121: ADHD, Hormones, and Perimenopause: Why Your Brain Feels Different in Midlife With Dr. Jolene Brighten

In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, Dr. Izabella Wentz speaks with hormone expert Dr. Jolene Brighten about why ADHD is so often missed in women and how hormonal changes throughout a woman’s life can influence the way ADHD symptoms show up. From puberty and hormonal birth control to postpartum, the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and postmenopause, they explore why some women may not recognize their neurodivergence until midlife, and why understanding how the brain works can be a powerful first step toward finding the right tools and support.

The conversation also takes a strengths-based look at ADHD, highlighting creativity, passion, intense focus, big-picture thinking, and other ways a neurodivergent brain can work differently. Dr. Wentz and Dr. Brighten discuss the relationship between hormones, neurotransmitters, and brain function, as well as research around nutrition, supplements, hormone therapy, and other individualized approaches.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

Why ADHD is often missed in women: We often picture ADHD as something that a hyperactive little boy has, but girls are often taught to sit still, follow the rules, and take care of others. Girls and women with ADHD may mask symptoms because they are trying to fit in with social norms or just trying to manage a busy life. Dr. Brighten explains how people-pleasing and overachieving can hide ADHD symptoms for decades. 

Why perimenopause can bring ADHD symptoms to the surface: Hormonal transitions can change the amount of energy women have available to maintain the strategies they've relied on throughout their lives. For some women, this may be when longstanding difficulties with focus, organization, time management, or executive function become much more noticeable.

Why estrogen isn’t the whole story when it comes to ADHD symptoms: If your focus or memory seems to change before your period, there may be more going on than an estrogen dip. Dr. Brighten connects the dots between progesterone, brain chemicals, and the patterns women may notice throughout their cycle. 

What if the traits you’ve been trying to “fix” are also strengths? An ADHD brain can bring creativity, passion, and an ability to see possibilities others miss. Dr. Brighton talks about how to make room for those gifts while getting support with the tasks that take more out of you. 

Can certain supplements and hormone therapies help ADHD? Dr. Brighten discusses the