Many women experience brain fog, forgetfulness, and sudden mood changes during midlife. Are these symptoms signs of dementia, ADHD, or are they simply our hormones at work? Dr. Elizabeth Poynor is joined by neuropsychologist Dr. Caroline Gurvich to unpack what’s really happening in the brain during perimenopause and menopause. They explore why more than 60% of women experience cognitive shifts, how estrogen impacts memory and focus, and the roles hormone therapy, lifestyle choices, and even cognitive training can play in keeping your brain sharp.

Many women experience brain fog, forgetfulness, and sudden mood changes during midlife. Are these symptoms signs of dementia, ADHD, or are they simply our hormones at work? Dr. Elizabeth Poynor is joined by neuropsychologist Dr. Caroline Gurvich to unpack what&rsquo;s really happening in the brain during perimenopause and menopause. They explore why more than 60% of women experience cognitive shifts, how estrogen impacts memory and focus, and the roles hormone therapy, lifestyle choices, and even cognitive training can play in keeping your brain sharp.

Why is it still so hard for women to find reliable, modern health information about their own bodies? On Decoding Women's Health, Dr. Elizabeth Poynor, chair of women’s health & gynecology at the Atria Health Institute, shares expert insights on women’s health, hormones, and longevity science to help you thrive at any stage of midlife and beyond.

Dr. Poynor, a world-renowned gynecologic oncologist and advanced pelvic surgeon, speaks with leading physicians, researchers, and educators to share the latest science on women’s wellness, disease prevention, and what it really means to age on your own terms. Each episode explores a different aspect of how to improve your health during midlife—from heart disease and genetic risks to metabolism, hormones nutrition, cognitive health, and beyond.

Whether you're in perimenopause, postmenopause, or simply looking for tools to prepare for the next chapter, take charge of your health—now and for the future—with expert guidance and practical advice to help you thrive. 

Why is it still so hard for women to find reliable, modern health information about their own bodies? On Decoding Women's Health, Dr. Elizabeth Poynor, chair of women&rsquo;s health &amp; gynecology at the Atria Health Institute, shares expert insights on women&rsquo;s health, hormones, and longevity science to help you thrive at any stage of midlife and beyond.
Dr. Poynor, a world-renowned gynecologic oncologist and advanced pelvic surgeon, speaks with leading physicians, researchers, and educators to share the latest science on women&rsquo;s wellness, disease prevention, and what it really means to age on your own terms. Each episode explores a different aspect of how to improve your health during midlife&mdash;from heart disease and genetic risks to metabolism, hormones nutrition, cognitive health, and beyond.
Whether you're in perimenopause, postmenopause, or simply looking for tools to prepare for the next chapter, take charge of your health&mdash;now and for the future&mdash;with expert guidance and practical advice to help you thrive.&nbsp;

Decoding Women's Health with Dr. Elizabeth Poynor

Decoding Brain Fog with Dr. Caroline Gurvich

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c55c1419-b687-4fc2-a77f-b36b01378b52/transcript

Utopia or dystopia? It’s up to us.In the 21st century, powerful technologies have been appearing at a breathtaking pace—related to the internet, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and more. They have amazing potential upsides, but we can’t ignore the serious risks that come with them.Brave New Planet is a podcast that delves deep into the most exciting and challenging scientific frontiers, helping us understand them and grapple with their implications. Dr. Eric Lander, president and founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, is a geneticist, molecular biologist, and mathematician who was a leader of the Human Genome Project and for eight years served as a science advisor to the White House for President Obama. He’s also the host of Brave New Planet, and he’s talked to leading researchers, journalists, doctors, policy makers, activists, and legal experts to illuminate how this generation’s choices will shape the future as never before.Brave New Planet is a partnership between the Broad Institute, Pushkin Industries, and The Boston Globe's Opinion team.

