Woman's World

Menopause Symptoms No One Warns You About—From Losing Your Labia To Itchy Ears

Cailey Griffin — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:45:47 +0000

By now, most of us can recite the classic signs of menopause in our sleep—assuming we can sleep at all. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irritability, brain fog, insomnia. All familiar territory. But this hormonal transition has a whole roster of quieter, weirder symptoms that almost nobody warns you about, and they can leave even the most prepared woman googling her own body at 3 a.m. If you’ve been blindsided by a strange new ache, itch or change “down there,” you’re not imagining things. Here are some of the surprising symptoms of menopause women say they never saw coming—plus what doctors recommend doing about each one.

7 unexpected symptoms of menopause

Between fluctuating hormone levels like estrogen and progesterone, it’s no wonder women experience so many surprising menopause systems. Here are some of ones no ever told you about:

Itchy ears that drive you up the wall

Yes, really. Ob-gyn Mary Claire Haver, MD, says itchy ears blow up the internet every time she talks about them, and the cause comes down to skin and nerves. As estrogen levels drop, the delicate skin inside the ear canal gets drier, thinner and less lubricated, while nerve endings become more reactive. The result: a maddening, deep itch you can’t reach.

The fix: Dr. Haver’s go-to hack? Spray a tiny bit of Flonase on a Q-tip and gently apply it inside the canal to calm inflammation. A dab of Vaseline, Aquaphor or even coconut oil can soothe the irritation too.

A disappearing labia minora

This menopause symptom stops women in their tracks, often after stepping out of the shower. “Yes, the labia minora absolutely can shrink during menopause,” says ob-gyn Troy Hailparn, MD. “The labia thins, loses definition and in some women appears to recede into the labia majora.” It’s part of a larger condition called genitourinary syndrome of menopause [GSM], which affects roughly 50 percent of postmenopausal women and can bring vaginal dryness, painful sex and recurrent UTIs.

The fix: The gold-standard treatment is local vaginal estrogen, available as a cream, tablet or ring. “I always tell my perimenopausal patients not to wait until intercourse hurts to start the conversation [with their doctor],” Dr. Hailparn says.

Chin hairs with a will to live

If your tweezers have become a daily companion, you’re in good company. “It’s about the balance between estrogen and androgens,” explains board-certified gynecologist Maral Malekzadeh, DO. As estrogen declines, the effects of testosterone become more noticeable, often showing up as coarse hairs on the upper lip, chin and jawline.

The fix: A few natural supplements have study-backed benefits for this bothersome menopause symptom, including spearmint tea, green tea extract, zinc, vitamin D and saw palmetto. If those fall short, talk to your doctor about prescription spironolactone, the topical cream Eflora or laser hair removal.

Phantom smells

You smell smoke. You check every outlet, but nothing’s amiss. It’s called phantosmia, and hormones may be the culprit. “Because estrogen affects the brain and the nerves involved in smell, the early hormone swings of perimenopause could make some women more sensitive to smell or more likely to notice phantom scents,” says Navya Mysore, MD, medical director of women’s health at Nurx. The odors vary from person to person and can be foul or pleasant, often showing up alongside sleep changes, migraines or stress.

The fix: Ask your doctor if menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) may be right for you. “Consider evidence-based treatments like hormone therapy, non-hormonal medications or supplements if appropriate—but always do this consultation with a licensed healthcare provider,” says Dr. Mysore.

Dry mouth and dental problems

If your dentist is suddenly finding cavities or your gums look like they’re receding, hormones may be involved. “Estrogen helps maintain saliva production and gum tissue integrity,” says Somi Javaid, MD, board-certified ob-gyn and founder of HerMD. “As estrogen declines, women experience dry mouth, increased cavities and even gum recession. These changes are frequently missed by dental providers who may not connect them to hormonal shifts.”

The fix: It’s hormone treatments to the rescue again, which targets the root cause of this kind of dry mouth. In the meantime, consider some easy home remedies for dry mouth.

Frozen shoulder out of nowhere

Reaching for a coffee cup shouldn’t hurt this much. There’s now a recognized category called musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause, which includes symptoms like frozen shoulder, joint pain, cartilage loss and osteoporosis. “Frozen shoulder is thought to be due to the lack of estrogen’s effect on connective tissue and inflammation,” says internal medicine physician Janette Gray, MD. Morning joint stiffness is another common sign, because estrogen normally helps protect cartilage and tamp down inflammation.

The fix: Frozen shoulder can last as long as three years (yikes!). To help speed recovery, consider physical therapy and pain-relieving home remedies like stretching, heat and ice therapy and NSAIDs.

A spike in cholesterol

You haven’t changed your diet, you’re still walking the dog, and yet your LDL numbers crept up at your last physical. “It has been noted that LDL cholesterol goes up in many women at menopause, independent of exercise, weight gain or change in diet,” Dr. Gray says. It’s a sneaky menopause symptom that can fly under the radar if you don’t connect it to your hormones.

The fix: Snack on cholesterol-lowering foods like pecans, fill up on fiber and get plenty of regular physical activity to help bring your numbers down. Check out more effective ways to lower your cholesterol naturally.

The bottom line on surprising symptoms of menopause

If you’re noticing strange new symptoms in your 40s or 50s, pay attention to the pattern, especially if they cluster around hot flashes or changes in your cycle. “Don’t accept ‘this is just aging’ as an answer,” Dr. Javaid says. “Push for information, push for treatment and remember: Just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s untreatable.” Your body is talking. It’s worth listening.

