Brain Power: Clarity, Concentration and the Hormonal Link
One of the biggest transitions a woman will experience in her life, is the transition through Menopause. It is a slow process for most and can last around 10 years for many. One of the most challenging symptoms you may experience whilst navigating this journey are those that originate from your brain. Insomnia, hot flushes, anxiety, brain fog and memory changes; these all come from the declining estrogen receptors in our brain.
What? Estrogen in my brain?
That’s right, Estrogen doesn’t just reside in your ovaries, our brains have an abundance of estrogen receptors and as estrogen starts to leave the building, the amount of these estrogen receptors decreases. The delicate dance between the brain structures that give the signals to the ovaries to produce estrogen, are also sensitive to this powerful hormone, and as the receptors become starved of estrogen due to declining production that occurs during the menopausal process, they start to die off and the brain undergoes an incredible period of change, often triggering the uncomfortable and undesirable symptoms typically experienced by women in this phase of their lives.
This happens as a natural process, to modulate our brain function, preparing it for the next phase of life. A phase where we don’t need to be switched on for procreation, but instead move into our role as the grandmothers and holders of wisdom. Passing on our knowledge to the youngest generation in a way that has been cleverly designed by nature to ensure that our genetic memories are shared, and their survival ensured.
But these declining estrogen receptors in the brain also contribute to an increased potential for Alzheimer’s in women. As if we don’t have enough to worry about right!
It's not all about women!
Estrogen has neuro-protective actions that help to maintain healthy brain function. Estrogen decline happens for both men and women, so men aren’t immune from the effects of this hormonal change. For women this decline happens rapidly through the menopausal process whereas it happens more slowly for men (Maioli et al, 2021).
As this brain modulation occurs it can combine with other factors to increase the occurrence of cognitively impairing symptoms that many find so crippling. Fortunately, there are ways we can slow this natural process of ageing.
Ginkgo to the rescue!
The Ginkgo Biloba tree is the most ancient living tree, its beautiful fan shaped leaves turn a brilliant yellow and are a sight to behold. There is a quiet, reverence about the Ginkgo tree, as it holds the memory of life on earth itself, having been here for 200 million years (Cohn R, 2013) it also supports us with preserving our own ability to remember.
Ginkgo has neuro-protective, circulatory, and vasodilatory properties, meaning it can protect your precious neurons, and help to light them up, breathing new life into a tired and foggy brain.
Here at Abeeco we care about our brain health, every day we are looking at ways that we can make our lives easier, healthier, and more productive, with this in mind we love our Brain & Memory Performance for its ability to help keep us on task, supporting healthy brain function and protecting those critically important estrogen receptors!
Abeeco’s Brain & Memory Performance blends the ancient herb, Ginkgo with Bilberry, Eyebright and nutrients such as Thiamine, Glutamine and Taurine, this synergy of herbs and nutrients ensures that your brain gets the daily support it needs for optimal performance. Try it for yourself today, and experience the increase in clarity and concentration that Ginkgo is known for!
References
Maioli S., Leander K., Nilsson P., Nalvarte I (2021) Estrogen receptors and the Ageing Brain. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8628183
Cohn R (2013) The Life Story of the Oldest Tree on Earth. Retrieved from: https://e360.yale.edu/features/peter_crane_history_of_ginkgo_earths_oldest_tree