October 10, 2025
World Menopause Day 2025: Exploring Lifestyle Medicine, the Microbiome, and New Frontiers in Menopause Care
London, 18 October 2025 — As the International Menopause Society (IMS) marks World Menopause Day 2025 with the theme of Lifestyle Medicine, GABA Labs is highlighting the growing body of research into how everyday choices — from diet and exercise to alcohol intake and gut health — can influence the menopausal experience.
Menopause, which typically occurs around age 50, is a natural transition marked by fluctuating levels of reproductive hormones like oestrogen and progesterone. These hormonal changes underpin many of the challenges women face during midlife, including sleep disruption, mood swings, and anxiety. Traditional treatments such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and antidepressants have provided relief for many, but they are not suitable for all women and can carry significant risks, including increased breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
In line with the IMS white paper on Lifestyle Medicine, new avenues of research are now turning towards safer, more holistic interventions. One of the most promising areas is the role of the gut microbiome — the diverse community of bacteria living in our digestive system. Emerging evidence shows that menopause is often accompanied by dysbiosis, a disruption in gut bacteria balance, including a drop in strains that produce the calming brain chemical GABA.Because the gut and brain communicate via the “gut-brain axis”, these changes may directly influence mood, stress resilience, and even sleep.
Alongside the microbiome, plant-derived compounds are also drawing attention. Phytoestrogens (naturally occurring plant molecules that mimic some effects of oestrogen) and flavonoids (antioxidant-rich compounds found in botanicals) are being studied for their potential to ease psychological symptoms of menopause. Some of these compounds not only provide antioxidant protection but may also interact with brain pathways linked to mood and anxiety.
Professor David Nutt, co-founder of GABA Labs and scientific lead at SENTIA Spirits, explains:
Menopause, which typically occurs around age 50, is a natural transition marked by fluctuating levels of reproductive hormones like oestrogen and progesterone. These hormonal changes underpin many of the challenges women face during midlife, including sleep disruption, mood swings, and anxiety. Traditional treatments such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and antidepressants have provided relief for many, but they are not suitable for all women and can carry significant risks, including increased breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
In line with the IMS white paper on Lifestyle Medicine, new avenues of research are now turning towards safer, more holistic interventions. One of the most promising areas is the role of the gut microbiome — the diverse community of bacteria living in our digestive system. Emerging evidence shows that menopause is often accompanied by dysbiosis, a disruption in gut bacteria balance, including a drop in strains that produce the calming brain chemical GABA.Because the gut and brain communicate via the “gut-brain axis”, these changes may directly influence mood, stress resilience, and even sleep.
Alongside the microbiome, plant-derived compounds are also drawing attention. Phytoestrogens (naturally occurring plant molecules that mimic some effects of oestrogen) and flavonoids (antioxidant-rich compounds found in botanicals) are being studied for their potential to ease psychological symptoms of menopause. Some of these compounds not only provide antioxidant protection but may also interact with brain pathways linked to mood and anxiety.
Professor David Nutt, co-founder of GABA Labs and scientific lead at SENTIA Spirits, explains:
“For too long, women’s health in midlife has been treated with a narrow set of tools — primarily hormones and antidepressants. While effective for some, they don’t work for all and carry their own risks. Our research suggests that natural plant compounds, including those that influence gut health and brain signalling, could form part of a new generation of safe, lifestyle-based approaches to menopause care. The opportunity lies in working with the body — through diet, microbiome support, and targeted botanicals — to restore balance during this critical stage of life.”
This perspective aligns with the IMS’s call to integrate lifestyle medicine into menopause care, emphasising the power of nutrition, movement, sleep, and alcohol reduction as cornerstones of health. For example, cutting back on alcohol is especially relevant: alcohol not only worsens hot flushes and sleep problems but also raises long-term risks such as breast cancer.
As research into the microbiome and plant-based compounds continues, GABA Labs remains committed to advancing science that supports healthier, more personalised menopause care — one that respects the complexity of women’s biology while opening new doors beyond conventional treatments.
Notes to Editors
As research into the microbiome and plant-based compounds continues, GABA Labs remains committed to advancing science that supports healthier, more personalised menopause care — one that respects the complexity of women’s biology while opening new doors beyond conventional treatments.
Notes to Editors
- World Menopause Day is held annually on 18 October, led by the International Menopause Society to raise awareness of midlife and ageing-related health issues in women.
- The 2025 theme, Lifestyle Medicine, is informed by the IMS white paper The Role of Lifestyle Medicine in Menopausal Health. More details can be found at International Menopause Society
- GABA Labs is a biotech research company founded by Professor David Nutt, exploring safe alternatives to alcohol and new ways to support mental wellbeing through the science of GABA. Its consumer-facing sister brand, SENTIA Spirits, produces alcohol-free social drinks.