“Menopause and ADHD: How Estrogen Changes Impact Dopamine, Cognition, and Women’s Health” [Video Replay & Podcast #380]

Access the video replay, listen to the podcast episode (#380), download the slide presentation, and learn how to get a certificate of attendance for this ADHD Experts webinar originally broadcast on November 18, 2021.

ADHD Expert: Jeanette Wasserstein, Ph.D. Verified Updated on January 12, 2024
Click to Read 1 Comment 💬

Episode Description

“Now what did I come here for? I can’t remember.” This is a proverbial complaint among women living through perimenopause and menopause. This complaint reflects the prevalent occurrence of memory and other cognitive problems, as well as struggles with mood regulation, during menopause.

Many women, ADHD or not, complain about increased difficulties with attention, organization and planning, memory, sleep, and mood during menopause. As yet, no clear links have been established between ADHD and mental changes during menopause. However, estrogen plays a pivotal role in regulation of many neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, which are also central to ADHD symptom expression. Logically, it stands to reason that loss of estrogen would influence the ADHD brain.

This webinar discusses estrogen loss during middle age, how it impacts cognition, and how it may either worsen or even “create” ADHD. We also will consider lessening the impact of these changes by using practical strategies and interventions such as pharmacotherapy, psycho-education, and CBT targeted to improve executive functioning.

In this webinar you will learn about:

  • The role of estrogen in cognition
  • Cognitive changes during menopause
  • The impact of menopause on ADHD or the development of “pseudo-ADHD”
  • Practical management techniques to help women with ADHD meet the challenges of menopause

Watch the Video Replay

Enter your email address in the box above labeled “Video Replay + Slide Access” to watch the video replay (closed captions available) and download the slide presentation.

Download or Stream the Podcast Audio

Click the play button below to listen to this episode directly in your browser, click the symbol to download to listen later, or open in your podcasts app: Apple Podcasts; Google Podcasts; Stitcher; Spotify; Amazon Music; iHeartRADIO.

More on Menopause, Women, and ADHD

Obtain a Certificate of Attendance

If you attended the live webinar on November 18, 2021, watched the video replay, or listened to the podcast, you may purchase a certificate of attendance option (cost: $10). Note: ADDitude does not offer CEU credits. Click here to purchase the certificate of attendance option »

Meet the Expert Speaker:

Jeanette Wasserstein, Ph.D., is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, New York. She is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist who has spent the last 20 years specializing in the diagnosis, research, and treatment of adults with ADHD. She also focuses on educating those who treat or live with the condition. She has published numerous articles and book chapters regarding the nature of ADHD and associated comorbidities, as well as its assessment and treatment. You can reach her at her website CNSsupport.com or via email, [email protected].

Listener Testimonials

“It’s good to see that the link between menopause and ADD is being taken seriously.”

“I LOVED the topic and the speaker! Great info and conversation starter ideas for PCPs and oncologists!”

“This was very relevant to my personal experience. I really appreciated the validation and ideas for managing it.”

Webinar Sponsor

The sponsor of this week’s ADDitude webinar is….

Inflow is the #1 app to help you manage your ADHD. Developed by leading clinicians, Inflow is a science-based self-help program based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy. Download now on the App Store and Google Play Store.

ADDitude thanks our sponsors for supporting our webinars. Sponsorship has no influence on speaker selection or webinar content.

Follow ADDitude’s full ADHD Experts Podcast in your podcasts app:
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Amazon Music | RadioPublic | Pocket Casts | iHeartRADIO | Stitcher