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

Why Doctors Say Ages 40 to 65 Are Critical for Preventing Stroke and Dementia

Cailey Griffin — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 20:00:37 +0000

When it comes to health, sometimes it can feel like you’re racing against the clock to adopt the habits that support your wellbeing and longevity. But when so much depends on information you may not have had years ago, whether that’s learning the exercise routine or the eating habits that work best for your body, it’s easy to wonder: Did I run out of time to make a difference? If you’re between 40 and 65 and concerned about protecting your brain and heart from stroke and dementia, you haven’t missed your window. In fact, new research suggests that midlife may be one of the most important times to reduce your risk. Here’s what to know—and why there’s still so much you can do to stay healthy after 65, too.

What is a stroke?

When a stroke occurs, part of the brain suddenly loses blood flow or a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, explains Rab Nawaz, MD, a board-certified neurologist. “Most strokes are ischemic, meaning a clot blocks an artery,” says Dr. Nawaz. “Others are hemorrhagic, meaning bleeding damages brain tissue.”

Dr. Nawaz adds that risk factors for stroke include:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Smoking
Obesity
Sleep apnea
Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
Blood vessel disease
Diabetes

What is dementia?

Dementia refers to a decline in thinking, use of language, judgment, memory or daily function that is so severe it begins to interfere with living independently, says Dr. Nawaz. “Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause, but strokes and small vessel disease can cause vascular dementia, and many people have a mixture of both,” explains Dr. Nawaz.

He adds that the following factors are associated with a greater risk of developing dementia:

Hearing loss
Inactivity
Smoking
Depression
Poor sleep
Social isolation
Older age
Vascular risk factors (high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol)

New research on stroke and dementia prevention in midlife

If there’s one crucial time to focus on stroke and dementia prevention, it’s right now, during your midlife years. Research in Stroke suggests that hormonal changes during menopause, including declining estrogen levels, create unique challenges for women’s brain health and future stroke risk, making ages 40 to 65 a particularly important time to take steps to help prevent stroke and dementia.

“I think the paper makes an important point: Midlife is when many preventable risks begin to accumulate, even though stroke and dementia may not appear until decades later,” explains Dr. Nawaz.

So what changes in the body occur during menopause that influence risk of stroke and dementia? Joseph Kim, MD, vascular neurologist at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine explains.

“Both estrogen and progesterone play important roles when it comes to the health of your blood vessels,” says Dr. Kim. “They promote growth and help to mitigate wear and tear on your blood vessels. Estrogen, additionally, has been found to enhance growth and plasticity of brain networks, affecting cognition. During menopause, both levels of estrogen and progesterone decline, and that has been associated with a variety of factors that increase the risk of stroke and dementia.”

How to reduce your stroke and dementia risk in midlife

After understanding why midlife is such an important time to prioritize a healthy lifestyle that promotes longevity, your next question is likely: Okay, now what do I do? Dr. Nawaz shares three tips to help you stay on track:

Stay on top of your blood pressure

Keep your routine doctor’s appointments, and if you already have received a high blood pressure reading in the past, consider using a home blood pressure reading device to keep tabs your numbers and spot any changes early on, says Dr. Nawaz. “Blood pressure damages small brain vessels quietly over time, so controlling it is one of the strongest ways to reduce stroke and vascular cognitive risk,” he adds.

Get regular physical activity

Committing to movement and exercise can feel overwhelming, especially when you already have a lot on your plate. That’s why Dr. Nawaz recommends getting movement in whatever way feels good to you, starting with 10-minute sessions and gradually building toward about 150 minutes of moderate activity each week (that’s roughly 22 minutes a day).

He says activities like dancing, cycling, swimming or simply walking all help increase the amount of blood flow to the brain while also offering benefits like improving blood pressure, mood, sleep and insulin sensitivity.

Take sleep seriously

You hear it all the time, that sleep is key for health, but here’s a reminder to treat your sleep with the same level of seriousness as you do other aspects of your health. Dr. Nawaz says sleep apnea increases strain in blood vessel function, and interrupted sleep caused by waking up at night worsens blood pressure.

Preventing stroke and dementia after 65

While the ages of 40 and 65 are a particularly important time to focus on preventing stroke and dementia, you’re never too late (or too early!) to focus on prioritizing brain and heart health.

“Under 40, the focus should include healthy blood pressure, smoking avoidance, physical activity, sleep, migraine and contraceptive counseling when relevant and attention to pregnancy-related complications,” says Dr. Nawaz. “After 65, managing blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, hearing loss, sleep, mobility, medications and social connection can still meaningfully reduce stroke risk and support cognitive health. The same core principles apply across adulthood.”

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This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

This Anti-Inflammatory Diet Relieved Her Decades of Arthritis Pain in 7 Days

Allison Nemetz — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 20:00:48 +0000

Got back and joint pain you’d give almost anything to get rid of? Then we think the story of 54-year-old Angel Grier is going to inspire you to try an “arthritis diet” that may be outside your comfort zone—because there’s pretty strong evidence it’s a very fast, cheap and healthy way to restore your comfort once and for all. We’re talking about eating only anti-inflammatory plant foods.