Brave New Planet

GLP-1s are everywhere. But are they the only medical weight loss intervention worth considering? On today’s episode, Dr. George Fielding - a pioneer of laparoscopic adjustable band surgery and a patient of the procedure himself - offers an insider’s look at the world of weight loss surgeries. How do these surgeries work? Who are they really for? And how should we think about them alongside the surge of GLP-1 medications? We also dig into the stigmas people face when trying to lose weight with medical support, and the biggest misconceptions around obesity. 

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

Genomics reveals eleven obesity endotypes with distinct biological and phenotypic signatures

Obesity Drugs May Drop to as Little as $149 a Month

The lung is a site of platelet biogenesis and a reservoir for haematopoietic progenitors

Associations of Hysterectomy, Oophorectomy, and Hormone Replacement Therapy With the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Postmenopausal Women

Note: In this show, we use “women” as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.

GLP-1s are everywhere. But are they the only medical weight loss intervention worth considering? On today&rsquo;s episode, Dr. George Fielding - a pioneer of laparoscopic adjustable band surgery and a patient of the procedure himself - offers an insider&rsquo;s look at the world of weight loss surgeries. How do these surgeries work? Who are they really for? And how should we think about them alongside the surge of GLP-1 medications? We also dig into the stigmas people face when trying to lose weight with medical support, and the biggest misconceptions around obesity. Links to resources mentioned in this episode:
<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40630572/">Genomics reveals eleven obesity endotypes with distinct biological and phenotypic signatures</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/health/obesity-drug-prices-trump.html">Obesity Drugs May Drop to as Little as $149 a Month</a>
<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature21706">The lung is a site of platelet biogenesis and a reservoir for haematopoietic progenitors</a>
<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40255188/">Associations of Hysterectomy, Oophorectomy, and Hormone Replacement Therapy With the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Postmenopausal Women</a>
Note: In this show, we use &ldquo;women&rdquo; as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.

Decoding Medical Weight Loss with Dr. George Fielding

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/af1fdc0f-a8a9-400f-8e26-b3b40167ae90/transcript

Almost two-thirds of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s are women. Shifting hormones make us especially vulnerable. But what if there were ways to lower your risk? Preventive neurologist Dr. Richard Isaacson believes nearly half of dementia cases can be avoided. He shares how to know if you’re at risk for Alzheimer’s and what steps to take for better long-term brain health.

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

Individualized clinical management of patients at risk for Alzheimer’s dementia

Structured vs Self-Guided Multidomain Lifestyle Interventions for Global Cognitive Function

A 2 year multidomain intervention of diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk monitoring versus control to prevent cognitive decline in at-risk elderly people (FINGER): a randomised controlled trial

Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission

Clinical Application of APOE in Alzheimer's Prevention: A Precision Medicine Approach

Menopause impacts human brain structure, connectivity, energy metabolism, and amyloid-beta deposition

Association of Reproductive History With Brain MRI Biomarkers of Dementia Risk in Midlife

Effect of Intensive vs Standard Blood Pressure Control on Probable Dementia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

evoke and evoke+: design of two large-scale, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 studies evaluating efficacy, safety, and tolerability of semaglutide in early-stage symptomatic Alzheimer's disease

Sex-Driven Differences in the Effectiveness of Individualized Clinical Management of Alzheimer's Disease Risk

Sex-driven modifiers of Alzheimer risk: A multimodality brain imaging study

The Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (IND)

Retain Your Brain

Note: In this show, we use “women” as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.

