13. Perimenopause: Cognitive Changes with Dr. Rita Shkullaku

About this episode

This episode discusses the cognitive changes experienced by women during perimenopause and menopause, focusing on brain fog and its implications.

This episode addresses a terrifying but common experience for midlife women: the cognitive changes, or "brain fog," that pop up during perimenopause and menopause. Many women fear they are experiencing early-onset dementia. Host Dr. Rachel Pope speaks with Dr. Rita Shkullaku [https://www.luminishealth.org/en/find-a-provider/rita-shkullaku?language_content_entity=en], a board-certified internist with a special interest in nutrition, obesity, and hormones as they relate to cognitive wellness and healthy aging. The Reality and Biology of Brain Fog Dr. Shkullaku confirms that brain fog—forgetfulness, concentration issues, and a blank mind—is very real. She notes that having "mild cognitive issues for eight to ten years has no small impact" on high-functioning women. The problem stems from both: * Direct Effects: Estrogen drops affect the brain's ability to use the prefrontal cortex and manage stress. * Indirect Effects: Severe sleep deprivation from night sweats and hot flashes dramatically worsens cognition. To distinguish serious issues from hormonal brain fog, Dr. Shkullaku uses the Self-Report vs. Intervention rule: women with typical brain fog are aware of their struggle, while…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Rachel Pope

Guest: Dr. Rita Shkullaku

Topics covered

• perimenopause
• cognitive changes
• brain fog
• women's health
• hormones
• healthy aging

Keywords

• perimenopause
• brain fog
• cognitive wellness
• hormones
• sleep deprivation
• women's health
• early dementia

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Luminis Health

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