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    "result": {"pageContext":{"editorial":{"title":"‘We Don't Want to Just Get Older, We Want to Thrive:’ A Woman’s Guide to Healthy Aging","description":"At a recent Chief event, Mount Sinai physicians broke down the health screenings, vaccines, and habits women should prioritize each decade, from your 30s through your 60s and beyond.","slug":{"current":"womens-health-by-decade-mount-sinai-doctors-guide"},"isPodcast":null,"megaphoneLink":null,"articleAuthor":{"name":"Chief","slug":{"current":"chief-staff"}},"byline":null,"publishDate":"2026-09-17","episodeImage":{"imageAltTag":null,"asset":null},"heroBackgroundColor":null,"heroImage":{"caption":null,"attribution":null,"altText":"Headshots of Dr. Nicole Hadi and Dr. Rachel Blake","asset":{"id":"image-ce539fa39a51f2e6dec6e8c4f7c9f4fa0cf999c4-2400x1256-png","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/xcsyo6gw/production/ce539fa39a51f2e6dec6e8c4f7c9f4fa0cf999c4-2400x1256.png"}},"id":"-8df83b07-90c1-5429-b35a-c1dc84d446d5","category":null,"editorialCategory":{"id":"-d974e953-201b-5fdb-bf81-e47d7c0a9574","title":"Health & Wellbeing","slug":{"current":"health-wellbeing"}},"podcastDescription":null,"podcastTranscript":null,"isSponsored":null,"_rawSponsorship":null,"_updatedAt":"2026-09-17T14:47:50Z","content":[{"_key":"cb8831d46566","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f397b100af5f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Your body doesn't hand you a roadmap for healthy aging."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4a5b9c1092dc","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"25d30cab87960","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But the good news is, most of the common health issues women in the United States experience are preventable or manageable, and there are steps you can take in your 30s and 40s to meaningfully lower your health risks in your 50s, 60s, and beyond."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"53ddf9d76a18","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9d583adbe4510","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Mount Sinai physicians Dr. Nicole Hadi and Dr. Rachel Blake joined Chief Members for an event last month to offer a decade-by-decade breakdown of what’s actually happening to your body as you age, and what you can do to support long-term wellness and vitality."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b227cd0fcd85","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"007e6ad41c060","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here are some of their top recommendations."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"e20839ad9422","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1e27d126221e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"30s: Build the Foundation"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"2fd70a4bc4ab","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8534bd2902d80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In your 30s, you're moving up in your career and may be caring for children or aging relatives. The stress of being in this sandwich generation can impact your sleep, your menstrual cycle, and your eating patterns. This decade also brings natural changes to your metabolism. Establishing healthy lifestyle habits will help carry you through the years to come."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"105c1bae2589","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3b69ec518b820","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Understand your cardiovascular risk factors"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"aa21f0a81e5b","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9da20cbd8bf60","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Get a baseline reading of your blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol levels to know where you stand. Additionally, pay attention to any diagnoses you receive during pregnancy, postpartum, or while trying to conceive: “If you've dealt with preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, or gestational diabetes, those are some risk factors that may carry through to later decades,” says Dr. Blake."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"15c05ce1f69e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b078e330e6c20","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Watch out for changes in your menstrual cycle"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0a528433d8e2","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"452c254871c20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Talk to your primary care provider or gynecologist about any changes or potential irregularities. This knowledge can help you determine your risk factors for subsequent decades and, in general, be aware of your fertility."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ec70d73511f4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"bef24bb7cfdb0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Invest in cervical cancer prevention"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"e79a6ec43fac","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b6858bc9df5e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Receive routine Pap smears. If you’ve had an abnormal Pap smear, your gynecologist may recommend more frequent screenings or exams. Both doctors also recommend the TDAP (tetanus diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine and the HPV vaccine, which is approved up until your 40s."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6bd3e7c08317","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"e515fe7f79ee0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Maintain your muscle mass"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f2fe7ac385de","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"dcfd1a86bc0d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Start or continue strength training. “Cardio is great, but what really is going to help build strength, muscle mass, and bone density that will sustain you through the next few decades is going to be weight lifting, weight-bearing exercises, and resistance training,” says Dr. Blake."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"cf89b39210da","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0ea340781dea0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"40s: Watch for Change"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"443532a41656","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"6bcf857f4ee10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In your 40s, between career demands and caregiving responsibilities, it can be hard to prioritize yourself. Check in on where you are with stress or burnout before they become harder to manage. During this decade, you may also notice that the hormonal fluctuations you experienced in your 30s are starting to accelerate."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"11eb8dfe15d8","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"886d6965f5b20","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Watch for changes in your baseline"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"33a020f64978","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7a15669503b90","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Even if you’ve always had normal blood pressure or cholesterol, you may start to see some changes in your 40s that need to be addressed with your doctor to help prevent long-term cardiovascular disease, according to Dr. Hadi."