Welcome back to BrainBeat, the podcast dedicated to exploring the world of brain health where, this week, host Dr. Heidi Rossetti is joined by Dr. Pauline Maki, a leading researcher on women's brain health from the University of Illinois. Together, they explore the menopausal transition, unpacking what science says about how fluctuating hormones impact memory, mood, sleep, and cognitive aging. This essential episode separates evidence-based fact from common fiction surrounding menopause and cognition.

The discussion details measurable cognitive changes, particularly a temporary dip in verbal memory, and Dr. Maki explains how physical symptoms like hot flashes and sleep loss are directly tied to brain health and memory. She goes on to clarify the confusing data on hormone therapy and dementia risk, highlighting its appropriate uses while cautioning against its use solely for prevention. The conversation also stresses the critical health disparities faced by Black and Brown women, who often endure more severe and prolonged symptoms, underscoring the need for personalized care.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] How Menopause Affects Cognition and Memory

[06:52] Distinguishing Menopause Symptoms from Alzheimer’s Disease

[09:05] The Truth About Hormone Therapy, Cognition, and Dementia Risk

[13:04] Managing Symptoms: The Link Between Hot Flashes, Sleep, and Brain Health

[19:36] Critical Health Disparities in Menopause for Black and Brown Women

[24:05] Building a Resilient Brain: Proactive Lifestyle Strategies

[30:17] The Future of Menopause Research and Personalized Treatment

Key Takeaways:

"There's really one domain of cognitive abilities that changes longitudinally as we as women transition from being premenopausal to perimenopausal…That's our ability to listen to verbal material, to encode it, and then... recall what you learned verbally."

"The science that I've been doing over the past 15 years links hot flashes themselves with declines in verbal memory, with changes in brain circuitry underlying memory performance.”

“The more hot flashes women have, the more Alzheimer's disease biomarkers they have in their blood."

"Black and brown women who live in poverty... showed persistent declines into the post-menopause.”

"Menopause is an opportunity to build resilience in our brains.”

"The good news about menopausal hormone therapy is that it's effective for treating, we think, cognitive issues related to sleep deprivation because it does improve sleep in women whose sleep is disrupted by hot flashes."

"Evidence suggests that 40% of our risk of dementia is under our control with those lifestyle factors. And so that's really good news for women."

Links:

BrainWise | Brain science for healthy living

Pete Stavinoha welcomes everyone back to the National Academy of Neuropsychology Foundation’s Brain Beat podcast today for yet another discussion on brain health and brain function. This time around, he is joined by Dr. Stephen Hooper, the internationally recognized leader in the field of child neuropsychology who, among his many accomplishments, is the Associate Dean of Medicine, Chairperson of the Department of Health Sciences, tenured Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, and Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Together, they explore the intricate world of brain development disorders as our guest shares details from his recent book, Basics of Child Neuropsychology.

Infusing it with his extensive knowledge on neurodevelopmental disorders and the genetic and environmental factors that influence brain development, Dr. Hooper notes that he has actually tailored his book for educators and clinicians who want to understand the complexities of brain function without diving too deep into technical jargon. In this discussion with Pete, he touches on the evolution of neuropsychology, foundational brain development, and neurodiagnostic procedures. Focusing on specific genetic disorders like Down syndrome and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Dr. Hooper also explains their manifestations and the importance of evidence-based interventions. Today's fascinating and informative episode finds our experts meeting at the intersection of neuropsychology, pediatrics, and child psychiatry, as they provide a comprehensive overview of how genetic and environmental factors shape brain development while highlighting the ongoing need for effective treatments.

Episode Highlights:

• Dr. Steven Hooper and his extensive background in child neuropsychology
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• The structure and themes of Basics of Child Neuropsychology
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• Foundational neuropsychology and neurodiagnostic procedures
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• Brain development stages and the impact of genetic factors
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• Genetic disorders such as Down syndrome and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and their neurocognitive, academic, and psychiatric manifestations
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• Evidence-based treatment options and the need for more research in this area

Key Takeaways:

“I cobbled together things to make it work for that audience so that I can sort of nurture their excitement and interest in this area, as well as not intimidate them with some of the lexicon and the things that we get into with the brain.”

"The brain is really critical at almost everything that we do."

"Genetics truly sort of lay out the blueprint of what things could look like."

"You have this wide constellation of the way things should be, and then the way things evolve when that genetic blueprint is disrupted."

"We have the formation of the neural tube in that first month of life, and it's very, very critical."

"This is a population of kids where there's a high rate of psychiatric illness with a rate of...25% to 30%, having some form of schizophrenia spectrum disorder by the time they're in their late teens to early twenties."

Links:

National Academy of Neuropsychology Foundation website

Basics of Child Neuropsychology

Dr. Peter Arnett, renowned professor at Penn State University and a past president of the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN), welcomes the esteemed Dr. Maureen O'Connor to the Brainbeat podcast today. A board-certified neuropsychologist celebrated for her role as the Director of Neuropsychology at the Bedford Veterans Hospital and her position as an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Boston University, Dr. O'Connor's remarkable expertise centers on Alzheimer's disease and her dedicated mission to develop interventions that enhance patient functioning while alleviating the substantial burden placed on caregivers. Together with our host, she delves deep into the crucial realm of caregiving and dementia, illuminating the emotional, mental, and physical challenges that caregivers confront, while also unveiling the invaluable resources at their disposal. Deftly navigating sensitive topics, including driving cessation and end-of-life care, Dr. O’Connor provides indispensable guidance to those grappling with these intricate issues.

Her illuminating insights offer a profound understanding of the world of dementia caregiving, a role predominantly shouldered by older adults, often family members who find themselves navigating their own health-related concerns. The episode explores the emotional toll on caregivers, characterized by elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and stress, all while shedding light on the social and financial implications of this pivotal role. Throughout the episode, a resounding message emerges—the paramount importance of caregivers prioritizing self-care. The conversation here today underscores the significance of constructing a robust care team, comprising healthcare providers, friends, family, and support groups, all of whom are indispensable for caregivers to deliver optimal care. As the multifaceted dynamics of the caregiver-patient relationship are unveiled, the ever-evolving nature of this profound connection becomes evident. In essence, this latest episode of Brainbeat imparts invaluable insights, serving as a powerful reminder that caregivers cannot pour from an empty cup, and highlights the critical need for self-care and unwavering support in the challenging realm of dementia caregiving.

Episode Highlights:

• Older adults as caregivers
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• Balancing the care of aging parents with young children
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• The high rates of psychological, social and financial challenges experienced by caregivers
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• Building a care team
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• Difficult conversations around topics like driving cessation and end-of-life care
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• Expanded support to rural caregivers through telehealth services
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• Prioritizing self-care
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• The significant impact of preexisting relationships on caregiving dynamics

Quotes:

"You can't pour from an empty cup. You need to care for your own physical and emotional needs."

"Often our dementia caregivers are so involved in caring for their loved one that they're not caring for themselves."

"Not everybody has WiFi for video visits, but we can also think about telehealth as telephone visits."

"These are daughters and sons and spouses and siblings, and that preexisting relationship can be complex, can be challenging."

"The relationship between caregiver and patient is a dynamic one, with evolving needs and challenges."

"Telehealth services are expanding to support rural caregivers, broadening access to care."

Links:

National Academy of Neuropsychology Foundation website

Maureen O'Connor's BU Profile