What Happens to Women’s Brains In Menopause?
Ladies consider these facts:
· Affects up to 6 Million people in USA.
· Women make up 2/3rds of cases of Alzheimer’s disease.
· For every one man there are two women who develop Alzheimer’s.
· Women are more likely to have anxiety or depression in mid-life.
The fact is that women’s brains age quicker than men due to the reduction in Oestrogen around menopause. It turns out that Oestradiol, one of the key oestrogens in women, is really important for brain function. It’s as simple as this - if Oestrogen is high then brain function is high. If it is low then brain function is low.
Neurons start slowing down and age faster when oestrogen starts to decline. Studies have shown that this can even lead to the amyloid plaques seen in Alzheimer’s disease developing from mid-life onward. Research has shown that from mid-life women had a 20% increase in these plaques compared to men. Other symptoms one might notice is mood swings and memory issues and every middle-aged woman I know is complaining of these symptoms. PET scans show that during the menopausal years there is a significant decline in brain energy. So we know now that women’s brains are much more affected by hormone changes and it's not just the aging process. Interestingly, cognitive performance was not affected.
So what happens to men? What we know is that for men testosterone declines slowly over their life while for women the hormones change relatively quickly. And their brains don’t show the same decline we see in women.
This information raises more concerns for women who have a hysterectomy and most significantly a oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries).
What can we do?
It is important to support healthy hormones and healthy adrenal function during mid-life. The Mediterranean diet is recommended because it is high in healthy fats and phytoestrogens. This type of diet used seafoods over red meat together with a high proportion of vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes.
Phytoestrogens from plants act like mild oestrogens and are especially high in flax seeds and I recommend 1 – 2 Tbs per day of flax seeds to my menopausal clients. Other sources include legumes, sesame seeds, nuts and seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Naturopathically we use herbal medicines that support adrenal function during menopause as this is the primary area from which the body receives hormones once the ovaries decline in their production of hormones. There are also herbs that we use to reduce inflammation in the brain and improve circulation to the brain.
Of course, healthy fats are a must for a healthy brain as the brain tissue has a high level of fatty tissue. Cold pressed olive oil, avocado and fish are all great sources. Try to avoid trans fats from deep fried foods, processed foods and cheap vegetables oils.
I hope this helps women understand what is happening to their memory in menopause. If you would like to know more please get in contact for a consultation.
By Lucy Frew
With thanks to by Neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi
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