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"276ef73a2aaa","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"226d028355c70","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Start mammography"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"74fcffcf8c19","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7fe9268a6c5e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The current guideline is to go for annual mammograms starting at age 40 if you are of average risk. If you have a family history of breast cancer or other known genetic concerns, talk to your doctor about how that impacts your screening."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"468b8cc3db28","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1e4744b69b5c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Screen for colon cancer"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"75b6bc59e92a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"2c489c94c4460","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Start at 45. While other screening tests are available, Dr. Hadi says colonoscopy remains the gold standard: “It is the only screening that we have that can, at the exact moment of the test, actually identify precursors to colon cancer, polyp, and remove it.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a113699718ec","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4fa329066dad0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Pay attention to perimenopausal symptoms"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4839aa22af89","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"15d3ad67a4be0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Menstrual changes in your 40s vary from person to person, but talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing symptoms of perimenopause. “We are in an age where there is more treatment available and more widely used treatment for perimenopausal symptoms. So keep that as an open line of communication with your provider so you can get the help that you need,” says Dr. Hadi."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f3d66d44d387","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0b372547b6380","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"50s: Navigate Transition"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"53d099056931","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3f44b22d2c860","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Your 50s are about embracing all of the changes that are coming together, says Dr. Blake. They’re also when most women go through menopause. “If you are having symptoms that are affecting your quality of life, your functioning, affecting your work, your relationships, it definitely makes sense to talk to your provider, who can really offer you all of the breadth of options to see what works best for your lifestyle and for your particular symptoms. No issue is too complex or too private.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0d5ae21b8e05","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4429b00b265e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Continue your routine screenings"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"78a45d0d8772","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3a919fdc197c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This includes regular mammograms. It’s become more common for radiologists to report to patients if they have dense breasts, says Dr. Blake. Because dense breasts make imaging more difficult, your doctor may recommend you receive an annual mammogram as well as an ultrasound or, in some cases, an MRI."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bf4268a2a7f1","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8062ffac574f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Protect your bone density"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"17f88aabec66","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5b195d4dcee70","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In addition to continuing weight-bearing exercises, start receiving bone density scans. These can determine whether you are osteopenic, the stage that can precede osteoporosis, if you have osteoporosis, or normal bone density, says Dr. Blake."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c57a921445fa","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1ce15d06a36e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Get immunized against shingles"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"97ecdf3ce770","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9288a40d96df0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This painful rash is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, so anyone who had chickenpox as a child or who had the chickenpox vaccine can develop shingles later in life."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"10f23ba1b836","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c8ea3227e5470","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Don't suffer through menopause"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"e4b26f847a6a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1805caf38b110","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Oftentimes, you'll hear about hot flashes and night sweats, but there are actually receptors all over the body,” says Dr. Blake. You can have skin changes, as well as shifts in your menstrual cycle and more intimate symptoms like pain, dryness, and changes to your libido. Even if your physician doesn’t ask about these, it’s important to bring them up and advocate for yourself, says Dr. Blake."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"542de75edeb3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"29d071f9b5560","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"60s: Sustain & Thrive"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"cdf708e79cd6","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a4fa9621f9c90","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Your 60s are when all of the work that you've done in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s really start to pay off. The goal is just to try and keep it up as much as possible for as long as possible, says Dr. Hadi. Healthy aging in this decade is about preserving your mobility, maintaining your independence, focusing on your cognitive health, supporting your mental sharpness and memory, and keeping your social connections."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"aef65575cdec","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8317e394bb6e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Catch up on any immunizations you’ve missed"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3550a74f4aaf","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a260af80cd000","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"By the time you’re in your 60s, you should have received your shingles vaccine, as well as a dose of the pneumonia vaccine. “These are really important to helping to prevent chronic illness down the road that can have a very debilitating effect,” says Dr. Hadi."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bee533d2135e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"ce91013576f90","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Focus on fall and osteoporosis prevention"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"900932b137a3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"90a43b431ac30","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A fall can be devastating, especially if you have osteoporosis, which can lead to a fracture. Continue going in for bone density tests. Focus on core and balance exercises to help to reduce falls. And, if you’re experiencing a lot of knee or hip pain that’s slowing you down, talk to your provider. “The most important thing is really being able to maintain your exercise and your mobility,” says Dr. Hadi."