Did you know women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as men, and oestrogen may be a key reason why? In this episode, Dr Lucy Burns and Dr Mary Barson break down the real science behind oestrogen's role in brain health and dementia prevention, why the infamous 2003 WHI study sent doctors running scared for decades, and what the latest evidence actually means for women in midlife. If MHT is not right for you, don't worry, protecting your brain is never a one-trick pony. This is the episode every woman in midlife needs to hear. 

Research mentioned in this episode: 
Paganini-Hill A, Henderson VW. Archives of Internal Medicine. 1996 
Kim YJ et al. Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2021 
Nerattini M et al. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 2023 
Cipriano GL et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024 
Melville NA et al. The Lancet Healthy Longevity. 2025 

For more information about Real Life Medicine and our programs and special offers: https://www.rlmedicine.com/ 

Episode, show notes & transcript 
https://www.rlmedicine.com/can-hrt-prevent-dementia 

Did you know women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as men, and oestrogen may be a key reason why? In this episode, Dr Lucy Burns and Dr Mary Barson break down the real science behind oestrogen's role in brain health and dementia prevention, why the infamous 2003 WHI study sent doctors running scared for decades, and what the latest evidence actually means for women in midlife. If MHT is not right for you, don't worry, protecting your brain is never a one-trick pony. This is the episode every woman in midlife needs to hear.&nbsp;
Research mentioned in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Paganini-Hill A, Henderson VW. Archives of Internal Medicine. 1996&nbsp;</li>
<li>Kim YJ et al. Alzheimer's &amp; Dementia. 2021&nbsp;</li>
<li>Nerattini M et al. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 2023&nbsp;</li>
<li>Cipriano GL et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024&nbsp;</li>
<li>Melville NA et al. The Lancet Healthy Longevity. 2025&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
For more information about Real Life Medicine and our programs and special offers:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rlmedicine.com/">https://www.rlmedicine.com/</a>&nbsp;
Episode, show notes &amp; transcript <a href="https://www.rlmedicine.com/can-hrt-prevent-dementia">https://www.rlmedicine.com/can-hrt-prevent-dementia</a>&nbsp;

Welcome to the Real Health and Weight Loss Podcast where you get Real advice from Real Doctors to help you lose weight and revolutionise your health not just now but permanently. You can change your future, starting now. 

Imagine if everything you had been told about weight loss was wrong. 

We are here to bust through some myths and give you actionable advice. Real health and weight loss is a journey and we, your hosts Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns from Real Life Medicine, are here with you every step of the way. 

Welcome to the Real Health and Weight Loss Podcast where you get Real advice from Real Doctors to help you lose weight and revolutionise your health not just now but permanently. You can change your future, starting now.&nbsp;
Imagine if everything you had been told about weight loss was wrong.&nbsp;
We are here to bust through some myths and give you actionable advice. Real health and weight loss is a journey and we, your hosts Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns from Real Life Medicine, are here with you every step of the way.&nbsp;

Real health from real doctors on health and weight loss

Real Health and Weight Loss Podcast

Welcome to the Real Health and Weight Loss where you get Real advice from Real Doctors to help you lose weight and revolutionise your health not just now but permanently. You can change your future, starting now. Imagine if everything you had been told about weight loss was wrong.

We are here to bust through some myths and give you actionable advice. Real Health and weight loss is a journey and we, your hosts Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns from Real Life Medicine are here with you every step of the way. 

Welcome to the Real Health and Weight Loss where you get Real advice from Real Doctors to help you lose weight and revolutionise your health not just now but permanently. You can change your future, starting now. Imagine if everything you had been told about weight loss was wrong.
We are here to bust through some myths and give you actionable advice. Real Health and weight loss is a journey and we, your hosts Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns from Real Life Medicine are here with you every step of the way.&nbsp;

Real Health and Weight Loss

308 Can HRT Prevent Dementia?

If you've ever felt like exercise is just another thing you're failing at, this episode is for you.

The truth is, you don't need a punishing gym program to protect your brain and your metabolic health. The evidence suggests that small, varied movements woven into your day may be just as powerful as any structured workout routine. 

In this episode, Dr Lucy and Dr Mary introduce the concept of the "exercise salad", the idea that your body and brain do best with a mix of different movement types, not just one. They explore why muscle strength matters for both metabolic health and brain protection, how a little "huff and puff" may help reduce dementia risk for many people, and why mobility and balance are the often-forgotten ingredients that keep you moving well for life. They also dig into the all-or-something mindset that can transform how you approach movement on your busiest, most exhausted days. 

You'll walk away with practical strategies you can start today without changing your clothes, joining a gym, or carving out extra time. From calf raises at the kettle to sit-to-stands off the toilet, this episode makes movement feel genuinely doable. Tune in and build your own exercise salad. 

