Ovarian Health and Longevity: The Overlooked Key to Brain, Metabolism, and Aging

Aging is often misunderstood. It’s not just about getting older—it’s about how our bodies evolve and adapt over time. One of the most fascinating but least discussed aspects of this process is ovarian health. What if we told you that your ovaries are not just about fertility, but are actually influencing your metabolism, brain function, and overall health in ways you never realized?

Dr. Jennifer Garrison, a leading researcher at the Buck Institute, is unraveling these connections, and her work is changing how we think about women’s health at every age.

The Ovary-Brain Connection: What Every Woman Needs to Know

Most of us have heard about the gut-brain connection, but did you know there’s also an ovary-brain connection?

“The brain ultimately controls every aspect of physiology, and that extends to female physiology,” says Dr. Garrison¹. “We call it the reproductive circuit, but we need new language—these organs do so much more than just reproduction.”

Your brain and ovaries are in constant communication, exchanging chemical messages that regulate everything from energy levels to mood. This happens via the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) Axis—systems that manage hormone production, stress response, and overall balance in the body.

• The hypothalamus (a small but mighty part of your brain) sends signals to your pituitary gland, which in turn tells your ovaries how much estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones to produce.

• These hormones don’t just regulate your menstrual cycle—they influence metabolism, immune function, and even how your body handles stress.

• The same brain circuits that regulate ovarian function are also involved in controlling sleep, appetite, body temperature, and emotional well-being.

Why Ovarian Health Matters at Every Age

Many women think about their ovaries only in relation to fertility or menopause, but this is about so much more. Your ovaries play a vital role in every stage of life.

• In Your 20s & 30s: Ovarian hormones are influencing your energy, mood, and brain function—whether or not you’re thinking about having kids.

• In Your 40s & 50s: Fluctuations in ovarian function may affect metabolism, sleep quality, and cognitive sharpness.

• Beyond 50: As ovarian hormone production slows, other systems in your body shift to compensate, impacting everything from bone health to cardiovascular function.

“The part of the brain that controls reproductive function overlaps with circuits that regulate mood, metabolism, and circadian rhythms,” Dr. Garrison explains¹. “When we start thinking about ovarian function through the lens of the brain, suddenly a lot of things make sense.”

Ovarian Aging: The Fastest-Aging Organ in the Body

One of the biggest discoveries in recent years is that ovaries age faster than the rest of the body—by almost two and a half times¹.

“It’s profound to imagine that when your body is functioning at peak performance in your late 20s or early 30s, your ovaries are already considered geriatric by the medical community,” says Dr. Garrison¹. “That should make us stop and ask: Why is this happening? And what can we do about it?”

Studies show that women who experience later menopause tend to live longer, and interestingly, so do their male siblings³. This suggests a genetic link between ovarian function and longevity. On the other hand, conditions like Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)—where ovarian function declines before age 40—are associated with higher risks of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline⁴.

Ovarian Aging and the Brain: Lisa Mosconi’s Research on Alzheimer’s and Estrogen

Dr. Lisa Mosconi, neuroscientist and director of the Women’s Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell Medicine, has uncovered striking links between ovarian aging and Alzheimer’s disease risk. Her research suggests that:

• Menopause is not just a hormonal transition—it’s a neurological event, affecting memory, attention, and cognitive function⁵.

• The decline in estrogen, a hormone produced by the ovaries, impacts brain structure, potentially increasing Alzheimer’s risk⁶.

• Estrogen plays a neuroprotective role, supporting memory, learning, and brain energy metabolism⁷.

According to Mosconi, menopause should be seen as a critical window for brain health, and understanding ovarian aging could unlock new strategies to prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

Why Hasn’t Ovarian Health Been Studied More?

Historically, women’s health has been vastly underfunded and understudied. Consider these statistics:

• Only 10.8% of the NIH’s 2020 budget went to women’s health research⁸.

• Female animals are included in just 20% of basic science studies⁹.

• Only 4% of biopharma investment is dedicated to female-specific conditions beyond cancer.

“We’ve been using the male body as biology’s baseline for over 100 years,” Dr. Garrison says¹. “It’s time we change that.”

The Future of Ovarian Research: Who to Follow

Since ovarian health impacts metabolism, brain function, and longevity, staying informed is key. Leading experts driving this research include:

• Dr. Jennifer Garrison (Buck Institute) – Focused on ovarian aging and the brain-ovary connection.

• Dr. Lisa Mosconi (Weill Cornell Medicine) – Investigating the impact of menopause and estrogen on brain health and Alzheimer’s risk.

• Dr. Dena Dubal (UCSF) – Researching how hormones like Klotho could enhance cognitive resilience and slow brain aging.

By following these experts, we can stay ahead of the latest findings in ovarian health and its broader impact on overall wellness.

Why Ovarian Health is the Next Big Conversation in Medicine

Dr. Garrison and other scientists are working to understand the mechanisms driving ovarian aging—not to extend fertility indefinitely, but to sync ovarian health with overall longevity.

“If we can figure out why ovaries age so quickly and how they influence the rest of the body, we might be able to develop interventions that benefit all aspects of health,” Dr. Garrison says¹. “This is about improving the quality of life, not just extending it.”

By broadening the conversation beyond fertility and menopause, we can start to appreciate the incredible role ovarian health plays in our daily lives—and why we should all be paying more attention to it.

Citations:

1. Garrison, Jennifer. Ovaries, the Brain, and Aging: A Longevity Connection. Fempower Health Podcast. October 24, 2023.

2. Broekmans, F. J., Soules, M. R., & Fauser, B. C. (2009). Ovarian aging: mechanisms and clinical consequences. Endocrine reviews, 30(5), 465–493. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2009-0006

3. Santoro N, Randolph JF. Reproductive hormones and the menopause transition. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am.2011;38(3):455-466.

4. Brinton RD, et al. The impact of menopause on the brain: implications for aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2015;37: 86-100.

5. Garrison J, et al. The neuroendocrine regulation of ovarian aging. Aging Cell. 2021;20(1):e13274.

6. Mosconi L, et al. Menopause and the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Nat Rev Neurol. 2021;17(11):703-719.

7. Dubal D, et al. Klotho and cognitive resilience in aging. J Neurosci. 2020;40(6):1206-1218.

8. Temkin, S. M., Noursi, S., Regensteiner, J. G., Stratton, P., & Clayton, J. A. (2022). Perspectives From Advancing National Institutes of Health Research to Inform and Improve the Health of Women: A Conference Summary. Obstetrics and gynecology, 140(1), 10–19. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000004821

9. Garrison J, et al. Establishing a research agenda for reproductive longevity. J Womens Health. 2022;31(1):5-9.