Angel, raised in a meat-loving Italian household, says she’d never have switched to this way of eating on her own, despite having woken up stiff and in pain every day since the early 90s. But her husband, Terry, needed to lower his cholesterol naturally after a scary reaction to statins. While researching option, “I saw a documentary called What the Health,” she recalls. It convinced her plant-based eating could help Terry, so she dove in, learning to make plant-based versions of waffles, hash browns, lasagna and pizza. She ate the food too, just to support her husband. A few days in, “Terry said, ‘Do you realize you’re hopping out of bed in the morning, not holding your back or rubbing your knees? I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I hadn’t realized because it just happened so fast.”

Why a plant-based arthritis diet works so quickly

Turns out, an anti-inflammatory diet like Angel’s “often brings relief from arthritis pain,” says George Washington University adjunct professor Neal Barnard, MD, author of The Power Foods Diet and Foods That Fight Pain. It may take a few weeks or more to notice a difference, but “sometimes the effect is quick—within a week or two.”

Why does it work so well? Plant-based eating helps relieve arthritis symptoms like swelling and pain in multiple ways. First, there’s what you don’t eat: Foods like dairy and processed meat are major inflammatory triggers for many people, “and avoiding them often helps very quickly,” says Dr. Barnard. Plus, plant-based foods are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that have a fast-acting natural anti-inflammatory effect. The one-two punch is likely why Angel experienced such a big difference so quickly.

There’s more. Studies show a plant-based diet has a powerful impact on the trillions of bacteria in your GI tract, helping shift them in ways that dramatically dial down inflammation over the long haul. For a study published in Frontiers in Nutrition, Dr. Barnard’s team tracked folks on a plant-based diet for a full year; their pain relief was notable the entire time. It’s why people like Angel don’t just feel better fast, they stay better. Bonus: The approach was found to work for both osteoarthritis (OA), the type caused by wear and tear on joints, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is caused by autoimmune issues.

Angel lost 127 lbs on this anti-inflammatory arthritis diet

Angel’s joint pain relief came within days, before she’d lost significant weight. But over time, 127 pounds came off. Research shows that for every 11 pounds we drop, the risk of osteoarthritis drops up to 36 percent. That’s because losing weight takes enormous pressure off joints, reducing both pain and inflammation, says Dr. Barnard.

Sure, you relieve pressure no matter how you slim down. But numerous studies confirm a plant-based plan is one of the most effective ways to lose weight without limiting portion sizes. In fact, a 2020 study led by Dr. Barnard found that an average person who began eating unlimited portions of whole plant foods lost 13.2 pounds in 16 weeks while the average Mediterranean dieter lost none at all.

Meanwhile, in an NIH study, fat burning quadrupled when people switched from a keto diet to a plant-based diet. And per the Arthritis Association, studies have also shown that even 10 pounds of weight loss makes RA sufferers three times more likely to experience improvements in their condition.

She’s kept of the weight and is still pain-free

Angel says that when she started eating plant-based anti-inflammatory foods to support her husband, she was eating so much, she initially thought she’d gain weight. The opposite was true. Terry lost weight and got his cholesterol normal, too. These days, Angel has to intentionally go for large portions or she’ll get too thin. “I eat so much food!” reveals Angel, who shares free recipes at Plant-Based-Love.com.

Angel has been blissfully pain free for years. “I don’t even take Advil!” she says. Her advice to other folks who are suffering but hesitant to go plant-based? “Try it for seven days,” she says. “I promise you, after that seven days, you’re gonna be like, ‘Oh my God.’ Your joint pain will start to go away that quickly.”

How to try an arthritis diet for yourself

To eat like Angel and help reduce joint pain while losing weight, skip all animal products and simply enjoy unlimited portions of whole, natural plant foods. That means colorful fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds. Think whole grain cereal with fruit and oat milk for breakfast, a giant bean burrito for lunch and a bottomless bowl of pasta with roasted veggies and marinara for dinner. To avoid excess calories without tracking or measuring, skip oil. You can get a free plant-based kickstart kit that Dr. Barnard helped create.

It’s never too late to ease your pain and transform your health

Angel’s 75-year-old mom Frani, a lifelong carnivore, made the switch after Angel convinced her to try it. She lost 68 pounds and completely reversed her type 2 diabetes in the process. How are her joints? She’s taking dance classes and running circles around people half her age.

“She looks amazing. Her skin’s amazing. It’s just crazy.” Angel adds with a laugh: “I might have to give her a pork chop to slow her down!” If a meat-loving woman in her 70s can transform her health, that might be a sign that you can do it too.

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This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

Doctors Reveal the Best Foods for Eye Health—Do Carrots Make the List?

Carissa Mosness — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:00:16 +0000

We’ve all heard that eating carrots will improve our eye health, but is that actually true? Well, according to the experts, carrots can help vision and the overall health of your eyes, but they’re far from the only foods that protect our sight and help ward off age-related eye disease. Below, we share the top foods doctors recommend for bettering your eye health.

First, are carrots actually good for your eyes?

“Carrots can support eye health because they contain vitamin A, which is essential for vision,” says Andrew G. Lee, MD, chair of ophthalmology at Blanton Eye Institute at Houston Methodist. However, they are just one source of this nutrient, and they are not a cure-all for improving eyesight, he explains. “It’s also important to note that excessive intake of vitamin A can lead to toxicity, so balance is key. Carrots are best viewed as part of a varied, nutrient-rich diet rather than a standalone solution for eye health.”

The 4 best types of foods for eye health

Along with carrots (in moderation), experts recommend the following tasty foods for eye health:

Leafy greens

According to Meenal Agarwal, OD, one of the best things people who are looking to improve their health can eat is leafy greens such as spinach, kale and collard greens. “They are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin.” she explains. “These are carotenoids that act like ‘internal sunglasses’ and help protect against macular degeneration [AMD].” (Learn more about age-related macular degeneration self-care.)

