The Ugly Side of Menopause

According to the Women’s Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell Medicine, Menopause is a defining time for about 6 million women 65 and over who will get Alzheimer’s Disease.

This has to do with genetics and women living older than men.

When women go through the end of fertility, we have changes in the brain and ovaries. While the majority of women will be fine and not face long term problems. But, for 20% of women who will get Alzheimer’s Disease, estrogen will plummet, and their menopause symptoms will include mood disruptions, hot flashes, and mild decline in cognition and memory.

Scans show lower volume in menopausal brains compared with male brains of the same age and pre-menopausal brain.

Experts stress there are some things that are very important to ward off Alzheimer’s Disease.

• Hormone therapy helps with sleep, mood, and quality of life.  Talk to your doctor to see if this is all right for you.

• Consistent exercise.  Being active lowers the risk for neurodegenerative diseases. The Women’s Brain Initiative found that brain scans of active seniors had fewer bio marks for Alzheimer’s Disease than the bran scans of sedentary people.

 • Diet Matter.  Experts agree that a Mediterranean Diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, olives, beans, fish and complex grains is the way to eat. 

Preliminary information shows that certain gut bacteria are nourished by a diet based on plants and may help balance estrogen levels in our bodies.

Many of these lifestyle changes take time.

Please contact Health Advocate Experts if you or someone you know has questions or has other issues you need help with. 

Fill out a contact form on our website: healthadvocateexperts.com or call us at 858-299-5025