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c3acc7488804","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c0c5a09b85580","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Talk to your provider about changes in the pelvic floor"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"2958c92099e7","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f0fa2926f2ae0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It may be uncomfortable to discuss changes in your urination, bowel habits, or vaginal canal, but it’s important to bring them up anyway. For example, postmenopausal bleeding can happen. “It is not uncommon, and it's usually not something very concerning,” says Dr. Hadi. “However, it is never something to ignore.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4acf2baacbcf","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d2d3229d49e50","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Watch for issues with your cognition"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"97459624b582","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"ceac4fb9166b0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Bring up any changes to your memory or cognition to confirm what you’re experiencing is age-related. Your doctor can also suggest some strategies for maintaining your sharpness. Staying as physically and socially engaged as possible can also help support healthy cognitive aging.  According to Dr. Hadi, “the biggest thing that is recommended for the prevention of dementia in terms of what we have control over is keeping physically, mentally, and emotionally active.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"24d7d3f2129a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7e7da19121a00","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Healthy aging looks different for everyone, and we all have different goals. But in general, “we don't want to just get older,” Dr. Hadi says. “We want to thrive.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"supportingContent":null,"_rawEditorialCategory":{"_id":"71ee14c3-8926-418e-97e0-2e738cd11cac","_type":"category","_rev":"kuh6IZ2IntHupgeCe7EXM5","_createdAt":"2025-10-09T14:09:34Z","_updatedAt":"2025-10-26T18:20:40Z","description":"Discover strategies for supporting women's health in the workplace, from managing burnout to navigating fertility and menopause.\n","hideFromNav":false,"seo":{"_type":"seoFields","seoDescription":"From mental health and burnout to fertility and menopause, discover how leaders and organizations can support women’s health and wellbeing in the workplace with insights from Chief.\n","seoMetaTitle":"Chief | Women's Health & Wellbeing - Women's Mental Health at Work"},"slug":{"_type":"slug","current":"health-wellbeing"},"title":"Health & Wellbeing","id":"-d974e953-201b-5fdb-bf81-e47d7c0a9574","children":[],"parent":null},"article_related_series":null},"next":{"title":"Your Brain Is a Business Asset. 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Instead, my friend and I were talking about work."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3d3be1188912","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7fa42cb35fa40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"She is the CFO of a company, and between demanding jobs, children’s schedules, and life’s inevitable interruptions, we do not see each other as often as we would like. When we do, our conversations move quickly from family updates to the issues keeping us awake at night: organizational change, difficult decisions, team dynamics, and the relentless pressure to perform."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ca8cac69dfae","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f712a6510f220","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Eventually, she asked the question I hear more and more from women our age: “What should I be doing for my brain?”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"21e9ae35791c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f94bff091a020","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For years, when I told people where I worked, they responded with stories rooted in fear: "},{"_key":"f94bff091a021","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"My grandmother had Alzheimer’s. I am more afraid of Alzheimer’s than any other disease."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f7d478fcc29f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"91ecea802f350","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Those fears have not entirely disappeared. Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease, and today there is no cure. But the conversation is beginning to change. Increasingly, people are asking not only what they should fear, but what they can do."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"547ea4842104","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0e382383f9500","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That is an important shift from fear to agency."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bfee2552a55e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0502dea9ce0d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It is also an important shift for business leaders. Our brains are not separate from how we lead. Attention, judgment, creativity, memory, and the ability to navigate complexity are all functions of brain health. Yet most organizations protect nearly every business-critical asset more intentionally than they protect the cognitive capacity of their people."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d90aab63e037","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8b1fa0bc760d0","_type":"span","marks":["6395599d4304"],"text":"Supporting brain health"},{"_key":"8b1fa0bc760d1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" is a business strategy in itself."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"6395599d4304","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/category/health-wellbeing"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a302789db756","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"29aada8110b10","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"We Now Have Stronger Evidence That Action Matters"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"c6b2bc6f2d0a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"dad652b82a450","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For years, we have known that many of the habits associated with better cardiovascular health are also associated with better brain health. Now we have compelling evidence showing what can happen when those behaviors are combined."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"eac87dcbdbf4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7a955f81eab40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The Alzheimer’s Association U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk, known as "},{"_key":"7a955f81eab41","_type":"span","marks":["3bcb60662838"],"text":"U.S. POINTER"},{"_key":"7a955f81eab42","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", was a two-year clinical trial involving more than 2,100 older adults at increased risk for cognitive decline. Participants followed lifestyle interventions addressing physical activity, nutrition, cognitive engagement, and heart health monitoring."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"3bcb60662838","_type":"link","href":"https://www.alz.org/us-pointer"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a9218812b527","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"feb4a62338520","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Both groups improved their cognition. Participants in the more structured program — which included greater support, accountability, and intensity — experienced even greater benefits. The improvements were seen regardless of sex, ethnicity, genetic risk, or heart health status."