause when she went through it, and even now she doesn’t ask me about it. I believe it’s a generational thing. I’ve been talking to women around my age or slightly older asking questions, and if their symptoms are like mine. We all agreed that there has to be more discussion on this. I have noticed that I forget easily or I have brain fog. One of my coworkers said that has happened to her during menopause. Thank goodness I’m not the only one! I thought I was losing my mind. Thank-you so much for sharing this! I’m going to be showing this to a lot of people!

I talk openly about menopause whenever I want to! It needs to be normalized. It’s not something that we need to be ashamed of. And nobody said anything to me about perimenopause causing me all kinds of problems in my 40s. And once actual menopause hit, I was not mentally prepared for that change in my body. It was drastic. My muscle tone, gone. I was just practicing yoga after being a gym rat previously. So now I am back to lifting and getting my strength back and my muscle tone. Building strength as we age is imperative in preventing injuries and being able to stand up and sit down with out the help of our arms. I teach yoga and have taught seniors and MANY people in their 70’s can not get on the floor or get up from the floor. I am reinstating my personal training certification so that I can help other menopausal women feel better in their bodies. I’ve been reading a book slowly, but surely called The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter. It’s a newer publication and very informative.

I had a total hysterectomy 3 years ago at age 44. I walked out of the hospital totally unprepared for what was to come. I couldn't afford to see my GP to get hormone replacement straight away. The hospital wouldn't see me again because I no longer had female reproductive organs. They had taken them out and so I was no longer their problem. I suffered physically and mentally since. As a result, I quit my job of 8yrs because I couldn't function, I haven't been able to keep a job since due to the mental and physical changes that have occurred. I'm completely shattered and constently exhaused, depressed with crippling anxiety. If I knew then what I know now, I would have considered not having the hysterectomy and continued to endure the pain from endo and adenomyosis. I would have continued on heavy pain medications. At least I would still be functioning as a normal person, as a professional and earning money. I wouldn't be ashamed to show my face in public, I wouldn't have put on 30kg, and I wouldn't be too scared to talk to people. Women, health services, and society, are unprepared for menopausal woman. Three years on, I am still trying to find the best HRT for me. Two medications I had started have been discontinued, and I can't afford many others. I hate being a woman, just for the fact that ever since becoming one, I and many others have suffered.

My doctor said if men went through menopause they’d be a lot more research, support and acceptance of treatments like HRT. Women have committed suicide over menopausal symptoms. I’m on HRT, it’s not cheap but my quality of life is so much better.

The brain fog really shocked me. Worried me actually. Fortunately it didn’t last. Eventually it did subside but it was really worrying for a while.

Thank you for reporting on this. We need much more coverage and study on this stage of women’s health.

It’s so great to hear that this female doctor is doing women’s menopause research! I hope she’s researching brains with estrogen and brains without estrogen! It will be exciting to see the results: especially since studies have already proven that estrogen (bHRT) hormone replacement therapy reduces risk of dementia by 70% 😮

I'm going through this right now and all I can do is come at it with a sense of humor. So many "weird" things happen, some so shocking I can't even write it on YT but, I am actually excited for this change because I know, I'll be even better when I'm older. I'm embracing it as a badge of honor even in the sense that there is little info. So much beauty in aging gracefully. From reproductive to productive, I am seeing this in real time in my own life. Take courage ladies, we are amazing and will continue to be amazing.

In 2019 I went into surgical menopause in my 30s. Im glad the conversation is better now. There really still are no resources for someone in my position. It’s taken 4 years to get my hormones under control.

Finally someone cares!!! ❤❤❤

Menopause is not an effing rite of passage. It's an effing NIGHTMARE!!! We should be learning about this in KINDERGARTEN so that we can plan our lives accordingly. If I had known how menopause would wreck my life I would have made completely different life decisions. Our education system has FAILED us!!!

I am 47 and started HRT a month ago. It has been a gamechanger, along with working on my gut health and raising my low vitamin D and iron levels. I haven't had hot flashes, but the brain fog, insomnia, and exhaustion were too much for me.

I'm 50 and I just started. I'm a mess right now. My husband asked me for the divorce, my teenagers children are out of control and everyday I got something new one me like the myoma that I need to operate soon. But apart from all of that I'm happy to be alive and to see my kids growing and still having my mother (my best friend) around . But the best thing to me is, I don't have the bloody period anymore,Gosh!

