Fear sells, especially when it comes to women's health.

One of the biggest claims circulating online is that without Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), your brain will rapidly decline during menopause. But what does the evidence actually say?

In this episode of All About You, Dr Sarah McKay, neuroscientist, author of The Women's Brain Book, and Director of the Neuroscience Academy, joins us to separate scientific evidence from social media hype.

Together, we unpack the latest research on menopause, dementia risk, HRT, sleep, alcohol, and women's brain health. Sarah explains why current evidence does not support using HRT to prevent dementia, why women appear to have higher dementia rates, and why factors like hearing loss, cardiovascular health, sleep regularity, education, and social connection deserve far more attention.

If you're navigating perimenopause or menopause and feeling overwhelmed by conflicting health advice, this conversation offers a balanced, evidence-based perspective to help you make informed decisions without fear.

In this episode you'll learn:

➡️ What the latest research actually says about HRT and dementia

➡️ Why HRT is recommended for symptom relief, not dementia prevention

➡️ Why women are diagnosed with dementia more often than men

➡️ The difference between dementia prevalence and incidence

➡️ What the Women's Health Initiative really found

➡️ Why sleep regularity matters more than total hours slept

➡️ The surprising dementia risk factors most people ignore

➡️ How alcohol affects your brain during midlife

➡️ Why social media often exaggerates women's brain health risks

➡️ What new neuroscience research is revealing about women's brains

➡️ The latest findings on the contraceptive pill and brain health

Whether you're considering HRT, looking to protect your brain as you age, or simply want trustworthy information grounded in science, this episode is packed with practical insights and reassuring evidence.

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Follow Dr. Sarah McKay

https://drsarahmckay.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmmckay/

https://www.instagram.com/drsarahmckay/?hl=en

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Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

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Chapters

00:00 The Biggest HRT Myth

01:00 Does HRT Prevent Dementia?

03:20 What Current Research Really Shows

07:45 Why Scientists Disagree

11:30 Why More Women Have Dementia

16:25 The Lifestyle Risks That Matter Most

20:05 Why Sleep Protects Your Brain

25:20 Alcohol and Brain Health Explained

30:40 New Research on Women's Brains

35:05 The Contraceptive Pill and Brain Health

40:40 Social Media vs Real Science

43:00 Do Babies Leave Cells in Your Brain?

48:05 The Biggest Women's Brain Health Myth

50:20 What Actually Protects Your Brain

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Keywords

Hormone Replacement Therapy

HRT

Menopause Brain Health

Dementia Prevention

Alzheimer's Prevention

Menopause Symptoms

Brain Fog

Women's Brain Health

Dr Sarah McKay

Menopause Expert

HRT Benefits

HRT Risks

Menopause Research

Women's Health Podcast

Dementia Risk

Estrogen and Brain Health

Perimenopause

Sleep and Brain Health

Healthy Aging

Evidence Based Medicine

Women's Health

Neuroscience

Menopause Education

Brain Health Tips

Alzheimer's Risk Factors