Menopause & Mood: How changing hormones increase the risk of anxiety & depression | Felice Gersh, MD

Video Description

Women in menopause are at risk for anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. Mental health is complex, and yes, growing older can present any number of challenges that can affect mood. But these changes in mood aren't just age. They are hormonal. Women in menopause are prescribed antidepressants at an alarming rate, in part because women and their healthcare providers don't fully appreciate how sensitive mental health is to the hormonal changes that are menopause. In this talk I cover: * How menopause increases risk for anxiety and depression * Connections between reproductive hormones and the production of essential neurotransmitters * Gut microbiome changes and the impact on mood * How increased inflammation throughout the body includes neuroinflammation * Solutions, including HRT, mind-body medicine, and lifestyle therapies Watch for my latest Instagram lives at https://www.instagram.com/dr.felicegersh I am a full time practicing doctor. I see patients in my office in Irvine, CA and worldwide via telemedicine. If you need more healthcare assistance than I can provide in a video series, please contact my office: https://integrativemgi.com/​​ ----- Contents of this video --------------------------- 00:00 - Women mental health rates 02:21 - Life & hormone changes 03:22 - Sleep 06:07 - Circadian rhythm dysfunction 07:35 - Serotonin 09:22 - Dopamine 10:30 - Acetylcholine and cognition 12:49 - Reduced vagal tone 14:35 - Gut microbiome and butyrate production 16:47 - Neuroinflammation 17:53 - Solutions