Fatty fish

If you’re looking to make a meal out of foods that good for eye health, Karen Allison, MD, MBA, FACS, a Prevent Blindness board member and associate professor of clinical ophthalmology at University of Rochester—Flaum Eye Institute, says eating foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps. This can include fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, seafood such as mussels and oysters as well as flaxseeds.

“The retina has a higher oxygen consumption rate than the brain, so it is particularly vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies. For those who use digital devices for long periods of time [over seven hours daily], the importance of antioxidant-rich diets is underscored, as screen use increases retinal oxidative stress,” she explains. “Following an omega-3-dense diet remains the most evidence-based strategy for preventing or slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and retinal degeneration.”

Citrus fruits, berries and bell peppers

These colorful fruits and vegetables are filled with vitamin C, which Dr. Allison says is crucial when it comes to eye health. That’s because the vitamin can help form connective tissues in the cornea, which can then help thicken the shield that protects the delicate inner parts of the eye from damage over time.

Nuts, seeds and avocados

Dr. Allison also notes that eating foods that are rich in vitamin E can help strengthen the cornea, making them an important part of a healthy diet that supports eye care over time. These can include nuts, seeds and avocados.

“Diet is an important modifiable factor in long-term eye health,” she stresses. “A recent Prevent Blindness consumer survey revealed that nearly 75 percent of respondents believe they would have symptoms if something was wrong with their vision or eye health. In fact, many serious eye diseases such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy often have no symptoms in their early stages.”

Foods to skip to protect your eye health

While eating the right foods can help reduce the risk of sight-robbing eye conditions like AMD, cataracts and glaucoma, there are some foods that can hamper our vision over time. According to Dr. Allison, that includes ultra-processed foods, excessive sugar and trans fats, since those can “contribute to increased systemic inflammation and oxidative stress.” It’s best to limit them as much as possible.

Dr. Lee agrees, saying “diets high in simple carbohydrates, processed foods and trans fats are not as healthy. In general, a balanced, whole-food diet is one of the most effective ways to support both eye health and overall health.”

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This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

Halle Berry Reveals Creatine Helps Her Manage This Menopause Symptom as Early Evidence Expands

Samantha Agate — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:30:48 +0000

Halle Berry says creatine has become a key part of how she manages menopause brain fog, a shift she described on the February 2026 episode of “The Run-Through with Vogue” podcast. The Oscar winner is using her platform to push past stigma and share exactly what she takes and why.

Why does Halle Berry take creatine?

Berry says she takes creatine because it helps reduce brain fog, one of the most common cognitive symptoms women experience during menopause. She added the supplement after rethinking her wellness routine when she learned she was in perimenopause.

“I’m taking an all new set of vitamins and supplements. Magnesium, I’m taking creatine. I thought, ‘Creatine? I’ll never take creatine. That’s going to blow me up.’ No, a girl needs that for brain fog. It helps with brain fog,” Berry said on the podcast. She also said she takes peptides in addition to other supplements as part of a wider overhaul of how she approaches her health in her late 50s.

What other menopause changes has Halle Berry made to her routine?

Berry has changed her diet, her workouts and her mental health practices since learning more about menopause.

“I used to be very keto and I didn’t have any carbs, no pasta, no rice. I realized down this path of life I need some carbs. I need them more probably in vegetables but I also need a little rice. I lift heavier than I ever used to lift. I never lifted weights. I always did like cardio or running or something very physical. Now I’m just in the gym lifting weights,” Berry said.

Does research support creatine for menopause symptoms?

Early research suggests creatine may help with muscle strength, bone health and possibly cognitive function in women going through menopause, though experts say more study is needed. A 2025 study followed 15 women with a mean age of 54, including five in perimenopause and 10 in postmenopause, who paired creatine supplementation with twice-weekly strength training over 14 weeks.

The study found significant increases in lower body strength across both groups, and perimenopausal women showed improvements in sleep quality. Yasi Ansari, MS, RDN, CSSD, senior dietitian at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, told UCLA Health that “early research suggests creatine may support muscle and bone health, especially post-menopause when estrogen declines.” Ansari added that some studies suggest creatine may help with memory and concentration under stress or sleep deprivation.

Why did Halle Berry start the Respin menopause wellness brand?

Berry founded Respin to break the stigma around menopause after she says she was diagnosed with perimenopause at 54 with no warning from her doctors. She has said women deserve better information about a stage of life that can last decades.

“I was one of the millions of women who spent 4-5 years of their lives being misdiagnosed, or not diagnosed at all,” Berry wrote on the Respin website. On the podcast, she emphasized that women now spend roughly half their lives in a menopausal body and that there are more than 100 possible symptoms. “Doctors don’t really understand the menopausal body,” she said, noting it is only a small section of medical school training.

Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms Women Over 50 Should Never Ignore

Rachel Cosma — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 01:30:48 +0000

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to protecting your brain health. Alzheimer’s disease affects roughly 6.9 million Americans, and women face higher rates than men. But here’s the encouraging news: by understanding Alzheimer’s disease symptoms and recognizing your personal risk factors, you can take meaningful steps today to support your memory for years to come.

What Alzheimer’s disease actually is

“Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological condition that impacts our memory,” says Laura Korin, MD, MPH, medical director at One Medical and chief women’s health officer at Seek. When the disease develops, brain cells slowly degenerate and lose connection over time, which can affect both short- and long-term memory.

