October 21, 2025

The Menopause-Alzheimer's Connection: Why Timing Matters for Women's Brain Health with Dr. Rachel Buckley (part 2)

The Menopause-Alzheimer's Connection: Why Timing Matters for Women's Brain Health with Dr. Rachel Buckley (part 2)

About This Episode

Dr. Rachel Buckley discusses the critical link between menopause and Alzheimer's risk in women with BrainStorm host Meryl Comer. Dr. Buckley explains that early menopause can be associated with faster cognitive decline and higher tau levels in the brain. She emphasizes the importance of timing for hormone replacement therapy and how estrogen plays a vital role in brain health through receptors that regulate communication between brain regions and mood. Dr. Buckley advocates for proactive conversations with doctors starting at age 40, midlife cognitive checkups around age 55, and better sex-specific reporting in clinical trials, noting that recent Alzheimer's treatments showed dramatically different results in men (42% benefit) versus women (12% benefit). As leader of a Welcome LEAP research team, she's working to cut women's lifetime Alzheimer's risk in half within three years, representing a new wave of prevention-focused research that coincides with the critical menopause transition period. This is a must listen episode!

BrainStorm Feed

100

2025 Year in Review and Predictions for 2026 with George Vradenburg

George Vradenburg, Chairman and Founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer's, sits down with host Meryl Comer for a comprehensive look at the state of Alzheimer's research, advocacy, and care in 2025.
LISTEN NOW
99

The Future of Alzheimer's Trials: AI, Biomarkers, and Remote Research – John Dwyer, CEO of The Global Alzheimer’s Platform (part 2)

In part 2 John Dwyer, CEO of the Global Alzheimer's Platform (GAP), and BrainStorm host Meryl Comer discuss transforming Alzheimer's research and clinical trials.
LISTEN NOW
98

The Future of Alzheimer's Trials: Bringing Cutting-Edge Research to Every Community - John Dwyer, CEO of The Global Alzheimer's Platform

John Dwyer, CEO of the Global Alzheimer's Platform (GAP), highlights GAP's innovations in improving the participant experience through streamlining visits, personalized feedback, and bringing mobile trials directly to small communities.
LISTEN NOW