Mind the Gap: GABA, Hormones, and the Female Gut-Brain Connection

Author: Maya Danovitch

We used to exclude women from clinical research. Now we’re finally asking the right questions.

What does the gut-brain axis have to do with perimenopause, PMS, and sleep? What role does GABA really play in calming the mind—and how can probiotic innovation support it?

Recently, our lead scientist Dr. Azure Grant delivered a LinkedIn Live presentation with Dr. Noah Zimmerman from Verb Biotics, a company that seeks to develop microbiome health solutions. The two explored the interplay between hormones, the gut microbiome, and neurotransmitters across a woman’s lifespan. Zimmerman noted, “we quickly realized that when we were dealing with People Science and, and with Azure in particular, they were invested in the science that we were doing.”

Here’s what we learned, the ideas we’re still exploring, and why this matters for you.

The Female Life Cycle: Hormones, Health, and Beyond

Puberty sets up lifelong cycles of estrogen and progesterone, which shape not just reproduction, but also mood, cognition, and even sleep.

The Menstrual Cycle is a symphony of hormonal peaks and valleys, each influencing neurotransmitters like serotonin (mood), dopamine (motivation), and GABA (calm and sleep).

Pregnancy brings hormonal surges 10-50 times higher than baseline, profoundly affecting brain chemistry and gut function.

Perimenopause and Menopause are marked by declining hormones, destabilized neurotransmitter levels, and often, new challenges: sleep disturbances, mood swings, and GI issues.

Insight: These fluctuations are rooted in real, measurable shifts in brain and gut chemistry, and understanding them is key to supporting women’s health at every age.

The Gut Microbiome: The Missing Link?

Not only does estrogen regulate reproduction, it also helps maintain the gut barrier, reducing inflammation and supporting healthy neurotransmitter production. As estrogen declines (with age or menopause), gut permeability increases, inflammation rises, and the “estrobolome” (estrogen-processing bacteria) diminishes. This can amplify hormonal symptoms and affect mental health.

Insight: Supporting gut health—through diet, lifestyle, and potentially probiotics—may be a powerful way to ease hormonal transitions and support mood, sleep, and overall well-being.

GABA and Probiotics: A New Frontier for Mood and Sleep

GABA is the brain’s main “calming” neurotransmitter, crucial for sleep and stress resilience. As Grant explained, hormonal changes can disrupt concentration and/or expression of GABA, especially in perimenopause and menopause. This can lead to anxiety, irritability, and insomnia.

People Science and Verb Biotics are exploring new ways to support GABA naturally, including sustained-release, GABA-producing probiotics. Early clinical trials show promise for improving sleep and reducing stress within weeks: “by the second day of taking this probiotic, we started to see release [of GABA]. And then by the end of the week, it was statistically significant,” Zimmerman shared.

Insight: This approach could offer a gentler, more sustainable alternative to pharmaceuticals, harnessing the gut-brain axis to support mental health.

What’s Next? Questions We’re Still Exploring

• How can we optimize hormone and neurotransmitter replacement—timing, dosing, and delivery—for women at different life stages?

• What’s the best way to measure and support gut-brain health in real time?

• How do dietary phytoestrogens (like soy) and herbal remedies fit into the bigger picture?

• What are the long-term effects of GABA-producing probiotics on the microbiome and mental health?