In this episode of The Root Cause Medicine Podcast, we dive into Alzheimer's, dementia, and brain health with Max Lugavere and Chris Newhard. You’ll hear us discuss:

Max is a health and science journalist, filmmaker, and bestselling author. He wrote the Genius trilogy, which includes Genius Foods, Genius Kitchen, and The Genius Life. Max also hosts The Genius Life podcast, a leading health and wellness show in the US, and has appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience, The Rachael Ray Show, The Today Show, and PBS’s Brief but Spectacular.

Chris is a filmmaker from Philadelphia who has built his career as a cinematographer and director. In 2017, he founded Booklight, a production company focused on documentary and narrative work. His diverse experience includes directing music videos for artists like Sia, Maroon 5, and Jessie J.

Chris and Max recently worked together on the Little Empty Boxes documentary, which highlights Max's efforts to slow his mother's (Kathy Lugavare) dementia. The film offers an honest look at Kathy's journey and the challenges Max faces as he does everything he can to support her.

02:37 - The “Heart” of Little Empty Boxes

08:09 - Shattering Myths About Dementia and Offering Hope

11:37 - The Statistics You Need to Know About Alzheimer's

14:24 - What Really Causes Brain Damage

17:31 - The Diet Dilemma

18:55 - The Groundbreaking Alzheimer's Research That Was All a Fraud

24:22 - Why Nearly All Alzheimer's Drug Research Has Failed

27:24 - Essential Biomarkers You Need to Check Now

29:41 - The Personal Tragedy That Inspired The Genius Life Book

32:52 - Why There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Diet for Brain Health

41:05 - Think You’re Eating Healthy?

42:22 - How Building Muscle Increases Longevity and Brain Health

47:57 - Life-Changing Tips on Managing Stress and Boosting Brain Health

54:52 - Where Can You Find Max and Chris?