HOW TO SAVE YOUR BRAIN: A Neurologist’s Guide to Women and Dementia

Why are two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients women? What really happens to the brain during menopause? And how much of dementia is actually preventable? In this episode of The Woman’s Handbook, Dr Natalie Hutchins is joined by neurologist, author and researcher Professor Cassandra Szoeke to discuss the growing evidence that dementia is not just an ageing issue — it is a women’s health issue. Together, they unpack the relationship between menopause, hormones, inflammation, blood vessels, and brain ageing, and explain why women may experience dementia differently from men. They also explore the limits of current research, the controversies around HRT and dementia prevention, and the practical lifestyle changes that can genuinely support long-term brain health. ⚠️ MEDICAL EDUCATION: This episode is for educational purposes only and discusses dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, menopause, HRT, cardiovascular risk, cognition and healthy ageing. It is not intended as personalised medical advice. ⭐⭐ Watch These Videos Next ⭐⭐ ▶️ HOW TO STAY ALIVE (LONGEVITY)    • UNDERSTANDING LONGEVITY MEDICINE: NAD, Pep...   ▶️ HOW TO MENOPAUSE    • HOW TO MENOPAUSE: An Honest Take on the HR...   ▶️ HOW TO BREAST CANCER    • AM I AT RISK? What Women Need to Know abou...   ⸻ In this episode we discuss: 00:00 – Why women are more susceptible to dementia 02:16 – Why Alzheimer’s is considered a women’s health issue 04:12 – Alzheimer’s vs vascular dementia explained 07:00 – The lack of female-specific dementia research 08:31 – Microvascular disease and the female brain 09:06 – Estrogen’s protective role in brain and heart health 10:56 – Why women prioritise everyone else’s health first 11:55 – HDL vs LDL cholesterol in women 13:01 – How dementia symptoms differ in women and men 15:33 – The hippocampus and memory loss in Alzheimer’s 16:09 – Menopause, brain shrinkage & the UK Biobank study 18:15 – The Women’s Healthy Ageing Project (WHA) explained 21:40 – Brain fog vs dementia: what’s actually happening? 22:57 – How stress, anxiety, pain & menopause affect cognition 24:39 – Inflammation, estrogen & the female immune system 27:19 – HRT and dementia: what the research really shows 31:31 – Why timing matters with hormone therapy 34:39 – The top 3 ways women can reduce dementia risk 36:26 – Why physical activity matters more than brain games 37:48 – Blood pressure as a silent risk factor for women 39:13 – HDL (“good cholesterol”) and female brain health 40:39 – Creatine, vitamin D & social media brain hacks 42:59 – Keto diets and the truth about brain nutrition 44:13 – The best evidence-based diet for brain health 45:07 – The role of social connection and mental stimulation 46:22 – Why sex-specific medicine matters for women ⸻ Key Takeaways • Two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients are women • Early menopause is associated with earlier dementia risk • Estrogen appears to play a protective role in brain and vascular health • Menopause brain fog is not the same as dementia • Physical activity remains the strongest lifestyle intervention for brain health • High blood pressure is a major but under-recognised risk factor in women • HDL (“good cholesterol”) may be especially important for women’s vascular health • Social interaction and using your brain in varied ways matter more than Sudoku alone • Mediterranean-style diets consistently show benefits for healthy ageing • Female-specific research in medicine is still critically underdeveloped ⸻ Follow The Woman’s Handbook Instagram: @thewomanshandbook Substack: The Woman’s Handbook YouTube: The Woman’s Handbook Podcast ⸻ About Professor Cassandra Szoeke Professor Cassandra Szoeke is a neurologist, researcher and author specialising in women’s brain health and healthy ageing. She is the Principal Investigator of the Women’s Healthy Ageing Project (WHAP), one of the world’s longest-running longitudinal studies examining women’s health across the menopausal transition and ageing. Her work focuses on dementia prevention, cardiovascular disease, menopause and sex-specific medicine. ⸻ #Dementia #Alzheimers #Menopause #BrainHealth #WomensHealth #HRT #HealthyAgeing #CognitiveHealth #TheWomansHandbook #DrNatalieHutchins #ProfessorCassandraSzoeke #Hormones #FemaleHealth #PreventionMedicine #BrainFog #HealthyBrain #Longevity #WomensBrainHealth #AlzheimersAwareness #menopausehealth