| | | | March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on our resilience, achievements and impact—but also an opportunity to examine where we are today and how far we still need to go, especially when it comes to women’s health.
For generations, women’s contributions were sidelined, and the same can be said for the way midlife women's health has been treated—overlooked, underfunded and misunderstood. While we celebrate pioneers like Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S., we also recognize that women’s health research has only recently started to address the realities of perimenopause, menopause and aging.
The good news?
Progress is happening. In just the past year, we’ve seen historic commitments to menopause research, conversations around women’s midlife health gaining mainstream attention and more women demanding better care.
Women’s History Month reminds us that change doesn’t happen on its own—it’s built by those who refuse to accept the status quo.
So this month, we’re celebrating not only the women who shaped history but also those making history today by advocating for equitable, science-backed healthcare. Because ensuring midlife women get the support they need isn’t just about wellness—it’s about honoring the full trajectory of women’s lives. |
| Meet the Neuroscientist Redefining Alzheimer’s Prevention—Why You Should Pay Attention For decades, Alzheimer’s disease has been framed as inevitable—a slow, unstoppable decline with no real solution. But Dr. Dale Bredesen, a leading expert in neurodegenerative diseases, is challenging that narrative. Through his groundbreaking research, he has uncovered a precision medicine approach that not only helps prevent Alzheimer’s but has also led to the first documented reversals of cognitive decline.
In his new book, The Ageless Brain, Bredesen lays out a proactive, science-backed roadmap for lifelong brain health—which is especially critical for women, who face a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer’s than men. Bredesen recently spoke with Flow Space about what midlife women can do now to protect their cognitive future, an often-overlooked key to brain health and the most rewarding aspect of his work. |
Your research challenges the idea that Alzheimer’s is inevitable. What first led you to explore prevention and reversal instead of just treatment? When I set up my own laboratory, after training with two Nobel laureates, the goal was to establish the first model of neurodegeneration in a dish, so that we could identify the basic mechanisms involved. Over 30 years in the lab, we did just that, and the findings provided us with a completely new view of Alzheimer’s disease—not as a simple disease of “misfolded proteins” or “amyloid” but rather as a complex disease involving a network insufficiency.
The network we studied, which is involved with neuroplasticity—altering our brains with experience, subserving learning and memory—requires ongoing energetic support (blood flow, oxygenation, mitochondrial function, nutrients, etc.) and is compromised by inflammation and toxicity. Therefore, it became clear that any optimal treatment would require identifying the various factors that compromise the network for each person and then addressing them.
This approach has led to the first reversals of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s (we published in 2014), the best results in clinical trials (published in 2022), and we have an ongoing trial now at six sites around the U.S.—and the first sustained improvements for over 10 years (published in 2024).
This same approach allows us to prevent Alzheimer’s, and, of course, the earlier one starts to do prevention or reversal, the easier it is to achieve. This comprehensive, precision medicine type of approach is quite distinct from the mono pharmaceutical approach that has not been effective to date.
In The Ageless Brain, you highlight the importance of a proactive, preventative approach to cognitive health. For midlife women—who face a higher risk of Alzheimer’s than men—what are some of the most impactful, science-backed steps they can take today to safeguard their brain health for the future? Yes, as Maria Shriver has pointed out, Alzheimer’s is a woman-centric disease with 65% of patients and 60% of caregivers being women. There is now greater risk for Alzheimer’ s in women than breast cancer, and in the United Kingdom, the number one cause of death in women is Alzheimer’s disease.
However, there is now much that can be done to minimize risk—indeed, with what is now known, with new early blood-based biomarkers and effective prevention and treatment, Alzheimer’s-related dementia is becoming optional for those willing to be evaluated and start active prevention.
We recommend that anyone who is 35 or over check their biomarkers (such as p-tau 217, GFAP and NfL) and risk factors (such as homocysteine, hs-CRPl and fasting insulin) and begin active prevention. For any who develop symptoms, please do not wait, and obtain a “cognoscopy” (blood tests, cognitive test and MRI with volumetrics) and begin a precision medicine protocol, since that has shown the greatest success in reversing decline.
Some examples of the basics:
Sleep study to determine whether one has sleep apnea. Eighty percent of cases of sleep apnea go undiagnosed, and this is a common contributor to cognitive decline, both in women and men.
HIIT exercise is associated with reduced risk, and two other types are worthy of mention: EWOT (exercise with oxygen therapy), which increases both blood flow and oxygenation, and Kaatsu bands (restriction bands), which increase response to exercise, essentially giving you “more bang for your buck.”
