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Autoimmune Disease in Menopause and Changing Treatment Status Quo

Jun 10, 2025

Why is autoimmune disease in menopause becoming more prevalent? And why are college-age patients a growing autoimmune demographic? 

In your 60s, when the world is thinking of retirement, would you ever consider being a founder of a new business instead of spending days on the golf course or traveling? 

Answers to the increase in autoimmune disease in menopause and more in this special episode I think you may find both alarming and fascinating; both a shot of reality and hope. 

 

My Guest:

Dr. Bonnie Feldman, 69, Co-founder and Chief Patient Officer of Rheumission, is an entrepreneur, health practitioner, researcher, financial analyst, digital health advisor and autoimmune patient and advocate. 

Since 2010, Dr. Feldman integrates digital tech, virtual-first care, and lifestyle interventions with conventional care to improve outcomes for autoimmune patients. She spent the past decade raising awareness of the underserved and growing autoimmune market opportunity for private investment. Her experience as an autoimmune patient have fueled Bonnie’s passion for prevention, earlier diagnosis and improved care for all autoimmune patients.

 

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

  • [00:04:50] Tell me about your own journey - why become a startup founder at an age (now 69) that most people are already in retirement?
  • [00:09:16] What are autoimmune diseases?
  • [00:13:18] What do people not understand about autoimmune disease?
  • [00:18:21] Why do you say that autoimmune disease is a women's health crisis?
  • [00:22:39] What is fundamentally wrong and needs to change in the way autoimmune patients are treated and diagnosed? What are doing to change this?
  • [00:24:42] What is biologics? What are the negative side effects of biologics? 
  • [00:33:04] What is the legacy you hope to leave (for your 10 grandchildren)?

 

Know if You May Have Autoimmune Disease in Menopause

 

What is Autoimmune Disease?

  • Old Definition
    • When the immune system attacks itself.
    • 100 different kinds e.g. multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, all sort of colitis and Crohn's
  • New Definition
    • Now includes the inflammatory spectrum and autism spectrum

 

Autoimmune Disease Is a Women’s Health Crisis

  • 80% of autoimmune patients are women, around 40 million people
  • Hormones influence during puberty, pregnancy, menopause
  • Late-onset autoimmune diagnoses are on the rise.
  • The biggest growth is in young adult women who are college age.

 

Treatment for an Autoimmune Disease Patient

  • Conventional Medicine
    • The patient sees different kinds of specialized doctors that do not necessarily talk to each other (e.g. dermatologists, rheumatologists, etc.)
  • Rheumission
    • A Care Team is provided under one virtual roof with access to the patient digitally 24/7 if needed. This includes lifestyle medicine physician, an autoimmune psychologist, an autoimmune dietitian, an exercise program, and a care coordinator.
    • Uses lifestyle medicine as the first lever of defense like diet, sleep, psychological, etc. Medicines are used in the lowest dose when needed.

 

Connect with Dr. Bonnie:

 

Other Episodes You Might Like:

 

Resources: