Mother’s Day has always held a special place in my heart. It’s a time to honor the women who raised us, supported us, inspired us — and now, as I prepare to become a first-time mom myself, it’s taken on an entirely new meaning. I’m celebrating not just the amazing mothers in my life, but also reflecting on how we can better care for our minds, not just our hearts.
This year, I’m thinking a lot about how we support women’s brain health — something we don’t talk about nearly enough, even though it affects millions of families.
Here’s the show-stopper: nearly two-thirds of the 7.2 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s in 2025 are women. Not only are women at higher risk, but they also face a 30% greater likelihood of dying from the disease than men (alz.org, swhr.org).
Why? It’s not just that women live longer. Hormonal shifts, especially around menopause, genetics, and even lifestyle factors unique to women, play a role (wtop.com).
Before pregnancy, I didn’t fully appreciate the rollercoaster of hormones women ride throughout our lives. But now, I’m deeply aware of how much those changes impact everything — including memory and cognition.
Menopause is often associated with hot flashes and night sweats, but brain fog — trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, word-finding difficulty — is just as real and often more disruptive. Declines in estrogen and progesterone affect the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex — regions critical for memory and executive function. (health.harvard.edu, thewomensalzheimersmovement.org).
The good news: research shows that lifestyle changes like regular aerobic exercise, a Mediterranean-style diet, good sleep, and stress management can protect cognitive function during these transitions and may lower future dementia risk. It’s something I have to gently remind myself of — especially now, when pregnancy symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and forgetfulness can make even basic routines feel like a challenge. These habits aren’t just good for me now — they’re good for my long-term brain health.
We all lose our keys or blank on names occasionally. But there’s a difference between normal forgetfulness and early signs of dementia. If someone starts repeating questions, getting lost in familiar places, or struggling to manage daily tasks, it may be time to check in with a doctor.
According to experts, normal forgetfulness improves with cues, while dementia causes persistent memory problems that interfere with daily life (psychologytoday.com, webmd.com).
Early detection matters. It opens doors to treatment, lifestyle adjustments, and — most importantly — hope.
Here’s something I’ve realized during this pregnancy: for many women, our OB/GYN is our primary doctor well into our 40s and 50s (acog.org). But even during well-woman visits, brain health rarely comes up.
There’s no national standard for including cognitive screenings, and most OB/GYNs don’t routinely ask about memory, focus, or mental clarity — despite the clear links to hormonal health. In 2020, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force concluded there was “insufficient evidence” to recommend for or against cognitive screening in asymptomatic older adults (uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org). The result? Brain health discussions are often crowded out by cervical swabs and blood pressure cuffs.
This Mother’s Day, here’s how we can all help protect the minds of the women we love:
If you’re in the Chicago area this Mother’s Day weekend, join us for “Capturing Memories” — a free Community Brain Health Day on Saturday, May 10, at Insight Hospital in Bronzeville.
Sponsored by Neurogen Biomarking, Linus Health, and the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation, the event includes:
Bring a friend, bring your mom, or just bring your curiosity. Let’s make this the year we center brain health in how we care for the women who care for everyone else.
Register at www.mybrainday.com
Whether you're a mom, love a mom, or are about to become one — I hope this Mother’s Day is a reminder to care for your brain as much as you care for everyone else. Protecting cognitive health isn’t just about today; it’s about making sure we’re here, fully present, for all the moments that matter.
Happy Mother’s Day! 💐
This article is written by Judy Mullavey, PhD.
Judy Mullavey is the Vice President of Strategic Growth at Linus Health, where she leads strategic partnerships and new market development.