Menopause and the Brain: What the Research Really Says with Dr. Lauren Streicher

In this episode of the Brain Health Kitchen podcast, Dr. Annie Fenn is joined by Dr. Lauren Streicher, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a leading expert in menopause medicine. Together, they explore what happens to the brain during perimenopause and menopause, including brain fog, hot flashes, sleep disruption, and the role of hormone therapy.They discuss why brain fog during perimenopause is usually not a sign of dementia, what the research does and does not show about estrogen and Alzheimer’s prevention, why hot flashes deserve real medical attention, and how to think about testosterone with more caution and less hype.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Dr. Lauren Streicher07:21 Menopause and the brain12:22 Brain fog, sleep, and hot flashes19:45 Hormone therapy and timing25:55 Starting hormone therapy after 6034:45 Testosterone, libido, and side effects45:03 Can hormone therapy prevent Alzheimer’s?Links MentionedBrain Health Kitchen on Substackhttps://brainhealthkitchen.substack.comDr. Lauren Streicher’s Substack, Menopause Insiderhttps://drstreicher.substack.comDr. Lauren Streicher’s websitehttps://drstreicher.comCome Again: Sexuality and Orgasmhttps://drstreicher.com/comeagainThe Menopause Societyhttps://menopause.orgSWAN Study (Study of Women Across the Nation): https://www.swanstudy.orgNeuroReservehttps://neuroreserve.comBetter Brainhttps://betterbrain.com/annieDr. Lauren Streicher on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/drstreich