What Perimenopause Hormones Are Really Doing to Your Brain with Dr. Sarah E. Hill

What if the brain fog, anxiety, sleep problems, mood shifts—and even changes in how you see your partner—aren’t random?In this episode of The Midlife Realignment, I sit down with research psychologist and women’s hormone expert Dr. Sarah E. Hill to unpack what perimenopause hormones are really doing to the brain.Sarah explains how estrogen and progesterone influence far more than our reproductive systems. They affect how quickly our brains process information, how emotionally sensitive we feel, our sexual desire, our response to stress, and even the qualities we find attractive in a partner.And when those hormones begin fluctuating and declining during perimenopause? You can feel like somebody changed the operating system without telling you.We talk about why perimenopause brain fog can appear even when your periods are still regular, how declining progesterone may contribute to anxiety and sleep problems, and why declining estrogen can affect memory and cognitive sharpness.We also get into hormone therapy—including the important distinction between progesterone and synthetic progestins—and Sarah shares her own decision to begin estrogen and progesterone in her 40s.Plus, Sarah explains something every woman worried about her brain needs to hear: your brain is remarkably adaptable. Hormonal change does not automatically mean permanent cognitive decline.We also explore fascinating emerging research into vagus nerve stimulation, stress resilience, exercise, sleep, nutrition, and other ways we may be able to support the brain through perimenopause and menopause.If you've ever thought, "Why don't I feel like myself anymore?" this conversation may completely change the way you understand what's happening inside your brain.🔗 Links and Resources:📍 Get the 30 Gram Breakfast Cheat Sheet📍 Dr. Sarah Hill's Website📍 Dr. Sarah Hill's Substack