Is your brain fog perimenopause, ADHD, or something else?
Dr Kafa Lee is joined by Associate Professor Caroline Gurvich, clinical neuropsychologist and Deputy Director of HER Centre Australia at Monash University, to explore how hormones shape memory, focus and mood across a woman's life, and what you can do now to protect your brain.
In this episode:
How to tell perimenopause brain fog from ADHD
Why women with ADHD may notice perimenopause up to a decade earlier
Brain fog vs dementia, and why dementia is rare in your 40s and 50s
How oestrogen and progesterone interact with serotonin, dopamine and GABA
PMDD in perimenopause and what drives it
Why "progesterone sensitivity" is more complicated than it sounds
Evidence-based ways to protect your long-term brain health
Key takeaways:
ADHD is lifelong. Signs before age 12 help separate it from new perimenopause brain fog.
Women with ADHD appear more sensitive to hormonal changes.
In brain fog, the woman herself usually notices changes most. In dementia, others often notice first.
PMDD is a sensitivity to normal hormone changes, not abnormal hormone levels.
Progesterone and mood don't have a straight-line relationship.
Perimenopause is a window to invest in brain health: exercise, sleep, heart health, hearing and social connection.
If you feel dismissed, trust your instinct and find a doctor who specialises in this area.
Rapid fire by decade:
Under 30: Hormones, including contraceptives, can affect mood and thinking.
30–40: Track your cycle to spot links between hormones, mood and focus.
Over 40: Cognitive and mood changes can start early in perimenopause, often before hot flushes.
📋 Join the research:
Melbourne-based? A/Prof Gurvich's team is recruiting for a study on ADHD, hormones and perimenopause at The Alfred. Register for the study
About Caroline:
Caroline Gurvich is an Associate Professor at Monash University and a Clinical Neuropsychologist. She is Deputy Director of HER Centre Australia, where she leads a research group exploring the neuropsychology of women's mental health. She is also Co-Director of The Neuropsychology Practice and Chair of the Victorian College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (Australian Psychological Society). Her research explores how hormonal changes, such as the menopause transition, influence cognition, and how hormones shape ADHD experiences in women.
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We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Owners of the land on which this episode was recorded.