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The Empowering Neurologist Podcast

Is Lifting Weights the Best Dementia Prevention? Muscle’s Impact on Brain Health - with Dr. Austin Perlmutter | EP 194

Feb 10, 2025
01:07:01

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We all know that exercise is good for the body and specifically, very good for the brain. In fact, exercise is the most important inroad to better brain health, better brain function, protecting the brain against decline, and even with respect to mood issues like depression.


But it's reasonable to ask how in fact does this work? How is it that exercising muscles does good things for the brain?


On today's episode of the Empowering Neurologist we spent time with Dr. Austin Perlmutter. He takes us on a deep dive exploring the exact connection between muscle and its endocrine function in terms of creating various chemicals that are so helpful for better brain health. It's a great discussion that looks at things like how much exercise is appropriate, what type of exercise is best, how much protein we should be consuming, and what other supplements will augment the benefits of exercise in terms of better brain health. I think you will really enjoy this episode. I know I sure did, after all, getting to spend time with my son is always special!


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00:00:00 Introduction & Welcoming Dr. Austin

00:01:56 The Relationship of Muscle Health, Mental Health, and Brain Health

00:09:15 The Power of Exercise to Improve Cognition vs Pharmaceuticals & The Muscle as an Endocrine Organ

00:16:36 The Molecules Produced by Muscles: Myokines 

00:20:10 Myokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Health 

00:26:43 Sarcopenia and The Risk of Dementia

00:31:50 Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor, Neuroplasticity & Weight Training 

00:39:40 Animal versus Plant Protein to Build Healthy Muscle

00:46:26 Cycling Anabolic and Catabolic States

00:51:31 Why Women Are 2x More Likely to Develop Alzheimer's and What Supplementation Is Necessary to Compliment Building Muscle

01:05:40 Conclusion and Wrap Up


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Dr. Austin Perlmutter is a board-certified internal medicine physician, New York Times bestselling author, researcher, educator, podcaster and entrepreneur. His mission is to help people get their brains unstuck for better mental and cognitive health. Dr. Perlmutter’s work on how environment and diet influences brain health has been featured on PBS, Rolling Stone, Newsweek, NPR, Fox, CBS and other top media outlets. He has co-produced and hosted some of the world’s largest online brain health events including Alzheimer’s, the Science of Prevention and the Better Brain Blueprint. He is the Managing Director of Big Bold Health, where he led a pioneering study exploring plant nutrient effects on human aging. He is the CEO of Lichen Air, which provides science-backed indoor air solutions for better brain health and longevity. He is also a research consultant to the Helfgott Research Institute, where he studies the epigenetic, metabolic, microbiome and immune effects of ayahuasca. 



Website: https://www.austinperlmutter.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@draustinperlmutter

IG: https: https://www.instagram.com/draustinperlmutter/

Lichen AIr: https://lichenair.com/

Dr. Austin Perlmutter's Muscle-Brain eGuide: https://www.austinperlmutter.com/muscleguide


___________________________

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidperlmutter/

Website: https://www.drperlmutter.com/

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