"Menopause and perimenopause are still a black box to most doctors, leaving patients exasperated as they grapple with symptoms ranging from hot flashes to insomnia and brain fog. As a leading neuroscientist and women's brain health specialist, Dr. Lisa Mosconi unravels the mystery by revealing how menopause doesn't just impact the ovaries--but it's a hormonal show in which the brain takes center stage. The decline of the hormone estrogen during menopause influences everything from body temperature to mood and memory, potentially paving the way for cognitive decline later in life. To conquer these successfully, Mosconi brings us the latest approaches--from cutting-edge hormone replacement therapies like "designer estrogens" to the role of hormonal contraception, and key lifestyle changes encompassing diet, exercise, self-care, and self-talk. Best of all, Mosconi dispels the myth that menopause signifies an end, demonstrating that it's actually a transition. Contrary to popular belief, if we know how to take care of ourselves during menopause, we can emerge with a renewed, enhanced brain-ushering in a meaningful and vibrant new chapter of life"-- Provided by publisher.

Foreword / by Maria Shriver -- Part 1: The big M. You are not crazy -- Busing the bias against women and menopause -- The change nobody prepare you for -- Menopause brain is not just your imagination -- Part 2: The brain-hormone connection. Brain and ovaries : partners in crime -- Putting menopause in context : the three P's -- The upside of menopause -- The why of menopause -- Part 3: Hormonal and nonhormonal therapies. Estrogen therapy for menopause -- Other hormonal and nonhormonal therapies -- Cancer therapies and "chemo brain" -- Gender-affirming therapies -- Part 4: Lifestyle and integrative health. Exercise -- Diet and nutrition -- Supplements and botanicals -- Stress reduction and sleep hygiene -- Toxins and estrogen disrupters -- The power of a positive mindset.