Brain stimulation is showing clearly positive effects on brain chemistry and cognition. One example is brain training, such as BrainHQ, another is photobiomodulation.
A plant-rich, mildly ketogenic diet supports cognition by multiple mechanisms: creating insulin sensitivity, reducing inflammation, enhancing detoxification, improving the gut microbiome, improving hemoglobin A1c, improving nutrients and improving vasculature, among others.
One of the most intriguing aspects of your research is the role of lifestyle and environmental factors in neurodegeneration. What is one commonly overlooked factor that you believe plays a crucial role in maintaining cognitive function? One commonly overlooked factor is insulin sensitivity. Over 70 million Americans have insulin resistance, and this is the precursor to pre-diabetes and then diabetes, so it is essentially pre-pre-diabetes. It is often coupled with hypertension, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol, triglycerides and other lipids), and increased waist circumference, in which case, it is called metabolic syndrome. This is a common cause of liver damage (metabolic liver disease) and a major risk factor for cognitive decline, one that is reversible with appropriate metabolic and lifestyle changes.
How do you find flow within your everyday life? What gives me the greatest sense of peace and worth is hearing from those who previously had no hope but have now reversed their cognitive decline. It is time to reduce the global burden of dementia, and this will enhance flow for millions. |
Spotlight on Spring Skin & Self-Care Spring might be on the horizon, but our skin hasn't quite gotten the memo. The combination of lingering winter air and indoor heating has left many of us dealing with dryness, dullness and the occasional unwelcome fine line. If your skin is feeling more parched than refreshed, now’s the perfect time to double down on hydration and nourishment.
A good moisturizer is the foundation of any cold-weather skin routine, but when it comes to keeping skin supple and firm as we age, not all lotions are created equal. Look for ultra-hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, shea butter and ceramides, to restore moisture, while peptides and retinol can help smooth and firm. And don’t forget the body—moisturizing regularly can go a long way in keeping crepey skin at bay.
Lips, too, need extra attention this time of year, especially if your go-to balm just isn’t cutting it. One surprising solution? Nipple cream. Packed with lanolin, a powerful emollient, it creates a long-lasting moisture barrier, making it a cult-favorite hack among skin care lovers and even a few Hollywood insiders, including White Lotus star Carrie Coon.
For those looking to level up their skin care routine without taking a trip to the doctor or the med-spa, a new wave of non-invasive treatments is making it easier than ever to achieve firmer, more radiant skin at home. Microcurrent devices, LED therapy and at-home chemical peels are just a few options that can boost collagen, even skin tone and minimize fine lines—all from the comfort of your home.
Winter may be hanging on, but that doesn’t mean your skin has to suffer through it. With the right hydration, a few targeted skin care upgrades and a little extra self-care, you’ll be glowing well before the first flowers bloom. |
SUPPORTING Midlife Monologues, a groundbreaking night of storytelling featuring award-winning authors, actors, singers and artists, by purchasing a ticket to the event’s livestream. For those who’ll be in the Charleston, South Carolina area on the evening of March 12, tickets are still available to join this “part play, part pep-rally” that’s back after last year’s sold out performances.
ACHIEVING weight loss goals through personalized, comprehensive care thanks to Weight Loss by Hers, a science-backed program that combines customized medication with ongoing access to healthcare providers, meal plans and recipes, movement guides and sleep support—available 100% online.
SHOPPING for a matte lip tint that doesn’t sacrifice hydration and nourishment for a pop of color, like Thrive Causemetics Sheer Strength Moisturizing Matte Lip Tint with its weightless formula that’s infused with skin-loving ingredients to instantly hydrate, blur the look of fine lines and visibly smooth the appearance of texture on lips. Plus, this 100% vegan and cruelty-free product was inspired by renowned breast cancer oncologist and bestselling author Elizabeth Comen; one of the six matte shades is even named “Dr. Elizabeth,” in honor of her.
WATCHING the recently released Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar, a dramatization of the story of so-called “wellness guru” Belle Gibson, who claimed to cure her own brain cancer through healthy eating, natural medicine and alternative therapies. While scammer sagas are nothing new, the show goes a step further, highlighting the maddening gaps in our modern medical system. |
| It's Not Too Late to Register! Join us at the SHE Media Co-Lab @ SXSW in Austin, Texas, March 7 - 9 for powerful sessions centered on Women’s Whole Life Health. Together, along with our still-expanding lineup of standout speakers, we will learn, inspire, debate and build infinitely powerful bridges to ensure access to the science and stories that benefit us all.
Want to help shape the future of women's health? RSVP HERE!
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