#252 ‒ Latest insights on Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, exercise, nutrition, and fasting | Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D.
May 1, 2023
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Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D., discusses her latest insights on Alzheimer's disease, cancer, exercise, nutrition, and fasting. She covers topics such as the vascular hypothesis for Alzheimer's, the impact of exercise on cancer, and the connection between protein and aging. Rhonda also explores the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, the role of omega-3 fatty acids in brain health, and the frustrating lack of progress in Alzheimer's research. Additionally, she highlights the benefits of exercise in reducing Alzheimer's risk and preventing cancer, and delves into the conflicting literature on protein intake and longevity.
Alzheimer's disease risk can be influenced by factors like type 2 diabetes, blood pressure, omega supplementation, exercise, sauna, and more.
Regular exercise has significant neurobiological benefits for reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Precision nutrition, based on gene-diet interactions, holds promise for personalized dietary guidance.
Maintaining good blood pressure, preventing type 2 diabetes, and ensuring omega-3 fatty acid intake are crucial for reducing Alzheimer's disease risk.
Specific intensity thresholds in exercise, like training at 'zone two' and incorporating 'VO2 max' sets, maximize aerobic capacity and lactate clearance for brain benefits.
Exercise plays a vital role in reducing the risk of certain cancers, improving memory and cognitive function, and mitigating genetic and sleep-related impacts.
Deep dives
Alzheimer's Disease and the Blood-Brain Barrier
In this podcast episode, the discussion focuses on Alzheimer's disease, specifically the role of the blood-brain barrier. Research suggests that the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier is an early event in Alzheimer's disease and can lead to neuroinflammation and the accumulation of harmful substances in the brain. Factors such as type 2 diabetes and genetic predispositions like the APOE4 allele can increase the risk of blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Understanding the underlying causes of dementia, including vascular dysfunction, can lead to new avenues for prevention and treatment.
The Importance of Exercise for Alzheimer's Disease Prevention
Exercise is highlighted as a crucial intervention for reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Research indicates that regular exercise can have a greater impact on risk reduction compared to other interventions. The neurobiological benefits of exercise include the increased consumption of lactate by the brain, which acts as a fuel and signaling molecule, and the activation of mechanisms that promote the growth of new blood vessels and repair damaged ones at the blood-brain barrier. Exercise also increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays a crucial role in long-term potentiation and neuroplasticity. These mechanisms contribute to the brain's ability to reshape and respond to environmental changes.
Precision Nutrition and Gene-Diet Interactions
Discussion turns to the potential of precision nutrition and the exploration of gene-diet interactions. In the coming years, advancements in technology and research are expected to provide insights into the individualized dietary needs based on genetic makeup. Genetic factors may influence a person's response to macronutrients and micronutrients. Understanding these interactions could lead to tailored dietary guidance that optimizes health outcomes. However, the funding landscape and incentives for research in the field of nutrition pose challenges to the exploration of precision nutrition.
Other Lifestyle Factors and Alzheimer's Disease
The podcast also emphasizes the impact of other lifestyle factors on Alzheimer's disease risk. Maintaining good blood pressure, preventing or managing type 2 diabetes, and ensuring adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids are highlighted as important lifestyle interventions. High blood pressure, when coupled with cumulative exposure over time, can damage blood vessels and increase dementia risk. The importance of comprehensive lifestyle strategies to prevent Alzheimer's disease is underscored, as prevention is more effective than attempting to treat the disease once it has developed.
Importance of Exercise and Training Thresholds
The podcast discusses the importance of exercise and training at specific intensity thresholds. The speaker emphasizes the need to train at the 'zone two' threshold, which is the level of work that can be done while keeping lactate at a threshold of about two millimole. This type of aerobic training is essential for developing aerobic capacity and improving performance. Additionally, the podcast highlights the significance of 'VO2 max' sets, which involve all-out efforts lasting three to eight minutes. These sets help build the peak of the training pyramid and improve lactate clearance, which has benefits for the brain and neurotransmitter synthesis. The podcast concludes by emphasizing the need for both aerobic and peak-building training to maximize the benefits and create a wide and tall training pyramid.