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"455677a65ad5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"450a746ab9a50","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"To be clear, we do not know whether or not it is possible to prevent Alzheimer’s because age, genetics, and other factors matter. Researchers are still looking for answers. But U.S. POINTER gives us something incredibly valuable: evidence that our daily actions can meaningfully support how our brains function as we age."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"fe9109a2a451","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b602d31dd6f20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For leaders, there is another lesson in the findings. Information alone is rarely enough. Structure, support, and accountability make a difference."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"91b1688239c7","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"644b0e185d760","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That is true for changing individual habits. It is also true for "},{"_key":"644b0e185d761","_type":"span","marks":["79d27f76a9fc"],"text":"changing workplace culture"},{"_key":"644b0e185d762","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". It’s a big reason the Alzheimer’s Association is working to bring brain health strategies to the workplace through our "},{"_key":"644b0e185d763","_type":"span","marks":["33f5c0b9907b"],"text":"Brain Health At Work program"},{"_key":"644b0e185d764","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"79d27f76a9fc","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/joy-allen-altimare-womens-health-leadership"},{"_key":"33f5c0b9907b","_type":"link","href":"https://www.alz.org/professionals/brain-health-at-work"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"84897e57b175","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4853f92695e30","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Women’s Brain Health Belongs in the Leadership Conversation"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"270a34b86554","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0934533607a20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For women in their 40s and 50s, brain health is not an abstract concern reserved for later life. These are often the years when professional responsibilities are at their highest and "},{"_key":"0934533607a21","_type":"span","marks":["ea7cea5495ce"],"text":"personal responsibilities are multiplying"},{"_key":"0934533607a22","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"ea7cea5495ce","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/meghan-joyce-delegate-mental-load-accountability"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4aa45bd89fe4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"797016e6166e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women may be leading companies or major teams while raising children, supporting aging parents, managing chronic health conditions, and experiencing changes associated with perimenopause or "},{"_key":"797016e6166e1","_type":"span","marks":["3ed5296ab5a9"],"text":"menopause"},{"_key":"797016e6166e2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". "},{"_key":"797016e6166e3","_type":"span","marks":["052556e927a1"],"text":"According to the Alzheimer’s Association"},{"_key":"797016e6166e4","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", many are also caregivers. 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Some are temporary, and some require medical attention."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"6fb603bbae6a","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/michelle-montville-alloy-health-menopause-leadership"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f2aaa681d1a6","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"205e1538fe180","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Normalizing the conversation about cognitive health allows people to seek help earlier, make appropriate adjustments, and remain fully engaged in their work."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9ad50e7cff15","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3715d96733680","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Start With Four Practical Shifts"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"98937d4d69c6","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"378f9af89b910","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women leaders do not need to become neuroscientists to advance brain health. We can begin by changing the questions we ask, the behaviors we model and the systems we create."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"805714ffba5a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1940e45885200","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"1. Treat movement as essential to performance."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"beb2f4fef27f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d4b4c47189ec0","_type":"span","marks":["20389f260fc3"],"text":"Physical activity"},{"_key":"d4b4c47189ec1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" supports both heart and brain health. But in many executive cultures, sitting through seven consecutive hours of meetings is still treated as evidence of commitment."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"20389f260fc3","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/pvolve-women-midlife-fitness-longevity"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"e90109b9b6f5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5d46c63d564d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Leaders can make walking meetings acceptable, protect time between calls, and avoid creating schedules that make movement impossible. Instead of apologizing for taking that time, try: “I protect time for physical activity because it helps me think more clearly and lead more effectively.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"65832ea144bf","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"fc9ef6bd9e010","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Rather than stepping away from performance, you’re investing in it."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bb781cc6271f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8fe8f71ef5160","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"2. Stop celebrating cognitive depletion."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"dfd0fb0201eb","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"cfc769f17cb10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Chronic sleep deprivation, constant availability, and back-to-back meetings are not leadership strengths. They reduce the very capacities organizations need from senior leaders: attention, judgment, adaptability, and impulse control."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f5025f4c4bdd","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8dee1b6b0bca0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A leader can "},{"_key":"8dee1b6b0bca1","_type":"span","marks":["9880adaeccc0"],"text":"reset the norm"},{"_key":"8dee1b6b0bca2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" with simple language: “This decision requires clear thinking. Let’s revisit it tomorrow rather than forcing an answer at the end of an exhausting day.”"