Every term, in plain English.

The body's slowdown of resting metabolic rate in response to caloric restriction or weight loss. Particularly relevant in midlife because the slowdown compounds with the metabolic shift around perimenopause.

Meta's iOS14+ tracking framework that limits domains to optimizing for 8 priority events per user. Relevant for paid ad attribution.

Hormones with molecular structure identical to those produced by the human body — typically estradiol (estrogen) and micronized progesterone. Important distinction from "compounded bioidentical hormone therapy" (BHRT) sold by some clinics — which uses the same molecules but isn't standardized or FDA-regulated. NAMS recommends FDA-approved bioidenticals when possible.

Tax-advantaged retirement contributions allowed for workers age 50+, on top of normal 401k/IRA limits. 2026 limits: $7,500/yr extra to 401k, $1,000/yr extra to IRA. The compounding math between 50 and 67 is the most under-explained number in midlife personal finance.

The body's primary stress hormone. Elevated chronic cortisol is implicated in visceral fat redistribution at perimenopause (the "cortisol-belly" phenomenon). Sleep deprivation is the largest reversible driver of chronically elevated cortisol in midlife.

The primary estrogen in pre-menopausal women. Levels begin erratic decline in perimenopause. In modern HRT protocols, transdermal estradiol (patch, gel, spray) is preferred over oral estrogens because it bypasses the liver and lowers clot risk.

A hormone produced by the pituitary that stimulates the ovaries. FSH levels rise as ovarian function declines — making FSH a useful lab marker for perimenopause/menopause status. Single-time-point FSH is less useful than trended values because levels fluctuate.

Therapeutic administration of hormones (typically estrogen ± progesterone) to manage perimenopause/menopause symptoms. Modern HRT differs significantly from the 2002-era protocols — current evidence supports a "timing window" thesis where benefits outweigh risks for symptomatic women starting before age 60.

A form of bioidentical progesterone (brand name Prometrium) used in modern HRT to protect the uterine lining in women who still have a uterus. Preferred over older synthetic progestins because of better safety profile and side-effect tolerability.

Landmark neuroimaging study by Lisa Mosconi (Weill Cornell) demonstrating that brain glucose metabolism dips during perimenopause and re-stabilizes in post-menopause. Foundational to the "neurometabolic adaptation" reframe that brain fog at 47 is not the start of cognitive decline.

The leading professional organization for menopause medicine in North America. Provides clinical guidelines, certifies practitioners (NCMPs), and publishes the modern HRT position statements. NAMS-certified clinicians have completed specific competency requirements — a key signal in the clinician directory.

Clinician credential indicating completion of NAMS competency exam in menopause medicine. Single most useful signal that a clinician is current on modern HRT research.

Term coined by Maki & Henderson (2024) to reframe the cognitive complaints of perimenopause as adaptive rebalancing of the brain's energy supply rather than incipient cognitive decline. The Mosconi 2021 imaging data shows this is measurable and, for most women, temporary.

The transitional phase before menopause, typically 4-10 years long, when ovarian function declines and hormone levels become erratic. Symptoms (irregular periods, hot flashes, sleep disruption, brain fog, mood shifts) often appear here, not at menopause itself.

Evolutionary anthropologist whose metabolism research (2012-2023) overturned the "exercise burns more calories" model. Showed that total daily energy expenditure is more conserved than assumed — meaning weight loss is largely about caloric intake, and midlife weight redistribution is more about hormone-driven partitioning than metabolism slowing.

Moving money from a traditional (pre-tax) retirement account to a Roth (post-tax) account, paying ordinary income tax on the converted amount now in exchange for tax-free growth and withdrawals later. The window between retirement and Social Security/RMDs is often the lowest-tax-bracket period of life — making it the optimal time.

Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (2019, updated 2022). Major retirement policy legislation. Key provisions for midlife women: raised RMD age to 73 (then 75 in 2033), allowed 529-to-Roth IRA rollovers, expanded catch-up contributions for ages 60-63, and made it easier for part-time workers to access 401k plans.

Clinical concept that HRT benefits outweigh risks when initiated within 10 years of menopause onset and before age 60 — based on reanalyses of the WHI data and subsequent research. The "timing window thesis" is central to the modern HRT conversation.

Delivery of medication through the skin (patch, gel, spray) rather than oral. Transdermal estradiol bypasses first-pass liver metabolism, resulting in lower clot risk and more stable hormone levels than oral estrogens — the preferred route in modern HRT.

Hot flashes and night sweats — the most common perimenopause/menopause symptoms. "Vasomotor" refers to the vascular system's role in temperature regulation. Severity varies enormously; affects ~80% of menopausal women to some degree.

Fat stored around internal organs (vs. subcutaneous fat under the skin). Increases at perimenopause due to hormone-driven partitioning changes. The "cortisol-belly" phenomenon is largely visceral fat redistribution. Higher metabolic and cardiovascular risk than subcutaneous fat.

Massive 1991-2010 NIH-funded study evaluating women's health interventions, most notably HRT. The 2002 estrogen-plus-progestin arm halted early due to increased risks — a finding that shaped a generation of clinical caution about HRT. Subsequent reanalyses (2017-2025) significantly nuanced the original conclusions, demonstrating that risk-benefit varies dramatically by age, time since menopause, and hormone type.

Sleep research lab led by Matthew Walker (UC Berkeley). Major contributor to understanding sleep architecture changes in midlife — particularly REM sleep collapse and its cognitive consequences. Walker's 2024 follow-up data on midlife sleep architecture underpins much of the boring-sleep-fixes-beat-supplements consensus.