While dementia is an umbrella term for a range of conditions that affect cognition and behavior, Alzheimer’s is a specific disease—and the most common type of dementia, responsible for up to 80 percent of cases, according to Michael McGrath, MD, chief clinical officer and medical director at The Ohana Hawaii. The disease is partly caused by a buildup of tau and amyloid proteins in the brain, which causes brain cells to die over time.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in nine Americans age 65 or older has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The good news? Researchers now believe up to 40 percent of dementia cases may be preventable through lifestyle factors.

Alzheimer’s disease symptoms you need to know

Catching the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease early gives you the best chance to act. Some of the most common warning signs of Alzheimer’s include:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life. Occasional forgetfulness happens to everyone, but frequent lapses warrant a conversation with your doctor.
Trouble communicating. Dr. Korin describes this as “repeating words, telling stories that are hard to follow and forgetting what you were talking about.”
Changes in mood or behavior. Increased anger, irritability or paranoia can be early signals someone may be developing Alzheimer’s disease
Withdrawal from social activities. An increased desire to be alone may signal a shift.
Difficulty with familiar tasks. Trouble with problem solving, orientation or recognizing surroundings can be an early Alzheimer’s disease symptom.

Alzheimer’s typically develops in adults 65 and older and progresses over time, but early-onset Alzheimer’s can appear sooner. Forgetfulness or losing awareness of time or place—even in your 50s—is worth discussing with a healthcare provider.

Risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease

Some risk factors are out of our control, but many can be influenced by everyday choices.

Risk factors you can’t change

Age is the biggest factor when it comes to your odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Family history also plays a role—if a parent or sibling has Alzheimer’s, your risk increases by about 30 percent.
Genetics are another piece of the puzzle. Variations in the APOE gene, especially APOE ε4, are the most commonly identified genetic risk factor. That said, having the gene doesn’t guarantee you’ll develop the disease.

Risk factors you can modify

Heart health: What’s bad for your heart is bad for your brain. A Johns Hopkins University study tracking nearly 16,000 middle-aged adults found that those with midlife vascular risk factors like diabetes or high blood pressure had a greater chance of developing dementia.
Weight: A 38-year study of 1.3 million adults concluded that individuals with a high body mass index (BMI) are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. People with type 2 diabetes also face a much higher risk. “When insulin resistance develops in the brain, glucose metabolism is impaired,” explains Gowri Rocco, MD, MS, founder of Optimum Wellness and Longevity.
Lifestyle habits. Smoking, heavy drinking, brain injury, depression and social isolation all contribute too. A landmark study by the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care found that 35 percent of dementia cases could be prevented by addressing lifestyle-related risk factors throughout our lives. (Check out how to quit smoking starting today.)

How to reduce your Alzheimer’s risk

Fortunately, there are steps you can take today to help safeguard your memory. Here’s what our experts recommend:

Move your body. Research in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that planned, structured exercise—even a daily 30-minute walk three days a week—slows cognitive decline.
Eat for your brain. The Mediterranean and MIND diets, rich in vegetables, berries, fish and whole grains, are linked to better brain health. “What is heart healthy is also brain healthy,” says Meredith Bock, MD, board-certified neurologist.
Prioritize sleep. Quality rest supports memory consolidation and brain detoxification.
Stay social and mentally engaged. Puzzles, gardening, learning new skills and regular connection with loved ones all support cognitive health over time.

The bottom line on Alzheimer’s disease symptoms

If you’re noticing changes in yourself or a loved one, talk to your doctor. Two FDA-approved medications, donanemab (Kisunla) and lecanemab (Leqembi), can help slow the disease’s progression when caught early. As Brent Forester, MD, of Tufts Medical Center, advises: “It’s really important to talk to your doctor right away and ask what could be helpful. Don’t be afraid.”

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Scientists Successfully Reversed Aging in Human Stem Cells and the Key Was Hiding Inside the Bloodstream

Allison Palmer — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:02:18 +0000

For most of medicine’s history, blood has been treated as a delivery system that carries oxygen, nutrients and waste. Two new studies suggest that view sells our own biology short, and they could reshape what longevity science looks like over the next decade. The research points to powerful anti-aging tools already circulating inside the human body.

The first study, published in May 2025 in the Journal of Natural Products, identified three previously unknown compounds produced by a bacterium that lives in human blood.

The second, published in November 2025 in Cell Stem Cell, showed that aged blood stem cells in mice can be functionally rejuvenated by fixing a single cellular defect. If you’ve been curious about the skin longevity routine dermatologists actually recommend, this research adds an interesting new layer to that conversation.

How blood bacteria may protect aging skin

A team of Korean researchers studying Paracoccus sanguinis, a bacterium only discovered in human blood in 2015, found that it produces three indole-based metabolites. Two of the three had never been documented before in any organism.

When tested on lab-grown human skin cells, the compounds reduced reactive oxygen species, the unstable molecules that fuel inflammation and collagen breakdown. They also lowered two inflammatory proteins and blocked MMP-1, an enzyme that degrades collagen and accelerates visible skin aging.

One compound, labeled metabolite 11, showed the strongest protective effect and is flagged in the Journal of Natural Products study as the leading candidate for future anti-aging applications. The work was funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea.

This is early laboratory research. The compounds haven’t been tested in humans and aren’t available in any commercial product.

