The XX Brain

The Groundbreaking Science Empowering Women to Maximize Cognitive Health and Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

By: Lisa Mosconi, Maria Shriver

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

"In The XX Brain, Lisa meticulously guides us in the ways we can both nourish and protect ourselves, body and mind, to ensure our brains remain resilient throughout our lives." (from the foreword by Maria Shriver)

The first audiobook to address cognitive enhancement and Alzheimer's prevention specifically in women - and to frame brain health as an essential component of women's health.

In this revolutionary audiobook, Dr. Lisa Mosconi, director of the Women's Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell Medical College, provides women with the first plan to address the unique risks of the female brain.

Until now, medical research has focused on "bikini medicine", assuming that women are essentially men with breasts and tubes. Yet women are far more likely than men to suffer from anxiety, depression, migraines, brain injuries, and strokes. They are also twice as likely to end their lives suffering from Alzheimer's disease, even when their longer lifespans are taken into account. But in the past, the female brain has received astonishingly little attention and was rarely studied by medical researchers - resulting in a wealth of misinformation about women's health.

The XX Brain confronts this crisis by revealing how the two powerful X chromosomes that distinguish women from men impact the brain first and foremost and by focusing on a key brain-protective hormone: estrogen.

Taking on all aspects of women's health, including brain fog, memory lapses, depression, stress, insomnia, hormonal imbalances, and the increased risk of dementia, Dr. Mosconi introduces cutting-edge, evidence-based approaches to protecting the female brain, including a specific diet proven to work for women, strategies to reduce stress, and useful tips for restorative sleep. She also examines the controversy about soy and hormonal replacement therapy, takes on the perils of environmental toxins, and examines the role of our microbiome. Perhaps best of all, she makes clear that it is never too late to take care of yourself.

The XX Brain is a rallying cry for women to have full access to information regarding what is going on in their brains and bodies as well as a road map for the path to optimal, lifelong brain health. 

This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF that contains resources, a diet plan, and recipes.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Lisa Mosconi, Maria Shriver (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

 "Dr. Mosconi boldly takes the question of what differentiates men from women away from just the reproductive organs and focuses on the unique characteristics of the female brain. And it is about time! When 2/3 of Alzheimer’s patients are women, clearly a manifestation of the female brain’s uniqueness, we must take notice. The XX Brain is fully empowering, leveraging the very best science allowing women to enhance cognitive health and gain control of their brain’s destiny." (David Perlmutter, MD, number-one New York Times best-selling author of Grain Brain) 

 "Women’s brains have unique risk factors for dementia that until now have been ignored by science. Lisa Mosconi’s path-breaking work changes this paradigm to show women how they specifically can protect and enhance brain function throughout life. Essential reading!" (Max Lugavere, New York Times best-selling author of Genius Foods) 

"This extraordinary book gives women cutting-edge, research-based advice on what they particularly need to know to keep their brains functioning at maximum capacity. Highly recommended!" (J. J. Virgin, New York Times best-selling author of The Virgin Diet)

Great Info, Very dense, did not care for reader

This book is wonderfully informative for women of all ages and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about how to boost health at every age. Even with a masters in neurobiology I found it quite dense and detailed re: recommendations, regiments and supplements, so suggest that you pick and choose the chapters that apply to you - which is hard to do on audio. I really did not care for the person doing the reading - found her to be directive, even condescending. I have seen and heard the author Ms. Mosconi for interviews and did not find her to be that way at all.

Chick-full if necessary information for women to help manage their health

Before reading this book I had no idea how gender-specific much of healthcare needs to be (but is not) and how women’s health has been neglected by research. The author provides the kind of information every woman should bring to conversations with her doctor and many, many tips for how we can improve our health and protect our brains through lifestyle. I just bought a stack of copies to give to my female friends!

Great book!!

This book is very informational and interesting. The author covers a lot. I definitely recommend this book.

Must read for better healthcare

The well thought out and presented information was helpful in understanding and appreciating the uniqueness of individualized healthcare. It was easy to understand and had practical information to take power and control over health decisions and choices for a healthy mind.

lots of valuable information

Well written and read with lots of valuable information. Will look into more works by this author.

Love suggestions based off science!!

As an engineer and lover of science this book was extra amazing for me. It’s a self help, self care, educational, health, fun book that sheds light on the inequality in medicine and research with women’s health! As Alzheimer’s and dementia runs in my family this book helped me understand the extent to which I need to make changes and be proactive in my life. I shared with the women in my family as well and hope more women share this book and the information presented!

Must listen or read

Pragmatic overview of research and practical tip for living. Easy to understand and doesn’t oversell. Hopeful message by an expert

A must read for women of all ages!

I was looking for information on how to increase estrogen in my post menopause life to help with recently diagnosed ADHD and stumbled upon Dr. Mosconi's TED talk. Hearing this was positive and stimulating to hear her focus on healthy brains for women. She is a primary researcher on Alzheimer's but her recommendations are focused on making sure women understand the implications of the food we eat, how much we move, how much we sleep, and how we use our brains, in addition to awareness of toxins in our food and in the environment. Excellent, brilliant, and inspiring writing and content!

Prevention is key

A must read for pre and perimenopausal women! Start now! Wish I’d read this book 15 years ago.

Attention all women!

Wow! The information contained in this book is going to change the lives of many people! Thank you Dr. Mosconi for writing this book and sharing information that can help to improve our brain health! We need this so much…THANK YOU!