I AM YOU is hosted by Dr. Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights to help women protect the heart that carries them through every stage of life — and step into their power as the CEO of their own health.

In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks directly to the fear so many women carry in silence: forgetting words, losing focus, walking into a room and forgetting why they are there, or wondering if something is wrong with their brain. For many women, these moments are deeply unsettling — but as Dr. Alvarez explains, they are often not signs of dementia at all. They may be signs of perimenopause.  

Dr. Alvarez breaks down the science behind brain fog during the menopausal transition, explaining that estrogen is not just a reproductive hormone — it is also a brain hormone that affects memory, focus, processing speed, blood flow, and inflammation. When estrogen fluctuates, the brain feels it. And for many women, that can show up as cognitive changes that feel scary, frustrating, and isolating.  

With clarity and reassurance, she explains:

• Why brain fog is one of the most common symptoms of perimenopause
• Why hormonal changes can affect both the brain and the cardiovascular system
• Why this stage of life is not just a hormonal transition, but also a heart health transition
• The myths women are often told about brain fog — and the truth behind them
• The minimum tests worth discussing with your doctor, including lipid panel, fasting glucose/insulin resistance markers, and thyroid function
• Practical steps that can help, including improving sleep, strength training, reducing alcohol, and supporting the brain with better nutrition and informed clinical care  

Dr. Alvarez also shares an encouraging reminder: research shows that many women experience cognitive changes during this transition, and for many, those symptoms improve once the transition stabilizes. This episode is both a reassurance and a call to action — your brain is not necessarily failing; it may be adapting.  

If you have been feeling mentally slower, more forgetful, or unlike yourself lately, this episode will help you understand what your body may be trying to tell you. Because when women understand the connection between hormones, the brain, and the heart, they can stop blaming themselves, start asking better questions, and become the CEO of their own health.  

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