Have you ever lost a word mid-sentence, one you’ve said a thousand times, and it just... vanished?
You laugh it off in the moment, but on the drive home you’re wondering what’s actually happening to you.
In this episode, Dr. Ade Akindipe, DNP, breaks down why up to two-thirds of women experience brain fog in perimenopause, how fluctuating estrogen and progesterone affect serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, and why these symptoms so often get misread as anxiety, ADHD, or a primary psychiatric condition instead of a hormonal one. She also covers why brain fog is usually not dementia, what actually helps, and what a proper evaluation should include.
💡 In this episode, we cover:
- Why up to two-thirds of women experience brain fog during perimenopause, and why it finally has a formal medical definition
- How fluctuating estrogen and progesterone affect serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, your brain’s memory, mood, and calm systems
- Why these symptoms get misread as a primary psychiatric condition
- Why perimenopause brain fog is usually not dementia, and what the research shows
- The red flags that do warrant a prompt evaluation
- How to untangle perimenopause from anxiety and ADHD-like symptoms
- When to seek care and what a proper evaluation includes
- Practical strategies that help, including sleep, movement, and hormone therapy
⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Intro
03:24 How common perimenopause brain fog really is
04:01 What’s happening in your brain: estrogen, progesterone, and receptors
05:04 Why fluctuating hormones, not just declining ones, cause the fog
06:57 Reassuring research: brain fog vs. measurable cognitive decline
07:20 Why it tends to be temporary
10:21 Red flags that deserve a prompt workup
12:43 Perimenopause, ADHD, and how to tell them apart
16:04 Mood changes: when it’s perimenopause, when it’s depression, and why both can be true
21:08 What actually helps: sleep, movement, and hormone therapy
If this episode helped you, share it with a woman in your life who might be dealing with the same thing and could use this information.
Note: This episode is for education and is not medical advice. If you’re experiencing significant mood changes, memory concerns, or thoughts of not wanting to be here, please talk with your provider or contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988).
What is The Elevated Woman's Podcast?
For high-performing women who are exhausted by weight gain, hormonal chaos, and vanishing energy — this is your reset. I’m Dr. Ade Akindipe, a DNP, obesity + hormone specialist, and health coach.
On this show, we demystify metabolism, gut health, hormone balance, longevity, and the root-cause mindset behind lasting transformation.
If you’re ready to stop fighting your body and start living with more clarity, energy, and confidence — this is your space.