AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
The Peter Attia Drive
#236 ‒ Neurodegenerative disease: pathology, screening, and prevention | Kellyann Niotis, M.D.
Jan 2, 2023
56:56:43
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Early detection and risk reduction strategies are essential for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
- Understanding the pathology and symptoms of each disease, such as cognitive testing for Alzheimer's and movement abnormalities for Parkinson's, is crucial.
- Genetic factors, such as APOE and mitochondrial haplotypes, play a significant role in determining disease susceptibility.
- Promoting optimal movement through exercise and coordination-based activities helps build cognitive reserve and delays the onset and progression of neurodegenerative conditions.
Deep dives
Neurodegenerative Diseases and Risk Reduction Strategies
In this podcast episode, Dr. Kellyanne Neotis discusses the various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson's disease. The importance of early detection and risk reduction strategies are highlighted. The episode emphasizes the need for understanding the pathology and symptoms of each disease, such as cognitive testing for Alzheimer's disease and movement abnormalities for Parkinson's disease. The role of genetics, environmental factors like pesticide exposure, and the potential for using biomarkers in diagnosis and treatment are also discussed.
Parkinson's Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Prevention
Parkinson's disease is explored in-depth in this podcast episode. The role of dopamine-producing brain cells and their degeneration in Parkinson's disease is explained. Early warning signs, such as REM sleep behavior disorder and abnormal movement patterns, are highlighted as potential indicators of the disease. The importance of movement assessments, optimizing sleep, managing anxiety, and incorporating lifestyle interventions to delay or prevent Parkinson's disease progression are discussed.
Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Amyloid Protein
The role of amyloid and tau proteins in Alzheimer's disease is examined in this podcast episode. Amyloid protein misfolding and its deposition as amyloid plaques in the brain are explained. The relationship between amyloid PET scans, tau PET scans, and cognitive decline is discussed. The limitations and significance of understanding biomarkers, such as amyloid and tau, in the diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease are explored.
The Challenges and Progress in Neurodegenerative Disease Research
This podcast episode sheds light on the challenges and progress in neurodegenerative disease research. The complex nature of these diseases, the need for better risk assessment, and development of novel biomarkers are addressed. Emphasizing the importance of cognition as a marker for disease progression, the episode highlights the potential for early interventions and lifestyle adaptations to delay or prevent neurodegeneration. The significance of understanding shared mechanisms and developing targeted treatments is discussed.
Exercise and Cognitive Reserve
Exercise is crucial for maintaining brain health and building cognitive reserve. It not only improves cognitive function but also helps in preventing and delaying the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Different types of exercise, such as coordination-based exercises like dance, cardiovascular exercises for increasing cerebral blood flow, and strength training for muscle mass and metabolic health, play significant roles in optimizing brain health. Exercise stimulates the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that promotes the growth and protection of brain cells, particularly in memory centers. Exercise is recognized as the most impactful activity in enhancing brain health and should be prioritized in preventive strategies.
The Role of Blood Pressure
Blood pressure management is crucial for brain health, particularly in preventing neurodegenerative diseases. Lower blood pressure levels, such as 120/70, have been associated with better cognitive outcomes. Controlling blood pressure, especially during the night and morning, is essential, as autonomic instability and blood pressure fluctuations can affect cognitive function. Although continuous blood pressure monitoring is currently limited in practicality, advancements in this area could provide valuable insights and help implement targeted interventions for maintaining brain health.
Exploring Genetic Factors
Genetic factors play a significant role in determining an individual's risk for neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding one's genetic profile, including genes like APOE, Tom40, a BoC1, CLOTHO, and mitochondrial haplotypes, can provide valuable insights into disease susceptibility and guide preventive strategies. Genetic information, combined with comprehensive cognitive testing and movement assessments, can help identify individuals at higher risk and tailor interventions accordingly. Incorporating genetic risk assessment into the management of neurodegenerative diseases can potentially revolutionize the field and lead to more effective preventive approaches.
Movement and Neurodegenerative Diseases
A strong correlation exists between movement capabilities, cognitive reserve, and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Promoting optimal movement through exercise and coordination-based activities helps build cognitive reserve and delays the onset and progression of neurodegenerative conditions. Analyzing movement patterns alongside cognitive testing provides valuable information for early identification of movement-related impairments that may indicate neurodegenerative disease risk. Recognizing the interconnectedness of movement and brain health and incorporating movement assessments in preventive strategies is critical for addressing neurodegenerative diseases.
22.
Neuroinflammation Autophagy - What Are the Commonalities Between These Diseases?
2min
View the Show Notes Page for This Episode
Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content
Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter
Kellyann Niotis is a neurologist specializing in risk reduction strategies for the prevention or slowing of neurodegenerative disorders. In this episode, Kellyann provides an overview of the various diseases associated with neurodegeneration, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. She goes in-depth on Parkinson’s disease, explaining its pathology, role in movement capacity, very early warning signs, and the role of anxiety and sleep. Similarly, she provides an in-depth discussion of Alzheimer’s disease, including the latest in screening, genetics, and tools/strategies for prevention. She ties the discussion together by explaining the differences and commonalities among the various diseases of neurodegeneration and the potential causative triggers, and she highlights the importance of early screening, cognitive testing, and taking the proper steps to lowering the risk of disease.
We discuss:
- Kellyann’s background, training, and interest in the brain [2:30];
- A primer on neurodegeneration: different types, prevalences, interventions, and more [5:30];
- Overview of Parkinson’s disease and neuromuscular disorders including ALS [16:00];
- Parkinson’s disease: early signs, diagnosis, genetics, causative triggers, and more [17:30];
- Interventions to delay or avoid Parkinson’s disease, and the role of sleep and anxiety [31:15];
- The challenge of standardizing early interventions for Parkinson’s disease without a clear biomarker [39:45];
- Alzheimer’s disease: pathophysiology and the role of the amyloid and tau proteins [47:45];
- Can PET scans be informative for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease? [51:15];
- Tau accumulation in the brain, tau scans, serum biomarkers, and possible early detection of Alzheimer’s disease pathology [57:00];
- Cognitive testing explained [1:03:30];
- The challenge of identifying the stage of the disease and why drugs have not shown efficacy [1:14:45];
- The association between hearing loss and dementia [1:17:45];
- The relationship between oral health and neurodegenerative diseases [1:21:30];
- Genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease [1:24:45];
- What one’s mitochondrial haplotype can reveal about their risk of neurodegenerative disease [1:32:30];
- The positive impact of exercise on brain health [1:37:00];
- High blood pressure as a risk factor [1:40:00];
- Why women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease [1:44:15];
- Final takeaways: the future of understanding neurodegenerative disease and further reducing risk [1:46:45]; and
- More.
Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube
Get the Snipd
podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any
moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share
& Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode