logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2023
34m 17s

#251 - AMA #46: Optimizing brain health:...

Peter Attia, MD
About this episode

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode

Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content

Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter

In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter goes into depth on the topic of brain health, starting with how Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed, the significance of blood-based biomarkers in diagnosis, and what the various APOE gene variants mean in terms of a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Next, Peter discusses the various strategies for preventing Alzheimer's disease and neurodegeneration. He touches briefly on exercise as a potent tool, but focuses more on lesser-known factors that could impact brain health, such as nutrition supplementation, lipid management, brain games, sauna, oral health, hearing loss, and more.

If you’re not a subscriber and are listening on a podcast player, you’ll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you’re a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your private RSS feed or our website at the AMA #46 show notes page. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits here.

We discuss:

  • Diagnosing Alzheimer's disease [2:45];
  • Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease, the C2N test, and other tools for diagnosis [7:30];
  • Genetic component of Alzheimer’s disease: genes that confer risk [12:45];
  • Understanding your APOE status and why it’s important to know [17:15];
  • The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and who is at higher risk [21:15];
  • Can the risk of Alzheimer’s disease be decreased with behavioral changes? [24:15];
  • Overview of modifiable behaviors that potentially play a role in risk reduction of neurodegeneration [30:15];
  • Things that clearly impact brain health: smoking, alcohol, sleep, head injuries, blood pressure, and more [34:15];
  • How nutrition impacts brain health: common diets, metabolic health, energy balance, and more [46:15];
  • Comparing common diets: data showing the association between the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and specific diets [59:45];
  • Supplements: EPA and DHA, vitamin D, and B vitamins [1:13:00];
  • Supplements: theracurmin, cocoa flavonols, and magnesium L-threonate [1:25:15];
  • Impact of exercise on brain health, minimum effective dose, and the most important types of exercise [1:33:00];
  • Challenging the mind with brain games—does it impact neurodegeneration? [1:43:00];
  • The data on sauna and brain health [1:49:45];
  • Oral health and its association with brain health [1:52:45];
  • How reducing lipids can improve brain health and prevent neurodegeneration [1:55:30];
  • The potential impact of hearing loss on brain health and neurodegeneration [2:04:30]; and
  • More.

Connect With Peter on TwitterInstagramFacebook and YouTube

Up next
Jul 7
Navigating bone health: early life influences and advanced strategies for improvement and injury prevention (#214 rebroadcast)
View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter In this episode from July 2022, Peter dives deep into the topic of bone health and explains why this is an important topic for everyone, from childr ... Show More
1h 31m
Jun 30
#355 – Skincare strategies, the science of facial aging, and cosmetic-intervention guidance | Tanuj Nakra, M.D. & Suzan Obagi, M.D.
View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Tanuj Nakra and Suzan Obagi, two leading experts in aesthetic medicine, join Peter to explore the science of facial aging and skin health as well as ... Show More
2h 57m
Jun 23
#354 – What the dying can teach us about living well: lessons on life and reflections on mortality | BJ Miller, M.D. and Bridget Sumser, L.C.S.W.
View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter BJ Miller, a hospice and palliative care physician, and Bridget Sumser, a licensed social worker specializing in serious illness and end-of-life car ... Show More
2h 16m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2022
The 5 Main Ways To Prevent Alzheimer's & Dementia
This episode is brought to you by Rupa Health and Paleovalley. Protecting your brain and cognitive function is not just for the elderly. It’s never too early to start protecting your brain, which is something we should all think more about as Alzheimer’s and dementia rates contin ... Show More
1h 12m
Feb 2023
#079 Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia | Axel Montagne, Ph.D.
Dr. Axel Montagne is a chancellor's fellow and group leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences. His group aims to understand how, when, and where critical components of the blood-brain barrier become dysfunction ... Show More
1h 48m
Mar 2021
These Four Toxins Destroy Your Brain Health | Dr. Dale Bredesen on Health Theory
Check out our Sponsors Butcher Box: Ground beef for life is back! For a limited time, new members can get 2 pounds of free ground beef in every Butcher Box order by signing up today at ButcherBox.com/impact InsideTracker: Get 25% off their entire store at insidetracker.com/impact ... Show More
57m 15s
Jun 2023
Unraveling the APOE 4 Gene and the Alzheimer's Puzzle
This episode is part of a live recording for our NEURO Academy community, and the topic of the discussion is the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease, in particular a deep dive into Apolipoprotein E4 or APOE4 gene, which is the most influential genetic risk factor associated with Late ... Show More
58m 53s
Jun 2022
How To Optimize Brain Health For Longevity
This episode is brought to you by Rupa Health, Paleovalley, and Vuori. Losing our memories and the things that define us is one of the scariest things someone can face. Preserving, supporting, and even strengthening brain function is crucial to optimal aging. This is why, in toda ... Show More
39m 47s
Dec 2023
Dementia vs Alzheimer's: Signs, symptoms and preventing Alzheimer's disease with Lisa McGuire, PhD
Following National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, the CDC shares what physicians and patients need to know about the disease. Lisa McGuire, PhD, lead epidemiologist at the CDC, discusses the importance of catching Alzheimer’s early, its risk factors and barriers to make Alz ... Show More
13m 18s
Feb 2024
#512: Alzheimer’s Disease – Drs. Ayesha & Dean Sherzai
Links: Go to episode page (with episode resources) Subscribe to PREMIUM Get the Sigma email newsletter See Sigma's recommended resources About This Episode: Alzheimer’s disease has a profound impact on individuals, families, and societies worldwide. As a progressive neurodegenera ... Show More
1h 10m
Jul 2021
This DOCTOR Knows What Causes Alzheimer’s and How You Can PREVENT It | Jay Lombard on Health Theory
Check out our sponsors:  Better Help: Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/impacttheory MindPump: Download their FREE guide at fatlossimpact.com  Italic: Sign up for an Italic membership at italic.com/join using code IMPACT for 30% off. RISE: Go to risescience.c ... Show More
43m 1s
Apr 2024
Dementia Prevention: Mitchell Clionsky, PhD, on Enhancing Brain Health
Episode 196 is about dementia prevention, cognitive aging, and brain health.In this episode, you’ll meet Mitchell Clionsky, Ph.D., a board-certified neuropsychologist who specializes in evaluating and treating patients with cognitive impairment, dementia, ADHD, and traumatic brai ... Show More
47m 59s
Apr 2024
TMHS 781 - EAT THESE FOODS To Boost Brain Health & REDUCE INFLAMMATION
There is a growing epidemic of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, which tend to have dire outcomes. But instead of normalizing rapid cognitive decline, we have to take the power into our hands to protect the health of our brains. The best place to start is by ch ... Show More
1h 42m