For more information about Real Life Medicine and our programs and special offers: https://www.rlmedicine.com/ 

Episode, show notes & transcript 
https://www.rlmedicine.com/the-exercise-salad-why-variety-beats-the-perfect-workout-every-time 

If you've ever felt like exercise is just another thing you're failing at, this episode is for you.
The truth is, you don't need a punishing gym program to protect your brain and your metabolic health. The evidence suggests that small, varied movements woven into your day may be just as powerful as any structured workout routine.&nbsp;
In this episode, Dr Lucy and Dr Mary introduce the concept of the "exercise salad", the idea that your body and brain do best with a mix of different movement types, not just one. They explore why muscle strength matters for both metabolic health and brain protection, how a little "huff and puff" may help reduce dementia risk for many people, and why mobility and balance are the often-forgotten ingredients that keep you moving well for life. They also dig into the all-or-something mindset that can transform how you approach movement on your busiest, most exhausted days.&nbsp;
You'll walk away with practical strategies you can start today without changing your clothes, joining a gym, or carving out extra time. From calf raises at the kettle to sit-to-stands off the toilet, this episode makes movement feel genuinely doable. Tune in and build your own exercise salad.&nbsp;
For more information about Real Life Medicine and our programs and special offers:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rlmedicine.com/">https://www.rlmedicine.com/</a>&nbsp;
Episode, show notes &amp; transcript <a href="https://www.rlmedicine.com/the-exercise-salad-why-variety-beats-the-perfect-workout-every-time">https://www.rlmedicine.com/the-exercise-salad-why-variety-beats-the-perfect-workout-every-time</a>&nbsp;

312 The Exercise Salad: Why Variety Beats the Perfect Workout Every Time

What if golf changed your life in ways you never expected? In this episode, Dr Lucy Burns chats with Rebecca Laut, a woman who picked up golf in her 30s and found far more than a hobby. Rebecca shares how getting out on the course helped her stay active while managing PCOS and insulin resistance, and how combining movement, lifestyle changes, and a GLP-1 medication led to something she never thought possible: a healthy pregnancy. You will also hear about her female-founded golf apparel brand Clubdayze, why 60% of new golfers in Australia are now women, and why golf might just be the best lifestyle medicine you have never tried. A great listen for any woman who thinks golf is not for her. 

Website: https://www.clubdayze.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clubdayze 

For more information about Real Life Medicine and our programs and special offers: https://www.rlmedicine.com/ 

Episode, show notes & transcript 
https://www.rlmedicine.com/is-golf-good-for-your-health 

What if golf changed your life in ways you never expected? In this episode, Dr Lucy Burns chats with Rebecca Laut, a woman who picked up golf in her 30s and found far more than a hobby. Rebecca shares how getting out on the course helped her stay active while managing PCOS and insulin resistance, and how combining movement, lifestyle changes, and a GLP-1 medication led to something she never thought possible: a healthy pregnancy. You will also hear about her female-founded golf apparel brand Clubdayze, why 60% of new golfers in Australia are now women, and why golf might just be the best lifestyle medicine you have never tried. A great listen for any woman who thinks golf is not for her.&nbsp;
Website: <a href="https://www.clubdayze.com">https://www.clubdayze.com</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/clubdayze">https://www.instagram.com/clubdayze</a>&nbsp;
For more information about Real Life Medicine and our programs and special offers: <a href="https://www.rlmedicine.com/">https://www.rlmedicine.com/</a>&nbsp;
Episode, show notes &amp; transcript <a href="https://www.rlmedicine.com/is-golf-good-for-your-health">https://www.rlmedicine.com/is-golf-good-for-your-health</a>&nbsp;

311 Is Golf Good for your Health?

Do you reach for food when you're stressed, tired, or overwhelmed? In this episode, Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns break down the real reasons behind emotional eating. No guilt, no shame. Just clear, practical tools you can use right now. Learn the PHALTS framework to spot your triggers, understand what your brain is actually doing when cravings hit, and discover simple "hot tools" to pause before you eat. You'll also get the "cool tools" to build lasting emotional resilience. This episode will change how you see your relationship with food. 

For more information about Real Life Medicine and our programs and special offers: https://www.rlmedicine.com/ 

Episode, show notes & transcript 
https://www.rlmedicine.com/brain-based-solutions-to-stop-emotional-eating 

Do you reach for food when you're stressed, tired, or overwhelmed? In this episode, Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns break down the real reasons behind emotional eating. No guilt, no shame. Just clear, practical tools you can use right now. Learn the PHALTS framework to spot your triggers, understand what your brain is actually doing when cravings hit, and discover simple "hot tools" to pause before you eat. You'll also get the "cool tools" to build lasting emotional resilience. This episode will change how you see your relationship with food.&nbsp;
For more information about Real Life Medicine and our programs and special offers: <a href="https://www.rlmedicine.com/">https://www.rlmedicine.com/</a>&nbsp;
Episode, show notes &amp; transcript <a href="https://www.rlmedicine.com/brain-based-solutions-to-stop-emotional-eating">https://www.rlmedicine.com/brain-based-solutions-to-stop-emotional-eating</a>&nbsp;

308 Can HRT Prevent Dementia?

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