}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"9880adaeccc0","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/future-of-womens-leadership-mental-health"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d765af28b3ad","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"546aed0b35a40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That sentence gives others permission to value the quality of their thinking, not simply the speed of their response."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4ae094e2ed19","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"87cadb8785c90","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"3. Make it safe to discuss cognitive health."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f84ef2aa05da","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"e53e9e6184d10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"When someone experiences persistent changes in memory, reasoning, or the ability to complete familiar tasks, those concerns should not be dismissed as stress, age, or “"},{"_key":"e53e9e6184d11","_type":"span","marks":["b200b3a35941"],"text":"just menopause"},{"_key":"e53e9e6184d12","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".” They deserve a conversation with a healthcare professional."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"b200b3a35941","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/nicole-johnston-women-leaders-checking-out"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3eab9bf97b1d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"61805b3acce80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women can advocate for themselves by being specific: “I have noticed a change from my usual level of functioning. It has persisted for several months and is affecting my work. I would like help understanding what may be causing it.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b90fc9aa4d91","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f11eee5333c20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Specific observations are harder to minimize than saying, “I feel foggy.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9a9ef727f01a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f1f196e9256d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Leaders can also help employees by responding to concerns with curiosity and discretion rather than judgment."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"dc6e0cc756aa","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"04670aa3799c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"4. Build connection into the work."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bbb6d3acee06","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c3791eccb5aa0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Cognitive challenge is an important component of brain health. "},{"_key":"c3791eccb5aa1","_type":"span","marks":["226e13cd7568"],"text":"Social engagement"},{"_key":"c3791eccb5aa2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" may also matter. Yet senior leadership can be remarkably isolating."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"226e13cd7568","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/why-frictionless-connection-stopped-working"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bda3e9d6115f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a235b6bb74900","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Beyond providing professional development, mentoring, peer networks, and opportunities to learn something genuinely new can support cognitive and emotional well-being."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0237ccecb7f3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"e77aeb09fe2d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Ask: “Does the way we work give people opportunities to learn, connect, and recover or only to produce?”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"149f2c3ac3fd","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b256f81ae52e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The answer reveals a great deal about whether an organization is sustaining its people or consuming them."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"76304b56d8be","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5ac05714928d0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Your Most Valuable Asset Is Not on the Balance Sheet"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"bbce5aa66fc0","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"dc4942eedd540","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Back at the pool, my friend was hoping for a checklist. I gave her one: Move regularly, eat in ways that support heart and brain health, stay cognitively engaged, monitor important heart health measures, and talk with a healthcare professional about any persistent changes you notice. For guidance, visit "},{"_key":"dc4942eedd541","_type":"span","marks":["09eddd5ef746"],"text":"rethinkyourbrain.org"},{"_key":"dc4942eedd542","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to sign up for the Alzheimer’s Association’s new (re)think your brain™ 6-Step Challenge, which is designed to help people begin building these kinds of everyday healthy habits."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"09eddd5ef746","_type":"link","href":"http://rethinkyourbrain.org"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"42df37472d87","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"67eaa2b455660","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"My friend’s question stayed with me."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"5da93ad30bf7","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f212259397030","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"She is a CFO. She has built her career protecting assets, assessing risk, and making investments intended to produce returns over time. Yet the asset behind every number she analyzes, every problem she solves, and every person she leads will never appear on her company’s balance sheet: Her brain."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4a9f7f2ddb2a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4b5c8960b3e40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women have spent decades proving that we can lead through almost anything. But the next evolution of leadership cannot be about how much depletion we can tolerate. And protecting our cognitive capacity cannot be one more responsibility women are expected to carry alone."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0cdb1e4ac193","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d36d5df6793a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"My friend’s question that afternoon was personal: “What should I be doing for my brain?”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"7d93d5768b6b","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"07e09dceaf500","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The actions may be personal. The responsibility is not."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"61195aa6aa20","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b80895dc9b060","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Now I have a question for her, and for every leadership team around the country: What are you going to do to support your workforce’s brain health?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"supportingContent":null,"_rawEditorialCategory":{"_id":"71ee14c3-8926-418e-97e0-2e738cd11cac","_type":"category","_rev":"kuh6IZ2IntHupgeCe7EXM5","_createdAt":"2025-10-09T14:09:34Z","_updatedAt":"2025-10-26T18:20:40Z","description":"Discover strategies for supporting women's health in the workplace, from managing burnout to navigating fertility and menopause.\n","hideFromNav":false,"seo":{"_type":"seoFields","seoDescription":"From mental health and burnout to fertility and menopause, discover how leaders and organizations can support women’s health and wellbeing in the workplace with insights from Chief.