The journey through perimenopause and menopause isn’t just shaped by shifting hormones—increasing evidence shows that the brain and nervous system play a vital role in the symptoms we experience. On a recent episode of the Menopause Mastery Podcast, Dr. Betty Murray sat down with Ashok Gupta, founder of the Gupta Program and leading expert in chronic illness, to explore how neuroplasticity—or the brain’s ability to rewire itself—could be key to reversing fatigue, brain fog, pain, and anxiety that often arise in midlife.
Let’s dig into what our nervous system is really doing during this transition, why so many of us feel unwell—and, most importantly, what you can do to build resilience and reclaim your vitality.
The Surprising Link Between Chronic Illness and Menopause
The last few decades have seen a sharp rise in mysterious “syndrome” illnesses: chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, long Covid, chemical sensitivities, mold illness, and a rising tide of pain and anxiety conditions. According to Ashok Gupta, women between the ages of 35 and 60—especially those navigating perimenopause or menopause—are disproportionately affected.
Why? Because the dramatic swings in estrogen and other hormones during this period can leave your nervous system hypersensitive and inflamed. “I think the common symptoms we often see in these conditions—poor sleep, pain, fatigue, exhaustion, brain fog, anxiety—cross over with menopause symptoms,” shares Ashok Gupta. In other words, whether you’re diagnosed with a “syndrome” or not, your brain and immune system are at the heart of your experience.
The Brain-Body Connection: A New Way to Understand Your Symptoms
Medical research often searches for simple, linear causes. But when it comes to menopause, Dr. Betty Murray believes, “This is a systems biology type issue, with multiple body systems—not just hormones—impacted all at once.” Ashok Gupta agrees, highlighting a more holistic “neuroimmune conditioned syndrome”:
- Neuro: Your brain and nervous system become hyper-alert, sounding false alarms about potential threats (even when the original trigger—like a virus or toxin—is gone).
- Immune: Your immune system remains switched on, driving ongoing inflammation.
- Conditioned Syndrome: The response becomes learned—your nervous system gets stuck in a loop, even after the original stressor or trigger is gone.
Over time, this amplifies everything: pain, fatigue, allergic responses, gut issues, and unstable moods. The ultimate result? You feel like you’re running on empty, unable to bounce back from stress or even mild exertion.
How Hormonal Fluctuations Put Your Brain on “Red Alert”
Menopause is a “drought” for your nervous system, says Ashok Gupta. As estrogen drops, brain regions involved in emotional regulation and cognition (like the prefrontal cortex and amygdala) go into overdrive, seeking safety. These hormonal changes:
- Sensitize your nervous system, so little things can trigger big responses.
- Disrupt mitochondrial energy (think: more fatigue and brain fog).
- Lower resilience to toxins, mold, stress, and infections.
Dr. Betty Murray points out new research: “Loss of estrogen affects mitochondrial action in cells in the brain, which impacts executive function and mood.” Meanwhile, the cannabinoid system—a natural pain-relief system—also falters as estrogen falls.
Why Trauma, Stress, and Modern Life Can Make Symptoms Worse
According to Ashok Gupta, “Our DNA is wired for survival, not comfort.” Chronic stress, trauma, environmental toxins, overwork, and constant digital stimulation all chip away at our resilience. This is true for everyone, but particularly for women at midlife, whose hormonal changes stoke the fire.
If you’ve had a history of trauma—even as early as conception or childhood—it can program your brain to be extra vigilant. And when life delivers a “second hit” (illness, loss, intense stress, or menopause), your nervous system may get “stuck” in an overprotective mode long after the threat is gone.
Think of it as your inner army, navy, and rulers constantly on the lookout—overreacting and often turning their weapons of war on your own kingdom by mistake, resulting in inflammation and exhaustion.
What Is Neuroplasticity—and How Can It Help?
Here’s the good news: your brain’s wiring is not fixed. Neuroplasticity is “the idea that, through repetition and intensity, we can train our brain in the direction we want it to go, rather than being a slave to how it’s responded in the past,” Ashok Gupta explains.
Much like learning to drive a car, recovery comes through daily practice—not willpower or just wishing away your symptoms. Brain retraining programs help you send new, consistent “safety signals” to your nervous and immune system, teaching them to dial down the fight-or-flight response and restore equilibrium.
Brain Retraining in Action: How It Works
The Gupta Program and similar approaches use guided exercises that combine mindfulness, visualization, and cognitive and somatic techniques. Participants practice daily—often in group calls with a community for support—to shift their baseline response from “danger” to “safe.” Over time, the army and navy of your nervous system stand down, allowing healing and energy to return.
Clinical studies back this up: in a head-to-head trial with the drug pregabalin (Lyrica), participants who did Ashok Gupta’s program experienced a 54% improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms in three months, compared to just 9% in the medication group.
Why Your Future Could Be Brighter: Science in Progress
Despite dramatic results, brain retraining is not widely prescribed—research is still catching up, and funding for women’s midlife health is notoriously scarce. That’s why Dr. Betty Murray and Ashok Gupta are launching a first-of-its-kind clinical trial for perimenopause and menopause, inviting women to participate and help advance the science.
“As we do studies on hundreds of patients, the mainstream medical profession won’t be able to deny this research,” Ashok Gupta shares. The hope? That one day, doctors will recommend brain retraining alongside HRT, sleep support, and nutrition for a truly holistic approach.
Integrating Brain Retraining Into Your Life
Ready to take charge of your symptoms? Dr. Betty Murray recommends a multifaceted approach:
- Support your brain with daily neuroplasticity exercises.
- Balance your hormones with food, lifestyle, and, when appropriate, hormone therapy.
- Tend to your gut and overall health.
- Find your community, whether online or in-person.
Most of all, remember: you are not stuck with your symptoms. Recovery is possible, and you have the power to gently retrain your brain for greater resilience and well-being—no matter your age or life stage.
Your Next Steps
If you’re interested in participating in the upcoming study or exploring brain retraining, visit the Gupta Program at guptaprogram.com or look for links in the Menopause Mastery Podcast show notes. Healing—especially at midlife—is a team effort. Give yourself permission to reclaim your health, vitality, and peace of mind.
Menopause is a journey, not a sentence. Embrace new science, trust in your brain’s power to heal, and take one small step each day toward the healthier, happier version of yourself.