I am 49. Premenopausal. I am very anxious about going through full menopause. Thank you for this information.

I was 50 in late 2010 when i started having hot flashes among other symptons. Insomnia, anxiety, I never had brain fog though. I am so glad that menopause is getting attention now and many women will be able to get the help they deserve!

Estrogen research has mostly been done on men? W-T-F. I knew this before but it still blows my mind. Our society is WARPED. It has to get better.

Temperature regulation :/ I’m 54. Feel like I’m freezing and can’t get warm. Get in the tub to warm up and then feel too hot 😒I hope things get better, sounds hopeful 🌼

Thank you for this post! I started having menopause systems at the age of 41 years old and it’s such a difficult thing to deal with!🙏♥️

Post menopausal here Just got fired recently Was making uncharacteristic errors and issues with problem-solving, attention, etc Irony is I talked to my gynecologist, told her it was negatively impacting my job and so got hormone replacement pellets 2 weeks before losing my job Too little too late 😐

I am 47 and I am now goung through perimenopause. I haven't had a cycle in 3 months. Here are some things that help me with perimenopause : 1. I fill up on lots of fresh fruits and fresh vegetables 2. I fill up on herbs like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, basil, cilantro, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, garlic, cayenne pepper, black pepper etc.. 3. I cut out refined sugar and refined flour and fast food and anything processed 4. I fill up on chickpeas, tempeh, edamame, lentils, tofu, kidney beans, black beans, navy beans, white beans, any kind of beans for protein, flaxseeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, all unsalted 5. I use vegan and fragrance free and unscented body butters, body oils, body washes, face creams etc.. made of natural ingredients like coconut, turmeric, honey, cucumber, oatmeal or oats, 6. I drink coconut water, herbal teas, and limit 2 cups of coffee per day 7. I very rarely wear makeup/cosmetics but when I do, I look for vegan makeup /cosmetics made with natural ingredients like coconut oil, amla oil, avocado, turmeric, cucumber etc.. 8. I don't smoke 9. I don't drink alcohol 10. I am a vegetarian 11. I eat quinoa, farro, brown rice 12. I am trying to learn some new languages to keep my brain active 13. I am trying to learn how to play a musical instrument ( learning how to play a musical instrument works the brain muscle)( well, technically I am trying to recollect and relearn whatever I learnt in my childhood on playing the piano) 14. I am walking around the house and trying to do cardio, such as walking, climbing stairs etc.. When the weather is good, I plan to walk outside in our subdivision 15. I am using soup cans to gain strength in my up body for strength training 16. I try to get enough sleep everyday. Most of the time, I am pretty good with sleep. But some days, I wake up at 3am, 2am etc.. 17. I try to flex my muscles and try to keep my bones strong 18. I eat plain Greek yogurt and plain yogurt without sugar 19. I only wear fabrics that are made of natural fibers like cotton, linen, fleece, cashmere, wool, silk 20. I consume flours like einkorn and chickpea flour which are easy to digest I still get itchy skin, sometimes red rashes on my body but natural body butters and body oils help along with a healthy diet, my hair has thinned and I do suffer hairloss I do get fatigue, tiredness, etc.. I relax and sleep as much as possible I do get frequent urination and I try to fill up on high water content fruits and vegetables and coconut water to cleanse my system It's difficult but this is what needs to be done

The hot flashes are not just that for me. It’s this profuse sweating that comes and suddenly my back is all wet. It’s exhausting and limiting as well.

Thank you! We're not crazy, hysterical, or imagining things. HRT isn't the devil or natural remedies if that's what YOU want. Let's just take care of ourselves ladies - we deserve it! ❤✌🏾

I remember as a child fearing menopause because I was always told that women become crazy with menopause!

I'm 55. It sucks. Help us. Getting older is natural. Suffering shouldn't be. Fix this, scientists. Please.

I've learned a lot from DR. MARIE CLAIRE HAVER! She's also on the front line doing the work!!!

If you have PMDD, symptoms are magnified 100%! Let's do some studies on that?!

I would love to see Women bring forth their WISDOM rather than aiming to stay looking young and fertile. Older Women can offer so much from their lifetime.