Almost two-thirds of people diagnosed with Alzheimer&rsquo;s are women. Shifting hormones make us especially vulnerable. But what if there were ways to lower your risk? Preventive neurologist Dr. Richard Isaacson believes nearly half of dementia cases can be avoided. He shares how to know if you&rsquo;re at risk for Alzheimer&rsquo;s and what steps to take for better long-term brain health.
Links to resources mentioned in this episode:
<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6925647/">Individualized clinical management of patients at risk for Alzheimer&rsquo;s dementia</a>
<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2837046?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Structured vs Self-Guided Multidomain Lifestyle Interventions for Global Cognitive Function</a>
<a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)60461-5/abstract?utm_source=chatgpt.com">A 2 year multidomain intervention of diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk monitoring versus control to prevent cognitive decline in at-risk elderly people (FINGER): a randomised controlled trial</a>
<a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01296-0/abstract">Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission</a>
<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6188641/">Clinical Application of APOE in Alzheimer's Prevention: A Precision Medicine Approach</a>
<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-90084-y">Menopause impacts human brain structure, connectivity, energy metabolism, and amyloid-beta deposition</a>
<a href="https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000012941">Association of Reproductive History With Brain MRI Biomarkers of Dementia Risk in Midlife</a>
<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2723256">Effect of Intensive vs Standard Blood Pressure Control on Probable Dementia: A Randomized Clinical Trial</a>
<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39780249/">evoke and evoke+: design of two large-scale, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 studies evaluating efficacy, safety, and tolerability of semaglutide in early-stage symptomatic Alzheimer's disease</a>
<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36281678/">Sex-Driven Differences in the Effectiveness of Individualized Clinical Management of Alzheimer's Disease Risk</a>
<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32580974/">Sex-driven modifiers of Alzheimer risk: A multimodality brain imaging study</a>
<a href="https://ind.org/learn">The Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (IND)</a>
<a href="https://retainyourbrain.com/#!/">Retain Your Brain</a>
Note: In this show, we use &ldquo;women&rdquo; as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.

Decoding Dementia Prevention with Dr. Richard Isaacson

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/52360ea8-4b03-4a0e-980c-b3a60159c6a0/transcript

Why does your body start “shape shifting” in midlife, even if you’re doing everything “right”? And what’s really behind all the GLP-1 buzz? Endocrinologist and weight-management specialist Dr. Beverly Tchang explains the science behind midlife metabolism, why BMI alone doesn’t tell the full story, what GLP-1s actually do in the body, and what women should know before considering these treatments.

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Beverly Tchang’s Professional Disclosures

SWAN Study (Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation)

HOMA-IR Calculator (for assessing insulin resistance)

STEP 1 Trial – Semaglutide for weight management

SURMOUNT-1 Trial – Tirzepatide for weight management

Note: In this show, we use “women” as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.

Why does your body start &ldquo;shape shifting&rdquo; in midlife, even if you&rsquo;re doing everything &ldquo;right&rdquo;? And what&rsquo;s really behind all the GLP-1 buzz? Endocrinologist and weight-management specialist Dr. Beverly Tchang explains the science behind midlife metabolism, why BMI alone doesn&rsquo;t tell the full story, what GLP-1s actually do in the body, and what women should know before considering these treatments.
Links to resources mentioned in this episode:
<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O5joKcrLAYHRekERz4HbLY93ivsBCRfHSn4B2L9xM-M/preview?pli=1&amp;tab=t.0">Dr. Beverly Tchang&rsquo;s Professional Disclosures</a>
<a href="https://www.swanstudy.org">SWAN Study (Study of Women&rsquo;s Health Across the Nation)</a>
<a href="https://thebloodcode.com/homa-ir-calculator/">HOMA-IR Calculator (for assessing insulin resistance)</a>
<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183">STEP 1 Trial &ndash; Semaglutide for weight management</a>
<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038">SURMOUNT-1 Trial &ndash; Tirzepatide for weight management</a>
Note: In this show, we use &ldquo;women&rdquo; as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.

Decoding GLP-1s and Metabolism with Dr. Beverly Tchang

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/072cd11f-1a76-4675-bbf3-b3980156141f/transcript

Decoding Brain Fog with Dr. Caroline Gurvich

Brave New Planet

In 1 playlist(s)

Decoding Women's Health with Dr. Elizabeth Poynor

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips