Menopause is finally in the spotlight — but most women still don’t understand what’s happening to their bodies in their late 30s, 40s, and beyond. Even worse, many doctors misdiagnose or dismiss symptoms like brain fog, night sweats, weight gain, and mood swings as “just stress.”
About Dr. Alicia Robbins:
Dr. Alicia Robbins is a board-certified Gynecologist and Lifestyle Medicine physician, founder of The Elm, and creator of The Robbins Method. She is recognized as a leading voice in perimenopause and midlife health, dedicated to providing compassionate, proactive care and rewriting the narrative on women’s midlife.
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I’m Louisa Nicola — clinical neuroscientist — Alzheimer’s prevention specialist — founder of Neuro Athletics.
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Topics discussed:
00:00:00 — Intro
00:01:32:10 — Menopause is “in the spotlight”; what’s actually happening with women’s hormones ~35+
00:02:43:11 — Ovaries as the primary source of estrogen/progesterone/testosterone
00:11:32:08 — Estrogen’s role in the brain
00:13:15:05 — With estrogen loss, chronic low-grade brain inflammation
00:15:12:17 — What replaced HRT: rise in sleep aids, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines.
00:32:55:20 — Women’s testosterone: low “total T” numbers, variable symptoms/benefit; brain fog and fatigue are multifactorial.
00:33:38:00 — Practical regimen notes: layering hormones; balance affected by stress/cortisol
00:44:14 — Longevity hype vs reality: trendy biohacks vs basics like walking, resistance training, and consistent diet
00:44:34 — Cultural/societal neglect of women’s midlife health; undervaluing cognitive preservation in women
00:45:10 — Lack of specialty in menopause medicine; OB/GYN training gaps; bias toward fertility/pregnancy funding
00:47:20 — Emerging shift: younger physicians and social media spreading awareness
00:48:15 — Longevity basics reaffirmed: lifestyle interventions are more impactful than costly interventions
00:49:00 — Empowering women to advocate for care
00:50:12 — Future outlook: preventative care, lifestyle foundations, and individualized hormone therapy for healthy aging
00:54:53: Increase in divorce rate because of hormones?
00:55:53: HRT and risk of breast cancer
00:58:11: What doctor should a woman in her late 30s/early 40s go see?
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