A new study from Fordham University has started conversations that have been needed for a long time. Led by Professor Marija Kundakovic and backed by the NIH, it looks deep into how menopause changes the brain on a cellular level, going far past symptoms we can see or feel.
For too long, women in Crystal Lake and across the country have been told that mood swings, memory trouble, or anxiety during menopause are just part of getting older. This research shows there is much more happening beneath the surface.
What happens with hormones during menopause changes how the brain works in ways that matter for mood, focus, and even the sense of self. It backs up what functional medicine has noticed for years: hormones don’t just guide the body. They have a big hand in how women think, feel, and show up in their daily lives.
What the Fordham Study Found
The team at Fordham discovered 40 different biological markers that change in the brain during the various stages of menopause. These shifts allow scientists to actually see how hormones like estrogen touch brain chemistry. Estrogen does more than regulate cycles or hot flashes; it affects the areas in the brain tied to emotion, sleep, memory, and stress response.
This research doesn’t just explain symptoms with facts. It brings real hope. Someone who feels scattered or moody during midlife may not just be “stressed.” Their brain is responding to changes that most routine screenings miss. It means that what’s been called “just part of menopause” now has a name, a reason the changes are happening.
Why This Matters for Mental Health
So many times, women are handed a diagnosis of depression or anxiety without anyone checking their hormone levels first. That’s risky. When hormones like estrogen drop, it can change the brain’s chemistry fast. It can make sleep tough, cause quick mood swings, or zap energy overnight.
Here’s why this research matters so much. The common answers, like counseling or mood medication, might lend a little support. But when hormones are at the root, these options don’t solve the problem. Only finding and treating the real cause can stop the cycle of feeling off, tired, or unlike yourself.
Could Your Mood Disorder Be Hormonal?
Mood symptoms often look the same, whatever the cause. Feeling down, anxious, foggy, or unmotivated can all be part of a mental health diagnosis. The trick is that these exact shifts happen when hormones fall out of balance in perimenopause or menopause.
Many times, women end up with antidepressants when what they might need is something much different. Functional medicine is built on getting to the core, testing hormone panels, checking nutrition, and seeing how adrenal function is holding up. If there’s always fatigue, brain fog, or irritability, it may point to shifting estrogen, thyroid changes, or stress signals like high cortisol.
A body-wide review can make all the difference, opening up support that matches the real source of the symptoms.
What We’ve Seen in Real Life
The story repeats in doctors’ offices everywhere, and it’s the same in Crystal Lake. So many women come in saying, “I don’t feel like me anymore.” They might have managed busy careers and families, but suddenly struggle with forgetfulness, low energy, and being on edge for no clear reason.
Once hormones are tested and cared for, big changes can happen. Memory sharpens. Mood brightens. People often feel like they’ve found themselves again.
Every person’s path is unique, but the ideas in this new research match what has been seen for years in clinics that look deeper. It says much of what women have worried about or been told is “just age” is actually explainable, real, and fixable. The feelings are valid and not a weakness.
A New Way to Understand Menopause
For years, menopause has been taught as just one tough chapter to survive, with hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep problems. This new science flips the story. Menopause is a full-body and brain event that deserves actual care and understanding.
Instead of accepting fuzzy thinking or emotional lows as “the way it is,” the research opens the door for better support. Mood changes that were dismissed before can often be tied to real shifts in the body. With new knowledge, real solutions become possible. Options go beyond quick fixes to actually help the brain and body recover balance.
What This Could Mean for You
If you’ve felt written off when asking about mood swings or memory loss, this research explains why. It pulls blame away from women and puts the spotlight on hormonal shifts instead. Feeling sad, worried, or mentally cloudy is not a flaw, and it’s nothing to feel bad about. It’s a sign that your body may need true support, not just someone to say, “That’s normal.”
This new view joins up emotional health and physical health, especially for women stepping into or through menopause. When care takes the full body and mind into account, it opens doors to help that really works. If you’ve found yourself “not feeling like you” during menopause, it’s worth asking what is really at play beneath those symptoms.
Feeling off, moody, or mentally foggy isn’t something you just have to push through. Hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause are more connected to these symptoms than most people realize. We look beyond the surface to identify what’s really going on and offer personalized, evidence-based support through functional medicine in Crystal Lake. Contact Serenity NP Integrative Health today to start feeling more like yourself again, clear, steady, and balanced.