So happy to see Maria and that more people are talking about menopause!

Ketovore/ carnivore lifestyle has helped me tremendously. Definitely a game changer in my post menopause journey. I'm 55 and have kept 40 pounds off for three years now. I do intermittent fasting too. Don't believe the fake studies about that. It works and is good for you.

Thanks for sharing this information! Very interesting.

I started hormone replacement pellet therapy, and it's made a huge difference in my brain fog, energy, and libido! I have felt more normal in the last six months, than in the last three years prior!

This story gives me hope for the future of women’s health. Thank you for sharing this!

Along with all the usual symptoms, can we talk about the migraines that came along with peri menopause?! I can’t be the only one who is suffering.

Menopause nearly made me feel like I was mental. Hrt changed my life

I have called it “meno brain “ for years, friends would laugh at me calling it that. Who knew it was actually the name of it?😂

It’s the loss of estrogen causing the changes in the brain .

Thank you for talking about this!!!

Thank you so much for covering this topic! It is so critical.

Completely makes sense. We are chemical factories - we have baby brain and menopause brain - all hormones

Thank you Maria! Great report!! I really appreciate your work in this area!

Going through perimenopause right now. I definitely have the impression that I am a lot less "emotionally driven" which I assume is related to a drop in estrogen (and other hormones). I still have my period fairly regularly (I'm 53) but feel less "up and down". I do have less energy overall. However, because there's less going on "emotionally" to some degree, I simply prioritize my important activities more. I just "struggle less". It doesn't make sense to me to perceive menopause being all about "loss" or losing faculties/abilities. I think it's freeing. I am gaining perspective and I am still young enough to achieve something.

Thank you, thank you!

A brain-centered approach is so important….just as Dr. Amen also says

Estrogen trials studies on men? Wow. Imagine if testosterone studies for men were done on women. Glad to hear about the new data and excited for the yet unknown discoveries about the female brain.

I didn’t take hormones after menopause because of the history of cancer in my family. I suffered from brain fog and terrible insomnia that made me unfit for work. Poverty, boredom and depression ensued. And you know what? I got cancer anyway! 😂

It would be wonderful to know the truth about different hormonal therapies so that women could make informed decisions about what to take and what to avoid.

Definitely overdue! Thank you for advocating.

Man Maria’s hair is amazing! ❤

Thank you so much for explaining why im feeling what im feeling

I’m 50 and never had negative symptoms. Rather started feeling more free, productive, and enjoyable my life than before. I can feel the positive change in my brain. Hopefully more studies and researches will be done to find out what causes the difference between women who have symptoms and don’t. If it can be preventable, we can lessen the fear and anxiety many women have to go through.

Thank you!

All I want to do is sleep since menopause.

I am 11 years in post menopause, and I am tired of menopause,it is giving me great beating,I just wish It would go away for sure

According to my studies and theories being analyzed, its not that we "no longer need" those neurons; rather those parts of the body shut down due to not enough energy. Literally every bit of observational knowledge & data we have repeatedly demonstrates this. Im grateful for the study and the imaging but to suggest certain neurons, and especially oir reproduction system, shut down because we no longer need them is absolutely wild.

Not all of us have hot flashes, depression, etc. That fact should be included when discussing what's "normal".

Wow this is so interesting....thank you

I am 71 and have been on hormone replacement patches (Estradiol) since a hysterectomy when I was in my early 50's. I just went off the patch 2 months ago and I'm a mess! Brain fog, hot flashes, bumping into things and dropping things, tired all the time, gaining weight even though I'm hardly eating, etc. Will this get better? Are my bones going to get brittle soon? I am officially an old lady and this isn't fun.

MARIA! Ohh, it’s so nice to see her🙏🏽💕

Love this.

Maria’s hair looks great!

Brilliant 👏🏽

Thank you!!

This is great information. I just wish she hadn’t disparaged the idea of taking a low dose SSRI (a class of antidepressants). Doctors aren’t prescribing them to shut women up. SSRI’s have been shown to actually help with the symptoms.

My mothers generation was the never mention menopause, periods or reproductive possibilities generation. I'm way past all of the above and had to become a learn as you live type a gal. Magnesium really helped me yet it was tough. This is amazing news. 🎉Spread the word!