\n","seoMetaTitle":"Chief | Women's Health & Wellbeing - Women's Mental Health at Work"},"slug":{"_type":"slug","current":"health-wellbeing"},"title":"Health & Wellbeing","id":"-d974e953-201b-5fdb-bf81-e47d7c0a9574","children":[],"parent":null},"article_related_series":null},"slug":"brain-health-business-asset-leaders","heroImage":{"caption":null,"attribution":null,"altText":"Abstract illustration of brain","asset":{"id":"image-9b7c881c48342397780888d4ec9b206370f1a240-1200x600-jpg","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/xcsyo6gw/production/9b7c881c48342397780888d4ec9b206370f1a240-1200x600.jpg"}},"content":[{"_key":"85d768cc155e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"93dfe67c05a20","_type":"span","marks":["6c203ca9ba90","em"],"text":"Katie Evans"},{"_key":"93dfe67c05a21","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":" is Chief Programs and Mission Engagement Officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, where her team oversees programs spanning brain health, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and care and support."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"6c203ca9ba90","_type":"link","href":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-m-evans/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"16d9fbb9311f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"240956d75ca60","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It was the middle of summer, the kind of hot day made for sitting beside a pool and doing absolutely nothing. Instead, my friend and I were talking about work."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3d3be1188912","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7fa42cb35fa40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"She is the CFO of a company, and between demanding jobs, children’s schedules, and life’s inevitable interruptions, we do not see each other as often as we would like. When we do, our conversations move quickly from family updates to the issues keeping us awake at night: organizational change, difficult decisions, team dynamics, and the relentless pressure to perform."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ca8cac69dfae","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f712a6510f220","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Eventually, she asked the question I hear more and more from women our age: “What should I be doing for my brain?”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"21e9ae35791c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f94bff091a020","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For years, when I told people where I worked, they responded with stories rooted in fear: "},{"_key":"f94bff091a021","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"My grandmother had Alzheimer’s. I am more afraid of Alzheimer’s than any other disease."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f7d478fcc29f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"91ecea802f350","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Those fears have not entirely disappeared. Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease, and today there is no cure. But the conversation is beginning to change. Increasingly, people are asking not only what they should fear, but what they can do."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"547ea4842104","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0e382383f9500","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That is an important shift from fear to agency."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bfee2552a55e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0502dea9ce0d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It is also an important shift for business leaders. Our brains are not separate from how we lead. Attention, judgment, creativity, memory, and the ability to navigate complexity are all functions of brain health. Yet most organizations protect nearly every business-critical asset more intentionally than they protect the cognitive capacity of their people."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d90aab63e037","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8b1fa0bc760d0","_type":"span","marks":["6395599d4304"],"text":"Supporting brain health"},{"_key":"8b1fa0bc760d1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" is a business strategy in itself."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"6395599d4304","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/category/health-wellbeing"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a302789db756","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"29aada8110b10","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"We Now Have Stronger Evidence That Action Matters"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"c6b2bc6f2d0a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"dad652b82a450","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For years, we have known that many of the habits associated with better cardiovascular health are also associated with better brain health. Now we have compelling evidence showing what can happen when those behaviors are combined."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"eac87dcbdbf4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7a955f81eab40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The Alzheimer’s Association U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk, known as "},{"_key":"7a955f81eab41","_type":"span","marks":["3bcb60662838"],"text":"U.S. POINTER"},{"_key":"7a955f81eab42","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", was a two-year clinical trial involving more than 2,100 older adults at increased risk for cognitive decline. Participants followed lifestyle interventions addressing physical activity, nutrition, cognitive engagement, and heart health monitoring."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"3bcb60662838","_type":"link","href":"https://www.alz.org/us-pointer"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a9218812b527","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"feb4a62338520","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Both groups improved their cognition. Participants in the more structured program — which included greater support, accountability, and intensity — experienced even greater benefits. The improvements were seen regardless of sex, ethnicity, genetic risk, or heart health status."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"455677a65ad5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"450a746ab9a50","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"To be clear, we do not know whether or not it is possible to prevent Alzheimer’s because age, genetics, and other factors matter. Researchers are still looking for answers. But U.S. POINTER gives us something incredibly valuable: evidence that our daily actions can meaningfully support how our brains function as we age."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"fe9109a2a451","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b602d31dd6f20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For leaders, there is another lesson in the findings. Information alone is rarely enough. Structure, support, and accountability make a difference."