Scientists reversed aging in blood stem cells

The Mount Sinai study, published in Cell Stem Cell, was led by Dr. Saghi Ghaffari at the Icahn School of Medicine and focused on hematopoietic stem cells, the cells that produce all of the body’s blood.

In aged mice, these cells showed lysosomes that were hyperacidic, damaged, depleted and abnormally active. Lysosomes are the small recycling centers inside cells that break down and reuse worn-out parts.

When researchers restored healthy lysosomal function, the old stem cells started behaving like young ones again. They regained regenerative capacity, and inflammatory and interferon-related pathways quieted down.

“Our findings reveal that aging in blood stem cells is not an irreversible fate. Old blood stem cells have the capacity to revert to a youthful state, they can bounce back,” Ghaffari said.

The team is now exploring whether the same lysosomal dysfunction in aged stem cells helps drive leukemia.

What this means for the future of skin longevity

Read together, the two papers reframe blood as an active longevity system rather than a passive carrier. Bacteria living in human blood appear to produce protective compounds. Blood-making stem cells can be functionally rewound. Both possibilities were considered fringe just a few years ago.

The skin connection is the most immediate hook for readers. If the Korean team can isolate and stabilize metabolite 11, it could eventually feed into a new class of skincare or oral compounds aimed at reducing oxidative stress and preserving collagen.

The Mount Sinai findings open longer-term doors, including better stem cell transplants, safer gene therapy and treatments for age-related blood disorders.

None of this is available today. Both studies are foundational, and human trials would be required before any product reaches consumers. The work was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, New York State Stem Cell Science and France’s Agence Nationale de la Recherche.

What’s changed is the direction of the field. Researchers aren’t only asking how to slow aging from the outside anymore. They’re starting to ask how the body’s own blood, and the organisms living in it, might already be doing some of that work.

New Science Found That Menopause Changes the Heart at a Genetic Level Before Symptoms Even Appear

Allison Palmer — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:43:10 +0000

Heart disease kills more American women than any other condition, and new research suggests scientists have been underestimating what menopause actually does to the cardiovascular system. The finding could reshape how doctors think about prevention and how women approach the years around midlife.

For decades, the explanation focused on estrogen loss. A March 2026 review in the journal Cells from Virginia Tech points to something more fundamental: menopause appears to alter the body’s gene regulation system itself, switching cardiovascular risk genes on and off in ways that may persist regardless of hormone levels. If you’ve been following the growing conversation around hormones and women’s health, this finding adds an important new layer.

How menopause changes the heart at the genetic level

Led by Sumita Mishra at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, the Virginia Tech team examined how estrogen loss during menopause alters the epigenome, the chemical layer that controls which genes are active in any given cell. If the genome is the sheet music, the epigenome decides which notes get played and how loudly.

The researchers found that estrogen loss reorders the score inside cardiovascular tissue. Epigenetic mechanisms have been studied extensively in breast cancer, but their role in heart disease was largely unmapped until now.

Related work from the Mishra lab published in Hypertension found that estrogen-dependent signaling in the heart and blood vessels shifts after menopause, contributing to changes in vascular function and metabolic regulation.

The team also flagged HFpEF, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, as a particular concern. It’s a form of heart disease that disproportionately affects women and becomes more common after menopause.

Why hormone therapy is back in the conversation

A companion study from Penn State College of Medicine, published in Obstetrics and Gynecology in April 2025, revisited Women’s Health Initiative data and found that estrogen-based hormone therapy meaningfully improved several cardiovascular markers.

Led by Matthew Nudy, the reanalysis tracked 2,696 WHI participants over six years. Both hormone therapy formulations tested reduced LDL cholesterol by roughly 11%, raised HDL, lowered total cholesterol and improved insulin resistance.

The most striking finding involved lipoprotein(a), a genetic risk marker for heart attack and stroke that most women have never heard of. It isn’t affected by diet or most medications, but hormone therapy lowered it.

The reduction was more pronounced in participants with American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry, at 41% and 38% respectively, though researchers say the reason isn’t yet clear.

The benefits align with what cardiologists call the timing hypothesis: HRT appears most protective when started within 10 years of menopause or before age 60.

What this means for women right now

Heart disease causes nearly 1 in 3 deaths among women, according to the CDC. A February 2026 American Heart Association scientific statement projected that nearly 6 in 10 U.S. women will have some form of cardiovascular disease by 2050, driven by rising rates of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

The Virginia Tech researchers caution that hormone therapy alone can’t undo every epigenetic change. Diet, exercise, metabolic disease and genetic predisposition all interact with the same pathways. The takeaway should be to focus on treating women’s midlife stage as a cardiovascular turning point that deserves the same attention as a cholesterol diagnosis or a family history of heart attack.

That includes asking a doctor about lipoprotein(a) testing, which many women have never been offered, and revisiting the HRT conversation with current evidence rather than the 20-year-old data that still shapes a lot of the fear around it.

I Had 4 Eye Surgeries—These Are the Retinal Detachment Symptoms I Ignored

Carissa Mosness — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:30:09 +0000

If I could use one word to sum up my eye health journey, it would be long. Not hard, excruciating or annoying—long. The reason? It lasted over a year and a half and resulted in four surgeries to fix two separate issues: retinal detachment and double vision. And yes, I’m aware of how ridiculous that sounds. To be honest, if I hadn’t lived through it, I would have thought it all sounds a touch dramatic. But having lived through it, I can assure you it was far more complicated than I ever expected. Now, I’m ready to share what happened, the symptoms of retinal detachment every woman needs to know, treatment options that can help and the far-reaching effects of my experience.

