The Menopause Brain Quotes

“So here’s the million-dollar question: To what degree does menopause also deliver a customized update to your brain’s operating system? It is plausible that as the brain approaches menopause, it gets another chance to go leaner and meaner, discarding information and skills it no longer needs while growing new ones. For starters, some of the brain-ovary connections necessary to make babies are no longer needed, so arrivederci to that. But also all the neurologically expensive skills we reviewed in the last chapter—decoding baby talk, subduing temper tantrums, and high-level multitasking—are not as relevant once your birdie has flown the coop. They are still helpful, but not urgent. It only makes sense, then, that the brain would eventually start pruning away those expired connections—and what better biological clue to do so than menopause. Again, many believe that, as this latest and greatest brain update unfolds, that’s when hot flashes, brain fog, and other bothersome symptoms kick in. Once the update is complete, the symptoms start dissipating (which may take longer than the other two P’s because now we are . . . well, older). All this information is helpful to place menopause under a much broader lens. But where are the bonuses? Could it be that the menopausal brain morph might better equip us for our later years? Could menopause come with its own ingenuity, proving instrumental in preparing women for a new role in life as in society? Despite society having turned a blind eye toward any menopausal perks, there is increasing evidence that this profound hormonal event also bestows new meaning and purpose on women. HAPPINESS IS NOT A MYTH AFTER ALL Any major life transition can be a chance at reawakening, even if the road is rough.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Fun fact: At first, all children’s brains appear exactly the same—female. Yes, you heard right. Female is nature’s default brain setting. (Take that, too, Darwin.) It’s only after a surge in testosterone that boys’ brains begin to take on male attributes, which, if you recall from the previous chapter, means they become wired to respond more to testosterone.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Many lines of evidence indicate that women’s brains have the remarkable, much underestimated, yet-to-be-celebrated ability to adapt to menopause. This information is just the beginning of unlocking menopause’s secrets and upgrading our experience of this important milestone in every woman’s life. 6 Putting Menopause in Context: The Three P’s”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Blood tests are particularly tricky for women in perimenopause, since the hormone levels change throughout the cycle, and the cycle is now irregular, which only increases the variability.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Blood tests can be helpful but are not necessary to diagnose menopause.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Over time, our investigations yielded a treasure trove of data, demonstrating that it’s not just brain energy that changes during menopause but that the brain’s structure, regional connectivity, and overall chemistry are also impacted.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“menopause is a neurologically active process that impacts the brain in fairly unique ways.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“All women, menopausal or not, possess an organ that has been largely ignored: the brain.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“On the other hand, common antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) do not work as well for menopausal symptoms as the other antidepressants listed.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)—have also shown efficacy in menopausal women. In clinical trials, desvenlafaxine was shown to reduce hot flashes by 62 percent and to lessen their severity by 25 percent.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Surgical menopause is a far more challenging experience for most women compared to spontaneous menopause.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Oprah Winfrey once said: “So many women I’ve talked to see menopause as a blessing. I’ve discovered that this is your moment to reinvent yourself after years of focusing on the needs of everyone else.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Blood tests are unnecessary for those aiming to use hormones for symptom relief. This is because we are not treating hormone levels. We are treating the symptoms of menopause, which do not correlate with hormone levels. You may have symptoms even if your hormones are within normal range, and you may have very low estrogen and no symptoms”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“On the other end of the spectrum are high-glycemic carbs, possessing a high dose of sugar, likely refined sugar at that, and little to no fiber. These foods, sometimes labeled “bad” carbs, trigger spikes in blood sugar levels, making it hard for your body’s insulin to metabolize so much quick sugar at once. Over time, this exhausts your pancreas, causing insulin resistance. Insulin resistance inflames your body and its systems, posing a risk factor for metabolic disorders, diabetes, and heart disease. It can also harm estrogen production, the last thing anyone needs. Great examples of high-glycemic carbs aren’t just the obvious ones like packaged treats, sugary cookies, commercial pastries, and candies.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“However, contrary to popular belief, while aging may cause weight gain, menopause itself does not. It can, however, increase your belly fat. How so? Fluctuating levels of estrogen can trigger fat storage in the body, and the belly is the storage shed. However inconvenient this may seem, there is a method to this madness. As ovarian production of estradiol slows down, our body relies on belly fat tissue to produce estrone, estrogen’s backup. We actually need that belly fat to ensure that some estrogen production continues as we age. However, while having enough body fat can help maintain our hormonal health, too much can cause other problems, as we know. This shift can result in an apple body shape, usually accompanied by a buildup of visceral fat—a stealth fat that collects around internal organs, increasing the risk of heart disease and metabolic disorders.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“When it comes to lifestyle, menopause is a great moment to select new healthy habits and to keep consistent with positive current ones. In this spirit, I want you to think of your brain as a muscle. You can incorporate behaviors that strengthen the brain, just as you train your muscles. You can exercise it, feed it properly, take care of it properly—and when you do, your brain will perform much better for you, at any age. Things like eating a nutritious diet, avoiding toxins, and keeping stress under control can really make a difference, as do exercise, sleep, and a mindset fueled with facts, not fiction. Your body and brain will take care of you if you take care of them. Harnessing this prescribed lifestyle’s power can influence how your brain responds to menopause, making you feel better, lighter, and brighter on your way. If”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Feeling mentally slower than usual; taking longer to finish things, feeling disorganized, with slower thinking and processing Trouble learning new things Trouble multitasking Fumbling for the right word or phrase, like being unable to find the right words to finish a