Cycle of Health
Medical Student Minute | Estrogen
Special | 1m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
Dr. Nevena Radonjic explores the surprising ways estrogen influences mood, memory, and the brain.
On the next Medical Student Minute, Dr. Nevena Radonjic explores the surprising ways estrogen influences mood, memory, and overall brain function.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Cycle of Health is a local public television program presented by WCNY
Cycle of Health
Medical Student Minute | Estrogen
Special | 1m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
On the next Medical Student Minute, Dr. Nevena Radonjic explores the surprising ways estrogen influences mood, memory, and overall brain function.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Checkup From the Neck-Up
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipHi, I'm Doctor Nevin.
Maradona's a reproductive psychiatrist with my medical school minute about the most interesting thing I've learned over my years of practice.
By now, everyone knows that the hormone estrogen plays a key role in female reproductive health.
But did you know that estrogen also profoundly affects the brain?
How so?
Estrogen binds to receptors via the distributed in the human brain, impacting various brain functions such as thinking, mood, learning, memory, and many others.
In addition, estrogen is considered to be a rapid antidepressant who would expect that?
And how is that even possible?
Well, in various ways it increases the levels of serotonin which can quickly improve mood.
Unlike classic antidepressants that take days, estrogen in a matter of few minutes can activate signaling pathway and change levels of serotonin.
When does this matter?
When hormones fluctuate, such as in the menstrual cycle and perimenopause.
Changes in the levels of hormones can lead to changes in the level of serotonin that can manifest in depression or mood instability.
So all my friends, no that you have heard how estrogen it affects mood, we can all be more mindful when our loved ones are going through periods of hormonal transitions and support them adequately.
I'm Doctor Navin Irani, a reproductive psychiatris at Northern College of Medicine at Upstate Medical Universit with my medical school minutes.

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Cycle of Health is a local public television program presented by WCNY