This week on the Nina’s Notes Podcast, I sit down with Nahid Zoukaei, an Oxford researcher, cognitive neuroscientist, and founder of Cerebella, to explore why menopause may be one of the most overlooked neurological transitions in a woman’s life.

We talk about the connection between menopause, brain fog, memory loss, and Alzheimer’s risk, why women are often dismissed when reporting cognitive symptoms, and how hormonal changes can directly affect the brain during midlife.

Dr. Zoukaei also shares the science behind estrogen and brain health, the future of non-drug cognitive therapies, and what women can do today to better protect their long-term cognitive health.

KEY TOPICS:

* How hormonal changes during midlife affect memory, focus, mood, and cognition.

* Why menopause-related brain fog is a real neurological symptom, not “just stress.”

* Exploring why women make up the majority of Alzheimer’s patients.

* How estrogen supports memory, cognition, and overall brain function.

* Why women’s midlife health has been historically overlooked in science and healthcare.

* How non-drug cognitive interventions may help support women’s brain health.

* The importance of sleep, exercise, hearing health, and staying mentally active during midlife.

TIMESTAMPS:

* 00:00 – Why 60% of Alzheimer’s Patients Are Women

* 00:39 – Leaving Academia to Build a Women’s Brain Health Startup

* 05:13 – The Menopause–Alzheimer’s Link Explained

* 06:27 – Understanding Menopause and Brain Health

* 13:55 – Brain Fog Is Not Taken Seriously And What Brain Fog REALLY Means

* 17:36 – Women Are Being Gaslit About Menopause Symptoms

* 19:18 – Menopause as a Window to Prevent Alzheimer’s

* 23:34 – Why Most Brain Training Apps Don’t Work

* 29:06 – Building Brain Games for Women in Midlife

* 35:11 – Early Symptoms Women Should NEVER Ignore

* 38:35 – Why Women’s Health Research Is So Behind

* 42:11 – What Women Can Do TODAY for Better Brain Health

* 45:41 – Why So Many Women Quit Their Jobs During Menopause

* 47:21 – The Worst Advice Doctors Give Women

ABOUT NAHID ZOUKAEI: Nahid Zoukaei is a cognitive neuroscientist, Oxford researcher, and Founder of Cerebella, is focused on advancing women’s brain health through science-backed digital therapeutics and non-drug cognitive interventions. After more than a decade researching dementia, cognition, and aging, she now works at the intersection of neuroscience, menopause, and Alzheimer’s prevention helping redefine how women’s cognitive health is understood and supported during midlife.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Website: https://www.cerebella.health/

WhatApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/H5tNvI5LPAE4OmOOeBrHc1

Professor Aimee Spector’s Lab: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/1239-aimee-spectorNahid Zoukaei Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nahid-zokaei-b3795563/

ABOUT NINA’S NOTES: Nina’s Notes explores the intersection of longevity science, neuroscience, and human optimization. Hosted by Nina Patrick, PhD in pharmaceutical sciences and longevity researcher, each episode translates cutting-edge research into actionable insights for living longer, better.