sentence”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Today, in the medical field, chemo brain is referred to as cancer-treatment-related cognitive impairment, cancer-related cognitive change, or post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment. I am not a fan of the word impairment in these phrases for reasons we’ll discuss in a moment, but nonetheless, chemo brain is a symptom reported by as many as 75 percent of cancer patients. It is often described as difficulty processing information and feeling as if you can’t think as quickly and as clearly as you did before you had cancer or started treatment. Everyday tasks require more concentration and take more time and effort to take care of. As you may have noticed, this is not too dissimilar from the brain fog experienced by”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“In clinical trials, desvenlafaxine was shown to reduce hot flashes by 62 percent and to lessen their severity by 25 percent. Escitalopram reduced hot flash severity by about 50 percent. On the other hand, common antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) do not work as well for menopausal symptoms as the other antidepressants listed.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Currently, the SSRI paroxetine (the brand name is Brisdelle) is approved by the FDA for the treatment of moderate to severe menopausal hot flashes and night sweats. Low-dose paroxetine can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweats, while also improving sleep, without negative effects on libido or weight gain.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“You have reduced sex drive, depression, and fatigue after surgically induced menopause, and estrogen therapy hasn’t relieved your symptoms.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Women with low testosterone levels may also experience symptoms of anxiety, irritability, depression, fatigue, memory changes, and insomnia. Additionally, while it is true that testosterone declines are typically due to the aging process rather than to spontaneous menopause, induced menopause can be associated with a much more abrupt loss of testosterone, which can be quite challenging.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“For example, paroxetine, an antidepressant medication, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for managing hot flashes. Other antidepressants, as well as medications like gabapentin and clonidine, also show evidence of efficacy in relieving menopausal symptoms. Just recently, in 2023, the FDA approved fezolinetant, a novel nonhormonal medication designed to treat moderate to severe hot flashes. Discussing all available options is essential to ensure that all women have access to appropriate and effective treatments for their own individual needs and circumstances.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Surgical menopause is a far more challenging experience for most women compared to spontaneous menopause. Unfortunately, little thought or preparation is given to those undergoing this procedure, who are often left in the dark as to what happens afterward. So it’s really important to underline that HRT is a viable choice for many women experiencing early menopause following oophorectomy. Experts believe that eligible patients should be encouraged to start HRT as soon as possible after surgery and to stay on HRT at least until the average age of menopause, approximately age fifty-one.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Further, dozens of studies since then have provided reassurance that for healthy women experiencing the symptoms of menopause, the benefits of taking hormones—given at lower doses and often via the transdermal route—generally outweigh the risks.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“But the researchers’ work was further enlightened by a shift observed as the younger women went on to have children. A pattern quickly emerged that revealed coalitions of grandmothers covering all gathering and feeding responsibilities. Since then, many studies of modern hunter-gatherers have shown that grandma is doing much of the work the world over. Although these women are no longer reproductive, they remain markedly productive in providing food and carrying out the chores that keep a village running. By doing so, the grandmothers were at the heart of keeping their people safe not only by ensuring their food supply was secured and abundant, but also by maximizing reproduction potential and the passing on of genes so precious to human evolution.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“What if evolution isn’t as misogynistic as those who conceived of it? Perhaps nature doesn’t measure a woman’s worth based on her ability to crank out as many children as humanly possible. If you start thinking outside the box, as one so often must do with women’s health, an alternative hypothesis starts taking shape. What if evolutionary forces are still behind menopause, but this time, they favor women for once?”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“This broader, wiser view is built right into the brain of a grandmother, acting as a backup for her child while prioritizing the preciousness of unrestricted love. Personally, what I like most about these findings is the view of women’s responsibilities changing through our lifespan, whether one has biological children and grandchildren or doesn’t. I am moved by how many of us fulfill multiple roles, often beyond blood ties—and how our brains appear to adjust and adapt to the current circumstances, at all ages and in all walks of life. In this spirit, in the next chapter we will spotlight how women’s brains continue to kaleidoscope into fresh talents and strengths for a lifetime of use, as we delve into the evolutionary significance of menopause. 8 The Why of Menopause”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“Notably, many postmenopausal women also report that emotions like sadness and anger don’t hold quite the same charge as they once did, while the capacity to sustain joy, wonder, and gratitude often increases. There is a neurological reason for these shifts. Among other things, all the rearrangements in the menopausal brain may result in yet another upgrade to some networks involved in the theory of mind. Only this time, the transition brings forth better emotional control. If you recall from the previous chapters, how we respond to emotionally charged situations depends partly on how we’re wired in our brains. Connections related to the emotion-processing amygdala versus the impulse-controlling prefrontal cortex can influence our approach. Puberty asks us to lean into the prefrontal cortex’s rationale, whereas pregnancy attunes us to our instincts (while striking a balance between our emotions and our head). Now it’s menopause’s turn. This time around, we are about to fine-tune the emotional amygdala in a highly selective and precise way: it becomes less reactive to negative emotional stimulation!”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain

“experience under their belt, many postmenopausal women have developed a nice set of life skills, giving them a greater confidence they can handle whatever comes their way. By then, a woman has experienced her own array of challenges, losses, illnesses, and disappointments, and has better discerned who she is, what she wants, and what she prizes. She realizes she is stronger and more capable than she imagined, and is much less likely to spend time brooding over bad experiences, mistakes, and blunders.”
― Lisa Mosconi, The Menopause Brain