I happened to stumble upon this phenomenal book, and I wish I could recommend it to every woman I know who is on the struggle bus with all of this hormone nonsense.

The XX Brain is an exciting and empowering read for all women. Dr. Mosconi provides actionableadvice to protect your brain and thrive throughout your lifetime! I highly recommend making your brain a priority now and taking charge before the inevitable hormonal shifts of perimenopause. In this book, Dr. Mosconi will show you how.” —Dr. Jolene Brighten, ND, author of Beyond the Pill

Risks that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s for women : risk factors for heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Other medical risks that worsen a woman’s chances: depression in midlife, having suffered traumatic brain injury or repeated concussions, thyroid disease, infections and chronic inflammation. After age 35, variable amounts of progesterone and estrogen during each monthly cycle, cause insomnia, anxiety, migraines, miserable periods, irritability, rage and bloating (p.43). Also if women have low testosterone they can get loss of libido, weight gain and low energy. (p.43). If they have polycystic ovary syndrome they can have high testosterone linked to irregular periods, difficulty sleeping, and insulin resistance. (p.43) Apart from the typical symptoms like hot flashes, the drop in estrogen has an enormous impact on the brain. Many women find they struggle with depression and anxiety. Some even experience bipolar or schizophrenic symptoms for the first time. On top of that, menopause makes women more susceptible to heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. A Heartful Arrival (not sure why this heading is used in the book) It is used to indicate pregnancy changes

Women are more than twice as likely to develop depression as men over their lifetimes(p.36) and if a woman has midlife depression, that elevates her risk for dementia. (p.37).

Success!

Until now, medical research has focused on "bikini medicine," assuming that women are essentially men with breasts and tubes. Yet women are far more likely than men to suffer from anxiety, depression, migraines, brain injuries, and strokes. They are also twice as likely to end their lives suffering from Alzheimer's disease, even when their longer lifespans are taken into account. But in the past, the female brain has received astonishingly little attention and was rarely studied by medical researchers-- resulting in a wealth of misinformation about women's health. By eating a balanced diet of high-quality foods and supplementing where you need to, you’ll allow your body – and brain – to flourish. Alzheimer’s she argues is similar and she recommends : a good diet and exercise, conscientious intellectual and social engagement, stress reduction, better sleep, balancing hormones, avoiding smoking and toxin exposure, management of cardiovascular health and preventing obesity and diabetes. (p.18) It also helps protect your brain by boosting your immune system and keeps your mood on an even keel by helping the brain release endorphins. Which is why it’s so devastating when women hit menopause and their estrogen levels fall off a cliff.