The first symptoms of retinal detachment

My eye health journey began in August 2024 when I started to notice flashes of light and floaters in my right eye. They lasted for about a day and were annoying, but I didn’t think it was anything serious at first. That is, until I woke up the following day and realized my peripheral vision was gone. And by gone I mean anything to the right or left of me was black. I could only see something if it was right in front of me. Fearing the worst (potential permanent vision loss), I visited my eye doctor, who said I was showing symptoms of a retinal detachment and referred me to Columbia Ophthalmology.

Upon my arrival, my doctor, Erin Flynn, MD, ran a series of eye tests before ultimately declaring that my right retina was fully ripped. We still don’t know how it happened. After all, I didn’t have any of the common risk factors for a retinal tear or detachment (a history of cataract or glaucoma surgery, severe eye trauma, a family history of detached retinas or having a degenerative eye condition). But Dr. Flynn believed my severe nearsightedness—or myopia—played a part in the issue.

“I was shocked by how extensive the detachment was. The detachment involves your macula, where your central vision is. Usually people [with retinal detachment] become symptomatic before that and alert their eye doctor about their symptoms,” Dr. Flynn says. “But I see some people who just don’t notice their detachments even when they’re that extensive.”

My first surgery wasn’t without side effects

Dr. Flynn recommended a surgery called a scleral buckle, which involves placing a small piece of silicone sponge, rubber or plastic around the sclera—the white part of the eye. This helps the eye wall move slowly inward, allowing the retina to reattach. It was a painful procedure, and afterward, I was sensitive to light for a week.

I also began experiencing double vision—also known as diplopia—and inversion of my right eye (the one she had just operated on). The cause? A weak muscle in that eye.

“Scleral buckle is generally the one we do in younger patients. We suture a silicone belt to the outside of the eye. It runs under the muscles of the eye. We push the wall of the eye into the retina, and this helps the fluid under the retina go away on its own,” explains Dr. Flynn. “The scleral buckle can cause double vision because we are putting a belt under the eye muscles. And it can be a tougher healing journey than [a type of surgery known as] vitrectomy. It can be an uncomfortable surgery too.”

So, what did that mean for me? Not one, but two more surgeries.

Next up, surgeries two and three

My first double vision surgery, or as Steven E. Rosenberg, MD, likes to call it, my first strabismus (meaning the eyes are misaligned or “cross eyed”) surgery, happened in February 2025. Trust me when I say that this one was far more painful and made me look horrible. It also didn’t fully work. Sure, the inversion was fixed, but I was still experiencing double vision.

“You have a condition where the ‘pulleys’ that hold your muscles in place and the ring that holds the pulleys in place were stretched out from your nearsightedness,” Dr. Rosenberg explained to me after the procedure. “The back of the eye was getting stuck between your muscles, which caused the double vision.”

Frustrated by lingering double vision, I agreed with Dr. Rosenberg to wait it out a little longer to see if it cleared. But 10 months later, we agreed I needed another surgery in November 2025. This time, because my right eye was so damaged from the first two procedures, Dr. Rosenberg decided to operate on my left eye instead.

Confused, I asked how that could possibly help, since my left eye had been fine all along. His plan was to lower my left eye muscle to match the right eye. If it worked, the double vision would disappear and I’d finally be in the clear.

Thankfully, Dr.Rosenberg was right, and a week later my double vision was gone. I wasn’t technically cleared yet and wouldn’t be until March 2026, but I was happy and excited to get on with my life. And I did. But just 30 days after I got cleared, the flashes of light and floaters returned. This time they were in my left eye, not my right.

Scared, I went back to the eye doctor, who confirmed that I had another retinal detachment and needed surgery. Talk about bad luck.

Fourth time’s a charm?

Carissa Mosness after her fourth eye surgery
Carissa Mosness

At the end of April 2026, I had another scleral buckle surgery—this time in my left eye—by Aliaa Hamed Abdelhakim, MD, PhD, and Irmak Karaca, MD. I’m going to be completely honest: It was the scariest, hardest, most anxiety-inducing thing I had ever experienced. To make matters worse, every doctor I talked to couldn’t believe I had to have another retina surgery so close to my first one. After all, only 1 in every 10,000 people have a retinal detachment, and I happened to be one of the unlucky ones who had it twice. I mean, come on.

Thankfully, the surgery itself went well. But just two weeks later, my stitches popped out of my eye and I had to go to the emergency room to get them removed. It was one of the most awful nights of my entire life, but I’m happy to report that I’m finally on the mend.

My double vision has lingered

Unfortunately, my double vision has returned, which is especially frustrating since this post-op issue only affects 5 to 25 percent of patients—and I happen to have had it twice. Even so, Dr. Rosenberg is hopeful it will resolve on its own. I am trying to be hopeful as well, but after this whole journey, it’s a little hard. Even so, I am doing my best, because I know that having a good attitude is one of the keys to healing both your body and your mind.

“I’d say the most surprising thing about your case was your young age. Retinal detachment usually occurs at much older ages as the vitreous [the jelly-like area] in the eye changes. This is not to say that retinal detachments at a young age are unheard of, but usually signify a stronger genetic predisposition to detachment,” Dr. Hamed Abdelhakim explains. “You had some weak areas in the retina called ‘lattice degeneration,’ and under the right conditions, these can cause breaks in the retina like a hole in wallpaper stuck to a wall. Fluid from the eye can then go into that break and peel the retina off its support.”

