About this episode

Dr. Sarah McKay discusses the real causes of cognitive changes during perimenopause and debunks myths surrounding brain fog.

If you've been told that perimenopause and menopause inevitably lead to permanent cognitive decline and "brain fog," the neuroscience says otherwise. In this episode, neurologist and Neuroscience Academy founder Dr. Sarah McKay explains what actually drives cognitive changes during midlife and why temperature regulation, sleep disruption, and constant smartphone distractions matter far more than the catastrophized media narratives. Why "brain fog" isn't a true clinical term and how different life stages use it to describe general cognitive fatigue What a recent survey revealed about the surprising age group that actually worries the most about cognitive decline Why the hypothalamus and fluctuating estrogen levels trigger hot flashes and disrupt your critical sleep architecture How the sympathetic nervous system's response to body heat causes you to wake up feeling anxious, wired, and hypervigilant at 3 AM What really happens to your brain's ability to metabolize glucose for energy during perimenopause and why thinking can suddenly feel incredibly effortful Whether structural network changes in the midlife brain are a sign of decline or just a natural reorganization similar to…

People in this episode

Host: Angela Foster

Guest: Dr. Sarah McKay

Topics covered

• perimenopause
• brain fog
• cognitive decline
• neurology
• sleep disruption
• smartphone distractions

Keywords

• perimenopause
• brain fog
• cognitive changes
• sleep disruption
• estrogen levels
• smartphone usage
• neuroscience

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Neuroscience Academy

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