The Brain-Immune Expert: This Is How Social Media Is Reprogramming Your Immune System | Prof. Dan Nicolau

Apr 30, 2025

01:11:38

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I'm excited to share this week's Live Well Be Well episode with you all! I had Dr. Dan Nicolau join me to explore the fascinating intersection of our brain and immune system - a relationship that could completely transform how we understand health and disease.

"Neuroimmunology" - the powerful two-way communication between our brain and immune system. We often think of these systems separately, but Dan reveals how they're constantly in dialogue, influencing everything from allergies and autoimmune conditions to mental health and chronic disease.

We dive into how modern life - particularly our relationship with social media and screens - might be disrupting this delicate balance and potentially driving inflammation throughout our bodies. Dan shares insights from his groundbreaking research on how what we scroll through might literally be changing our biology, and offers practical wisdom on how we can become more mindful of these connections in our daily lives.

About Dr. Dan Nicolau:

Dr. Dan Nicolau is a polymath researcher whose work spans mathematics, engineering, medicine, and computer science. As a leading voice in neuroimmunology, his research explores how the brain and immune system communicate and how this relationship affects our health from allergies to cancer. His multidisciplinary approach combines rigorous science with profound philosophical insights about what it means to live well in the modern world.

Connect with Dr. Dan Nicolau:

Email: dan.nicolau@kcl.ac.uk

Love,

Sarah Ann 💛

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Thank you to my wonderful sponsors!

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If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:

Dr. Chris Palmer: How Ultra-Processed Foods Impact Your Brain and Mental Health

https://youtu.be/1XwRdDU1PCY?si=1aac1zajEJhKuoB3

Dr. William Li: Can Diet DAMAGE Your Blood Brain Barrier?

https://youtu.be/UrCxdniSLiU?si=F4eGRntovHRRbi4N

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Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

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Highlights:

Introduction (00:00)

The Historical Understanding of Mind-Body Connection (01:16)

Which Came First: The Brain or the Immune System? (03:58)

How Medicine Became Siloed (08:40)

The Brain and Immune System as a Computer Network (10:03)

Peanut Allergies: More in the Mind Than Immune System (11:57)

The Brain's Memory of Immune Responses (13:57)

The True Purpose of the Immune System (17:34)

Mental Health Conditions as Inflammatory States (22:44)

How Mental Health Affects Physical Health Outcomes (25:05)