Over years of developing products and listening to your stories, I’ve realized something critical: women often blame themselves for "mood swings" or "brain fog" that are actually driven by biological hormonal shifts. For too long, there has been a massive gap in clinical research regarding women’s brain health.
That is why Genial Day is officially supporting and funding the HEAL-Women study (“Hormonal Changes and Women’s Mental Health”). This isn’t just another survey; it’s a deep dive into the neuroscience of why we feel the way we do during our cycles and through (peri)menopause.
We want to move the needle from "just dealing with it" to evidence-based understanding. To explain why this research is a game-changer for women everywhere, I spoke with the lead researcher, neuroscientist Professor Ramunė Grikšienė.
The Science of the Female Brain: A Q&A with Prof. Ramunė Grikšienė
Genial Day: You’ve spent 20 years studying the brain. What is your specific focus? Prof. Grikšienė: I lead a research group at the Life Sciences Center (Vilnius University) focused on how sex hormones—estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—interact with brain activity. We study the brain’s "rest" state, how it processes emotional triggers, and how it performs during cognitive tasks across different hormonal stages: the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception use, and (peri)menopause.
What makes the HEAL-Women study different from previous research? This is a comprehensive, multi-year study (running through 2029) in collaboration with international partners, including Erasmus University in the Netherlands. We aren't just looking at symptoms; we are looking at brain excitation and inhibition. We want to know why one woman feels fine while another faces debilitating PMDD or menopausal anxiety.
Why is this so urgent for women’s mental health right now? Conditions like depression, anxiety, and panic attacks often peak during hormonal "windows": adolescence, the premenstrual phase, postpartum, and perimenopause.
We are focusing on two critical groups:
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PMDD & Menstrual Health: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is frequently misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder or clinical depression. We now know that women with PMDD have a higher risk of postpartum depression and even suicide during specific cycle phases. We need to stop the misdiagnosis.
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The (Peri)menopause Workforce: Menopause isn't just "hot flashes." The cognitive difficulties and anxiety associated with it are causing high-performing women to leave the workforce or reduce their hours because they lack support.
How does the study actually work? Is it more than just questionnaires? Yes. Each group (approx. 100 participants) undergoes lab-based brain activity monitoring. We then introduce interventions—ranging from Psychoeducation (nutrition, sleep, and mindfulness) to Hormone Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—to see which methods actually change brain function and quality of life.
What have you discovered about hormonal birth control and IUDs? Our previous findings are clear: hormonal balance changes affect emotional processing. Interestingly, our research suggests that hormonal IUDs may have systemic effects on behavior and brain activity, not just "local" effects in the uterus as is often claimed.
How will this change the lives of women? It provides "knowledge as a tool." When a woman understands that her drop in self-confidence or rise in anxiety is a measurable neurological event linked to her hormones, the guilt disappears. It empowers her to seek the right help, whether that’s a specific therapy or a lifestyle adjustment.
Why Genial Day is Involved
Supporting the HEAL-Women study is a natural extension of our mission. Through Genial Day, I see thousands of women searching for answers about their energy and well-being.
By funding this research, we are helping to create a future where:
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PMDD is recognized and treated accurately by primary care physicians.
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Workplaces accommodate the neurological shifts of perimenopause.
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The "Hormonal Gap" in medical research is finally closed.
Health isn’t just about the body—it’s about our thoughts, our clarity, and our self-acceptance. We are proud to support the science that proves it.
