Ep. 207 - How a woman's brain ages at menopause (and what you can do about it now) with Dr. Fiona Lovely

In this solo episode, Dr. Fiona Lovely delivers an urgent and empowering message about brain health that every woman needs to hear. She breaks down a brand-new research review examining how menopause specifically impacts the female brain, revealing why postmenopausal women account for more than 60 percent of those living with Alzheimer's disease. Rather than leaving listeners with frightening statistics, Dr. Lovely transforms this information into actionable knowledge, explaining exactly how declining estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone along with inadequate nutrition, stress and aging create a perfect storm for neurodegeneration through increased inflammation, and breakdown of the protective blood-brain barrier. What makes this episode particularly valuable is Dr. Lovely's practical guidance on modifiable risk factors that women can address starting today. She explores the critical connection between the gut microbiome and brain defense systems, offering specific nutritional strategies that support cognitive health during the menopausal transition. Listeners will learn why good protein intake becomes non-negotiable at midlife, which foods deliver the omega-3s, antioxidants, and flavonoids brains desperately need, and how to identify ultra-processed and nutrient-void foods that may be undermining our efforts. Dr. Lovely also addresses timely concerns about popular weight loss medications, explaining why adequate nutrition must remain the priority even when appetite is suppressed. The episode concludes with fascinating news from the research front: hormone replacement therapy has now been shown to reverse many of the inflammatory changes that occur with hormone decline, stabilizing the blood-brain barrier and offering genuine neuroprotective benefits. For any woman who has ever wondered whether her brain health is within her control, this episode provides helpful answers and practical tools to make a meaningful difference. For easy reference, Dr. Lovely has compiled the products mentioned in this episode right here: Jaspr - air filtration Ultrahuman - sleep and recovery biometrics ring Chilipad - temp controlled mattress pad Apollo neuro - vagus nerve modulating tool AG1 - complete vitamins and mineral supplement Just Thrive - the best probiotic Thank you to our sponsors for this episode: ❤️Berkeley Life is a health brand that helps women feel vibrant by addressing the crucial role nitric oxide and circulation play in daily wellness, especially around menopause. If you're navigating perimenopause and want to support your cardiovascular health and your menopause transition proactively, Berkeley Life's Menopause and Heart Health support is designed exactly for this moment. You can learn more and explore their supplements at BerkeleyLife.com and get 20% off your first order (use code LOVELY) 💪Low energy and muscles feeling less strong? Let me share a favourite - Timeline's Longevity gummies, a breakthrough for healthy aging. Using patented Mitopure, their products re-energize muscles and cells helping to slow down the aging process and boost mitochondria giving stronger muscles and more energy! ⚡️ Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine. She is speaking to the topics of women's health around perimenopause and menopause. How to work with Dr. Lovely: We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.💜 Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there! Finally, a humble request: If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! Thank you! 💕🤗 Partnerships by Category3 Media Group