The changing hormone levels that women experience during perimenopause and menopause can have a significant impact on brain health. The hormone oestrogen plays a vital role in brain function, and it is common for women to experience changes in cognition, memory and mood during perimenopause. These brain changes can be exacerbated by other symptoms, like anxiety and disrupted sleep, creating a cycle of stress and cognitive strain that is difficult to cope with.
FEMMEBIOME™ PERIMENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE SYMPTOM SURVEY
At FemmeBiome™, we are committed to uncovering how brain health shifts during perimenopause and using this knowledge to create innovative interventions that support women’s mental well-being during this pivotal life transition. We surveyed over one hundred women, in collaboration with Health Innovation Hub Ireland and University College Cork, to better understand the impact of perimenopause symptoms on daily life. The most severe and prevalent symptoms reported in the survey were brain related. Three out of four women experience sleep disturbances during perimenopause and over 60% report suffering anxiety and brain fog. Half of the women surveyed said they have difficulty concentrating and over 40% were experiencing mood changes because of perimenopause.
The data collected in this survey is no surprise; international research has found that 85% of women experience symptoms during perimenopause and menopause and over one third have considered giving up work as they believe these symptoms are negatively impacting their professional performance.
MICROBIOME AND BRAIN HEALTH
The good news is that recent discoveries in microbiome research have shone a light on new approaches to support brain health and mental well-being. The gut microbiome consists of more than 100 trillion microbes that live within the gastrointestinal tract. We now know that in addition to aiding digestion, these microbes are essential for a broad range of functions related to whole-body health including brain health. The connection between the gut microbiome and the brain is often referred to as the “gut-brain axis”. Our gut bacteria produce bioactive compounds which are critical for brain function. Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid and metabolites like short-chain fatty acids are produced in the gut and play key roles in mood regulation and cognitive function. Maintaining a diverse and healthy gut microbiome can impact our mood and our responses to the stresses of everyday life through the gut-brain axis.
The FemmeBiome™ perimenopause and menopause symptom survey reveals an urgent truth – women need better solutions to manage brain-related symptoms during this life stage. At FemmeBiome™, we are tapping into the powerful science of the gut-brain axis to create products that nurture a balanced, diverse microbiome — helping women not just cope, but thrive through perimenopause and menopause.