The retinal detachment symptoms you should never ignore

Throughout this journey, I spent a lot of time learning about eye health. And while I wouldn’t consider myself an expert, I am hopeful that by sharing my experience and what I’ve learned, I can draw some much-needed attention to retinal detachment symptoms, double vision and more.

One my important takeaways: You should never ignore the following retinal detachment symptoms:

Flashes of light
Floaters, which can look like specks floating across your vision
Peripheral vision loss
Blurred vision

How you can protect your eyes today

I also learned that despite being such a small part of our body, there’s a lot happening in our eyes, and we need to take care of them. Some ways to do that include:

Getting dilated eye exams at least once a year (or more often if your doctor recommends)
Eating plenty of healthy-eye foods like spinach, kale, salmon and tuna (which are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that support healthy visions)
Wearing sunglasses and protective eyewear

And yes, I am aware these things can’t fix every eye issue. But I also know they won’t harm anything. They will only help and hopefully heal, and at the end of the day, that’s all any of us can ask for.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

Could Your Eye Floaters Be a Symptom of Posterior Vitreous Detachment? What You Need To Know

Carissa Mosness — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:00:43 +0000

One of the most common vision changes we face as we age is bothersome flashes and eye floaters. In some cases, the little streaks of light and black spots don’t mean anything, but other times they can be symptoms of a condition called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). According to the Macular Degeneration Foundation, the condition, which sounds scarier than it is, affects 75 percent of people by the time they turn 65. But what exactly is PVD, and what are the symptoms that signal it could be something more serious We share everything you need to know below.

What is posterior vitreous detachment?

PVD is a common age-related eye condition where the gel-like fluid (called vitreous fluid or vitreous gel) in your eye shrinks and separates from the retina, the part of the eye that processes color and light. According to Dagny Zhu, MD, board-certified ophthalmologist and 1MD Nutrition Scientific Medical Advisory Board Member, it’s “not dangerous, and the subsequent floaters are just a nuisance.”

She does warn, though, that there are rare cases of posterior vitreous detachment that “lead to a retinal tear or detachment, which is a sight-threatening emergency.” (More on that below.)

Posterior vitreous detachment symptoms to watch for

Some of the most common symptoms of PVD, according to Dr. Zhu, include:

Flashes of light
Floaters (specks floating across your vision)
Seeing small gray or black dots, “spider webs” or larger gray clouds
Experiencing black “sheets” that float across your vision like a “smudge” on a lens

The most common posterior vitreous detachment symptom, though, is eye floaters. “As their name suggests, floaters often move across the vision as the patient moves their eyes up, down and all around, and are most obvious when looking at a white or light-colored background, ” Dr. Zhu explains.

“Rarely, PVD can also cause a ‘flashing light’ sensation lasting a few seconds in the periphery of one’s vision,” Dr. Zhu says. “This represents the posterior vitreous detaching and causing pulling/tractional forces on the peripheral retina as it continues to detach.”

Who’s most at risk for posterior vitreous detachment?

Risk factors for posterior vitreous detachment you need to be aware of include age, nearsightedness (myopia) and prior eye surgery or trauma.

“Highly myopic eyes are more elongated than normal, which leads to the retina becoming more stretched and thinner than normal,” Dr. Zhu says. As a result, “the vitreous jelly does not adhere as well. It’s also why there’s a higher risk of retinal tears and detachments in highly myopic eyes—the ‘sticky’ vitreous jelly can take a thin piece of the retina with it as it detaches, causing a retinal hole or tear.”

When posterior vitreous detachment symptoms may signal something serious

While the vast majority of PVD cases are harmless and common during the aging process, in rare cases, symptoms of posterior vitreous detachment could be a sign of an eye emergency.

“A black shadow in the peripheral part of one’s vision is an emergency and signals the fact that not only the vitreous jelly, but the retina itself has begun to detach,” Dr. Zhu cautions. “This retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss if not fixed by a vitreoretinal surgeon immediately.” In short, if you notice this alarming symptom, seek urgent medical care.

How PVD is diagnosed and treated

If you notice any eye floaters, flashes or other changes in your vision, visit your ophthalmologist for an eye exam. Your doctor can run a series of tests, including an eye ultrasound, dilation drops, scans and even vision tests, to determine if you’re experiencing posterior vitreous detachment symptoms.

After the diagnosis, treatment can begin. According to Dr. Zhu, that can include “observation to see if it is better over a few months and years as the floaters settle downward or the brain neuroadapts and ‘ignores’ the floaters.”

If time alone doesn’t work, Dr. Zhu says that your doctor may recommend YAG laser vitreolysis (aka “laser floater removal”), which is a non-invasive, outpatient procedure that breaks up the floaters in the eye over one or more laser sessions.

“At my practice, for bothersome floaters, I will perform YAG laser vitreolysis as first-line treatment, as the majority of cases can be resolved or significantly improved with this in-office, minimally invasive procedure,” she says. “For larger diffuse floaters that do not respond well to YAG laser vitreolysis, I refer [patients] to a vitreoretinal surgeon for vitrectomy, which is curative but comes with greater risks including infection, retinal membrane formation and even retinal detachment.”

The bottom line on PVD

While a posterior vitreous detachment diagnosis may sound alarming at first, know that it’s more common than you think and typically more of a nuisance than it is something to worry about. By knowing the symptoms—including when to seek urgent care—and recognizing that there are beneficial treatments that can help, you’re taking the first step toward protecting your vision for years to come.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

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