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"91b1688239c7","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"644b0e185d760","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That is true for changing individual habits. It is also true for "},{"_key":"644b0e185d761","_type":"span","marks":["79d27f76a9fc"],"text":"changing workplace culture"},{"_key":"644b0e185d762","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". It’s a big reason the Alzheimer’s Association is working to bring brain health strategies to the workplace through our "},{"_key":"644b0e185d763","_type":"span","marks":["33f5c0b9907b"],"text":"Brain Health At Work program"},{"_key":"644b0e185d764","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"79d27f76a9fc","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/joy-allen-altimare-womens-health-leadership"},{"_key":"33f5c0b9907b","_type":"link","href":"https://www.alz.org/professionals/brain-health-at-work"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"84897e57b175","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4853f92695e30","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Women’s Brain Health Belongs in the Leadership Conversation"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"270a34b86554","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0934533607a20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For women in their 40s and 50s, brain health is not an abstract concern reserved for later life. These are often the years when professional responsibilities are at their highest and "},{"_key":"0934533607a21","_type":"span","marks":["ea7cea5495ce"],"text":"personal responsibilities are multiplying"},{"_key":"0934533607a22","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"ea7cea5495ce","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/meghan-joyce-delegate-mental-load-accountability"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4aa45bd89fe4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"797016e6166e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women may be leading companies or major teams while raising children, supporting aging parents, managing chronic health conditions, and experiencing changes associated with perimenopause or "},{"_key":"797016e6166e1","_type":"span","marks":["3ed5296ab5a9"],"text":"menopause"},{"_key":"797016e6166e2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". "},{"_key":"797016e6166e3","_type":"span","marks":["052556e927a1"],"text":"According to the Alzheimer’s Association"},{"_key":"797016e6166e4","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", many are also caregivers. More than 3 in 5 unpaid Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers are women, and nearly 1 in 5 women caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s has had to leave the workforce because of caregiving demands."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"3ed5296ab5a9","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/menopause-transition-biology-ambition-collide"},{"_key":"052556e927a1","_type":"link","href":"https://alz.org/women"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"474d67fbe476","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"53cea7300d2a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"At the same time, women may experience changes in sleep, concentration, memory, or mental clarity and wonder whether they should disclose them, hide them, or simply work harder to compensate."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"5d8c2bacf961","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"583b442358620","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Too often, the default is silence."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"2f8a909d2531","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"529c679d68590","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As leaders, we have a responsibility to create workplace cultures where a woman can say, “I have noticed a change in my cognitive health, and I want to address it” without fearing that her competence will immediately be questioned."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"835172c49b60","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1eddfb0423600","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That does not mean diagnosing colleagues, treating every forgotten name as a warning sign or lowering expectations. 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Some are temporary, and some require medical attention."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"6fb603bbae6a","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/michelle-montville-alloy-health-menopause-leadership"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f2aaa681d1a6","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"205e1538fe180","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Normalizing the conversation about cognitive health allows people to seek help earlier, make appropriate adjustments, and remain fully engaged in their work."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9ad50e7cff15","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3715d96733680","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Start With Four Practical Shifts"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"98937d4d69c6","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"378f9af89b910","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women leaders do not need to become neuroscientists to advance brain health. We can begin by changing the questions we ask, the behaviors we model and the systems we create."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"805714ffba5a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1940e45885200","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"1. Treat movement as essential to performance."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"beb2f4fef27f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d4b4c47189ec0","_type":"span","marks":["20389f260fc3"],"text":"Physical activity"},{"_key":"d4b4c47189ec1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" supports both heart and brain health. But in many executive cultures, sitting through seven consecutive hours of meetings is still treated as evidence of commitment."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"20389f260fc3","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/pvolve-women-midlife-fitness-longevity"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"e90109b9b6f5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5d46c63d564d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Leaders can make walking meetings acceptable, protect time between calls, and avoid creating schedules that make movement impossible. Instead of apologizing for taking that time, try: “I protect time for physical activity because it helps me think more clearly and lead more effectively.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"65832ea144bf","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"fc9ef6bd9e010","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Rather than stepping away from performance, you’re investing in it."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bb781cc6271f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8fe8f71ef5160","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"2. Stop celebrating cognitive depletion."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"dfd0fb0201eb","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"cfc769f17cb10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Chronic sleep deprivation, constant availability, and back-to-back meetings are not leadership strengths. They reduce the very capacities organizations need from senior leaders: attention, judgment, adaptability, and impulse control."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f5025f4c4bdd","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8dee1b6b0bca0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A leader can "},{"_key":"8dee1b6b0bca1","_type":"span","marks":["9880adaeccc0"],"text":"reset the norm"},{"_key":"8dee1b6b0bca2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" with simple language: “This decision requires clear thinking. Let’s revisit it tomorrow rather than forcing an answer at the end of an exhausting day.”"