THE MIDLIFE BRAIN SYMPOSIUM
WHY THE BRAIN MATTERS IN MIDLIFE
Menopause is often discussed through symptoms, hormones and personal health. But the brain is an essential part of the story. It has implications for cognition, sleep, mood, energy, confidence and the way women experience midlife at work and beyond.
The Midlife Brain Symposium brings these perspectives together—connecting emerging science, lived experience, clinical knowledge and the realities of work.
WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR YOU?
For Professional Women and Women Leaders
Around two in three women report cognitive concerns during the menopause transition.
Brain fog, disrupted sleep, memory lapses and changes in concentration can make women question their own abilities—especially when they do not understand what is happening.
Learn how the menopause transition can affect the brain, how to distinguish symptoms from competence and what may help you protect your brain health, confidence and ability to lead.
For Clinicians
Cognitive concerns are among the most commonly reported experiences of the menopause transition.
Yet brain fog, sleep disruption, stress, mood changes and memory difficulties can be interconnected and difficult for women to interpret.
Hear current evidence across menopause, sleep and brain health—and gain a fuller understanding of the questions women are bringing into clinical conversations.
For Researchers
The workplace implications of the menopause-related brain transition remain underexplored.
We still know too little about how hormonal changes interact with cognitive load, interruptions, stress, sleep and workplace design.
Connect women’s lived experiences with emerging scientific questions. Insights gathered through Symposium discussions and anonymous polls will help identify knowledge gaps and priorities for future research.
For Employers, HR and Workplace Leaders
Nearly one in six U.S. workers is a woman between the ages of 45 and 64.
Menopause symptoms are estimated to cause $5.4 billion in annual U.S. productivity losses—and that estimate does not include costs associated with early retirement, missed promotions or movement into lower-paying roles.
Learn how symptoms and workplace conditions can intersect—and how better-informed work design and support can help organizations retain experienced women without mistaking symptoms for lost competence.
BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION
No single group can address this issue alone. Women need knowledge and language for what they are experiencing. Clinicians need a fuller view of women’s cognitive and working lives. Researchers need better questions grounded in lived experience. Employers need evidence-informed ways to respond.