Alzheimer's in Women: Why Longevity Begins Much Earlier Than We Think

 

When discussing longevity, we often talk about muscles, cardiovascular health, nutrition, and exercise. We usually only talk about the brain when something starts to go wrong.

Dr. Lisa Mosconi clearly demonstrates that this is one of the biggest mistakes in our modern understanding of health—especially for women.

Alzheimer's is not a disease of old age.

For women, it is a disease of midlife.

Why Alzheimer's Disproportionately Affects Women

The statistics are clear and uncomfortable:

• Approximately 2/3 of Alzheimer's patients are women.

• Longer life expectancy does not fully explain this disparity.

The key reason, as Mosconi highlights, is the hormonal transition—specifically perimenopause and menopause—which are not just reproductive events, but fundamental neurological events.

Estrogen is not a "female hormone" in a narrow sense. It is:

• Crucial for brain energy metabolism.

• A protective factor for synapses and neuroplasticity.

• An important regulator of inflammatory and immune processes in the brain.

When estrogen levels begin to fluctuate and then decline, the brain finds itself in an energy crisis. And this crisis begins 10–20 years before the first symptoms of dementia appear.

Menopause as a Turning Point for the Brain

One of Dr. Lisa Mosconi's most powerful theses is:

Menopause is not the end of something—it is a restructuring of the brain.

During this period, women may experience:

• Sleep disturbances,

• Brain fog,

• Anxiety or mood swings,

• Difficulties with concentration and memory.

These are not "normal signs of aging," but signals that the brain is adapting to a new hormonal environment.

And it is precisely here that long-term risk for neurodegenerative diseases begins—or is prevented.

The Role of HRT: Without Ideology, With Science

In her discussions, Mosconi takes a very balanced, non-ideological stance on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT):

• It is not for every woman.

• It is not a miracle cure.

• But at the right time, for the right women, it can offer significant protection for the brain.

The key concept is the "timing hypothesis":

• HRT has potential benefits if introduced during perimenopause or early menopause.

• Later in life, the benefits may diminish or even reverse.

For the Longevity philosophy, this is an important message: timing is more important than the intensity of the intervention.

Genetics is Not Destiny

Yes, the APOE4 gene increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

But Mosconi clearly emphasizes:

Genetics is not a diagnosis.

Lifestyle has a tremendous impact, especially for women.

Interestingly: hormonal status also influences how genetic risk is expressed. This means that caring for the brain in midlife is one of the most powerful forms of prevention—regardless of genes.

What Women Can Do Today

A very clear direction emerges from Mosconi's work, one that aligns perfectly with the philosophy of Longevity Travel:

Brain longevity is built in the daily rhythm of life.

Key pillars:

• Sleep (the brain's most powerful natural "detox").

• Movement (especially aerobic exercise and strength training).

• Brain nutrition (Mediterranean pattern, stable glucose).

• Stress management.

• Mental and social stimulation.

Not as additions to a to-do list, but as a way of life.

Why This Matters for Longevity Travel

At Longevity Travel, we do not view vacations as an escape, but as an opportunity for a reset:

• Of rhythm,

• Of sleep,

• Of the nervous system,

• Of mental space.

Environments like Greece—the silence of the islands, slow days, movement in nature, quality nutrition, and the absence of constant stimuli—are not luxuries. They are a biological necessity for the brain.

For women in midlife, even more so.

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My Next Step: BrainTrip and Measuring the Brain

This conversation did not leave me indifferent.

If at Longevity Travel we encourage people to measure their body, movement, sleep, and metabolism, then the logical question follows: when do we measure the brain?

That is why I decided to undergo a BrainTrip assessment—an electrophysiological measurement of cognitive processes using advanced qEEG technology. Not out of curiosity, but for the same reason I undergo body composition analysis: because I believe long-term health is a matter of data and early signals, not waiting for symptoms.

I must admit, while waiting for the results, I was a little fearful. But then, everything was fine. The measurement showed a score of 87 points, which falls within the reference range and, according to expert interpretation, indicates above-average cognitive health.

Even more importantly: no electrophysiological signs pointing to neurodegenerative changes were detected.

This does not mean we are "done."

It means we have established a starting point.

In the world of longevity, this might be the most important currency: not a perfect score, but a baseline that you can track over the years.

They recommend repeating the measurement every 12–24 months, which makes perfect sense to me. Just as I track body composition, VO₂max, or sleep, I will now track brain vitality as well.

Why I Am Sharing This

Not because everyone should rush to get measured immediately.

But because I believe the paradigm is shifting.

The brain is not something we start thinking about at 70.

For women, as Dr. Lisa Mosconi emphasizes, key changes begin in midlife—during the period when we are most active, creative, and often most burdened.

For me, this step meant:

• Confirmation that what I am doing (movement, sleep, nutrition, mental hygiene) works.

• And simultaneously a reminder that longevity is a process of monitoring, not a one-time decision.

Longevity as a Journey—Also for the Brain

When we talk about Longevity Travel, we are not just talking about destinations.

We are talking about taking time:

• For a reset of the nervous system,

• For deep sleep,

• For movement,

• For mental space.

The brain needs the same care as the body.

Perhaps even more.

That is why I believe that in the coming years, it will be completely normal to include cognitive health measurements alongside wellness retreats and body analyses in our lives. Not out of fear, but out of a desire for clarity.

My experience with BrainTrip was exactly that: clarity. And peace.

Longevity is not something that happens at the end of life.

It begins with the question we ask ourselves today:

How do I want my brain to function in 20 or 30 years?

Closing Thought

The greatest value of Dr. Lisa Mosconi's message lies not in the fear of Alzheimer's, but in empowerment.

The message is clear:

We can do a tremendous amount for our brains—and it is never too early.

Longevity is not a project of old age.

It is a decision of midlife.