}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"9880adaeccc0","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/future-of-womens-leadership-mental-health"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d765af28b3ad","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"546aed0b35a40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That sentence gives others permission to value the quality of their thinking, not simply the speed of their response."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4ae094e2ed19","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"87cadb8785c90","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"3. Make it safe to discuss cognitive health."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f84ef2aa05da","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"e53e9e6184d10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"When someone experiences persistent changes in memory, reasoning, or the ability to complete familiar tasks, those concerns should not be dismissed as stress, age, or “"},{"_key":"e53e9e6184d11","_type":"span","marks":["b200b3a35941"],"text":"just menopause"},{"_key":"e53e9e6184d12","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".” They deserve a conversation with a healthcare professional."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"b200b3a35941","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/nicole-johnston-women-leaders-checking-out"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3eab9bf97b1d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"61805b3acce80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women can advocate for themselves by being specific: “I have noticed a change from my usual level of functioning. It has persisted for several months and is affecting my work. I would like help understanding what may be causing it.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b90fc9aa4d91","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f11eee5333c20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Specific observations are harder to minimize than saying, “I feel foggy.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9a9ef727f01a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f1f196e9256d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Leaders can also help employees by responding to concerns with curiosity and discretion rather than judgment."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"dc6e0cc756aa","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"04670aa3799c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"4. Build connection into the work."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bbb6d3acee06","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c3791eccb5aa0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Cognitive challenge is an important component of brain health. "},{"_key":"c3791eccb5aa1","_type":"span","marks":["226e13cd7568"],"text":"Social engagement"},{"_key":"c3791eccb5aa2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" may also matter. Yet senior leadership can be remarkably isolating."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"226e13cd7568","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/why-frictionless-connection-stopped-working"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bda3e9d6115f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a235b6bb74900","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Beyond providing professional development, mentoring, peer networks, and opportunities to learn something genuinely new can support cognitive and emotional well-being."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0237ccecb7f3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"e77aeb09fe2d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Ask: “Does the way we work give people opportunities to learn, connect, and recover or only to produce?”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"149f2c3ac3fd","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b256f81ae52e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The answer reveals a great deal about whether an organization is sustaining its people or consuming them."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"76304b56d8be","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5ac05714928d0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Your Most Valuable Asset Is Not on the Balance Sheet"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"bbce5aa66fc0","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"dc4942eedd540","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Back at the pool, my friend was hoping for a checklist. I gave her one: Move regularly, eat in ways that support heart and brain health, stay cognitively engaged, monitor important heart health measures, and talk with a healthcare professional about any persistent changes you notice. For guidance, visit "},{"_key":"dc4942eedd541","_type":"span","marks":["09eddd5ef746"],"text":"rethinkyourbrain.org"},{"_key":"dc4942eedd542","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to sign up for the Alzheimer’s Association’s new (re)think your brain™ 6-Step Challenge, which is designed to help people begin building these kinds of everyday healthy habits."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"09eddd5ef746","_type":"link","href":"http://rethinkyourbrain.org"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"42df37472d87","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"67eaa2b455660","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"My friend’s question stayed with me."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"5da93ad30bf7","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f212259397030","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"She is a CFO. She has built her career protecting assets, assessing risk, and making investments intended to produce returns over time. Yet the asset behind every number she analyzes, every problem she solves, and every person she leads will never appear on her company’s balance sheet: Her brain."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4a9f7f2ddb2a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4b5c8960b3e40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women have spent decades proving that we can lead through almost anything. But the next evolution of leadership cannot be about how much depletion we can tolerate. And protecting our cognitive capacity cannot be one more responsibility women are expected to carry alone."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0cdb1e4ac193","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d36d5df6793a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"My friend’s question that afternoon was personal: “What should I be doing for my brain?”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"7d93d5768b6b","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"07e09dceaf500","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The actions may be personal. The responsibility is not."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"61195aa6aa20","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b80895dc9b060","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Now I have a question for her, and for every leadership team around the country: What are you going to do to support your workforce’s brain health?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}]},"href":"https://chief.com/articles/womens-health-by-decade-mount-sinai-doctors-guide","relatedArticles":[]}},
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