I adore Maria!

I’ve been through menopause and I now feel great I feel so much better in myself and I didn’t take any medication through it . I wish it had happened sooner I feel that good now so don’t fear it embrace it

Much need coverage, thank you for this GMA. Congress better be ready to approve. Time for action.

awesome video, Tracy- would love to hear what your doctor has to say about HRT.

This woman’s book is great. It’s called Menopause Brain by Lisa Mosconi.

Peri stage currently and it’s like my life has been hijacked! During conversations I loose my train of thought. I’m clumsy. I can’t sleep. Not a good time. 😢

I embraced menopause! I use to have awful monthly's, I had fibroid tumors in my uterus and because of that I had extremely heavy flows. I would be house bound for day's and would have to use a super plus tampon and an over night pad with a towel under me, just in case. I also had very bad cramps, like early labor pains that is until I started large doses of vitamin E and evening primrose, which really helps by the way. I tell you now I enjoy my clean under wear with no stains and my like wise stain free sheets!

Look up Mary Claire Haver , author of Galveston Diet and menopause research

Hot flushes disappeared when my wife quit sugar… Which explains why asian typically did not suffer from those : they culturally did not eat as much sugar. Not sure it’s still true nowadays. So this symptom definitely is avoidable without any medication or hormones (that can cause cancers)

Menopause seems to be either a mere breeze or the world’s scourge. Not many speak of it as manageable. We can educate ourselves about lifestyle changes, available traditional and non-traditional medical options, nutrition etc. It takes work to find right combo of strategies for each individual, but the effort’s well worth it. Then turn around and share your findings with others…

Finalmente se ne parla!

😮that is awesome

Thank you

Went through menopause at 46. Never had a problem or a symptom. My best guess is that it’s my plant-based diet that made it so easy.

My advice was deleted. Do not take SSRI for menopause. I'm not repeating the remainder.

What are you ladies doing to manage perimenopause

I literally feel my memories evaporating from my brain. No joke. I don't see me getting "better".

HRT for me. I like my brain fine as it is.

All of this is understanding and learning more about human physiology...men have their "changes" too. I think the biggest issue/problem surrounding menopause is hormone replacement.

I actually went crazy. No help, no understanding.

I had to have a full hysterectomy at 34 and because I had a random blood clot in a portal vein of my liver (probably related to the surgery it resolved), I am not on any hormones. I hope we figure this out lol. I’m 40 now. I workout regularly and feel good… I am definitely looking forward to the new information!

This was vague.

YES! Thank you! Woop! Woop! 👏🤭🤗🥳 Better AFTER than before 🧠. YES! YES! YES! 🛡️🧠🛡️

This is nothing new. This is no game changer. Heard about this 10 years ago already....

Under 40 already in menopause , happened after stopping pharmaceuticals abruptly.

So for our young women using birth control where their periods stop or not have a monthly flow …. Is this harmful to the brain in the long run?

Let's see....we have a pediatrician until we are aged 18, then an OBGYN until we die. The fact that there is NO gynecologist specialty for menopausal women is sickening. I went to a physician assistant last week to see if she knew any OBGYN who specializes in older women's health. She said, "no", and to ask my Primary Care Physician for help with my perimenopausal symptoms. Really? My PCP is a dude. He's knew of no help for me either. Perimenopause is like the last frontier of medicine and no doctor wants to be a pioneer. Being a woman sucks!

I think menopause has a lot to do with the divorce rate. Men don't understand us or give us grace and help us through it. I'm finally in full menopause and glad perimenopause is over! For me, I had intense hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, depression, brain fog and major hair loss. I've been on HRT for about 6 months and feel much, much better. Wish I had asked my doctor sooner for it.

A right of passage to what? It effin sucks!

2:07 when she goes into shrinkage being good for the brain during "transitions" I am surprised she didn't mention the biological process of Synaptic Pruning. Which explains shedding and restructuring.

My body and brain really feel no different after menopause, except minus menstruation. And to that, good riddance. I love menopause.

My great grandmother, my grandmother, my great aunts and my sisters all “survived” a natural process in aging. Nobody took hormones yet we all ate healthy and walked a lot. No gimmicks or nerd of pharmacy. Menopause is not an illness.