What Lisa Mosconi, the neuroscientist who studies the brain in menopause, discovered

«Knowledge is power»he said recently Halle Berryadvising her Instagram followers to read the new manual signed by neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi. The book advertised by the actress is titled The Menopause Brain, is freshly released and, obviously, is dedicated to the neuronal changes that occur during the menopause period. «Proof that you are not crazy and above all that you are not alone”, commented Halle Berry, confirming that reading it was of great help to her. Bestselling author in the New York Times, the Italian-American Lisa Mosconi heads the center Weill Cornell Women’s Brain, where she focuses on studying how female genetics, hormones, environment, and lifestyle shape the brain. We interviewed her.

Why are women (still) so afraid when it comes to menopause?
«At the root of these fears is a lack of real understanding and education about menopause, which leads to feeling uncertain and scared about what to expect. The most common fears include worries about agingloss of fertility, changes in physical appearance, the onset of symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and decreased libido. These fears are compounded by social attitudes that continue to stigmatize menopausedescribing it in negative and aging terms, rather than as a physiological and natural transition in each woman’s life.”

What is your aim with your book?
«I would like to explain concretely to every woman that Menopause impacts not only the reproductive system, but also the brain. When women experience hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, depressive symptoms, anxiety, mental confusion, memory lapses, they need to know that these are neurological symptoms and who, at the very least, deserve to be recognized and treated as such.”

What are the taboos regarding menopause that persist in society and in collective thought?
«Menopause is still seen as a forbidden topic, to be talked about in secret, never in an open and public way. This absence of open and serene dialogue it contributes to creating and entrenching feelings of embarrassment, shame and isolationespecially in women in the midst of menopause. Among the most common taboos that die hard is the belief that menopause coincides with the end of a woman’s desirability. The completely incorrect idea persists that women in menopause should be considered outdated, if not finished, with no relevance in society. These taboos contribute to the marginalization of menopausal women and perpetuate ageism and sexism in our culture.”

Can you explain what impact menopause has on the brain?
​​​​​​«Those responsible for this impact are hormones, in particular estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are not just “sex hormones,” as we tend to believe, but also brain hormones. Estrogen in particular plays a crucial role in cognitive function, memory, mood regulation and overall brain health. Since estrogen levels fluctuate greatly during perimenopause and then plummet after menopause, many women experience memory difficulties, poor concentration, and difficulty finding the right words in a speech.”

Have your studies on the menopausal brain added to existing research?
​​​​​​«The truth is that very few scientific studies have focused on the menopausal brain. Furthermore, the few studies carried out focused on women who had already passed menopause some time ago, aged over 60, sometimes 70. My team and I instead focused on what leads to these results, up to and during menopause, in all its different phases. To date we have made significant progress in demonstrate that menopause changes the structure, functionality and even connectivity of the brain. Overall, menopause should be considered as a neurologically active period, which involves both resilience and vulnerability.”