The Relationship Between Exercise and Cancer
The podcast discusses the relationship between exercise and cancer prevention. It highlights the strong evidence supporting the role of exercise in reducing the risk of certain cancers, such as breast and colorectal cancer. Exercise has been shown to reduce cancer incidence, mortality, and recurrence. The extent of the benefit may vary depending on the cancer type and individual factors, including sex. While aerobic exercise is prominently studied in cancer prevention, the specific benefits of strength training are less understood. However, any amount of physical activity can have a positive impact on reducing cancer risk, underscoring the importance of exercise in overall health.
Exercise and Brain Health
The podcast explores the impact of exercise on brain health and neurobiological effects. Exercise has been shown to improve memory and cognitive function. It increases the production of growth factors and myokines, substances that serve important functions in the brain. Exercise promotes neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, helping neurons to adapt, grow, and form new connections. The podcast also highlights the potential benefits of exercise in reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Additionally, it discusses how exercise can mitigate the negative effects of certain genetic factors, such as the APOE4 allele, and improve sleep quality, further contributing to brain health.
Exercise, Sleep, and Alcohol
The podcast examines the complex relationship between exercise, sleep, and alcohol. It discusses how exercise can positively impact sleep quality and regulate glucose levels, preventing dysregulation. The podcast also notes the potential detrimental effects of alcohol on sleep and emphasizes the importance of moderation. It highlights the influence of genetic factors, such as APOE4, on alcohol sensitivity and susceptibility to damage. The podcast emphasizes that exercise can mitigate the potential harmful effects of alcohol consumption, but it is important to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle and be mindful of individual genetic vulnerabilities.
Importance of Protein Intake and Muscle Mass
The podcast highlights the importance of protein intake and maintaining muscle mass for healthy aging. It discusses the correlation between high protein intake, lower mortality rates, and reduced risk of chronic diseases. The speaker emphasizes that protein intake becomes progressively more important as people age, due to anabolic resistance and the need for muscle protein synthesis. The benefits of strength training in combination with protein intake are also highlighted as crucial factors in preventing sarcopenia and maintaining overall health.
Reevaluating Animal Studies and Dietary Recommendations
The podcast challenges previous beliefs about the superiority of vegetarian diets and the potential risks of high protein intake. The speaker questions the relevance of animal studies in predicting human outcomes, emphasizing the differences in exposure to infectious diseases and other lifestyle factors. The importance of considering individual factors, such as obesity, exercise, and age, when evaluating protein intake and its associated risks is highlighted. The lack of consensus and data quantifying the risk of cancer compared to the benefits of adequate protein intake and muscle maintenance is acknowledged.
Time-Restricted Eating, Autophagy, and Circadian Rhythm
The podcast discusses the potential benefits of time-restricted eating, eating within a circadian window, and its impact on metabolism and autophagy. The relevance of eating patterns, such as avoiding late-night meals, for improved sleep and insulin sensitivity is highlighted. The importance of protein intake during time-restricted eating and the challenges of maintaining muscle mass while following this approach are acknowledged. The speaker also mentions the potential synergies between lactate and beta hydroxybutyrate in neurobiological effects, and the need for further research in this area.
Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D., is a scientist with expertise in the areas of aging, cancer, and nutrition who translates complex scientific topics into actionable insights on her podcast, Found My Fitness. In this episode, Rhonda provides her latest thinking as it relates to Alzheimer's disease including the possibility of a vascular hypothesis as well as the factors that can impact disease risk such as type 2 diabetes, blood pressure, omega supplementation, exercise, sauna, and more. She also touches on cancer risk including the relationship between cancer and exercise as well as the link between alcohol consumption and cancer. Additionally, Rhonda explains her new focus on exercise and protein consumption as well as how her perspective has shifted as it pertains to fasting and time-restricted feeding.
We discuss:
Alzheimer’s disease: Rhonda’s evolved thinking on neurodegenerative diseases [2:30];
The breakdown of the blood-brain barrier in neurodegenerative disease [8:45];
An explanation for the observation that type 2 diabetes increases risk of Alzheimer’s disease [15:45];
The role of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) in brain health and prevention of neurodegeneration [19:45];
Comparing the preventable nature of type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, cancer, and dementia [32:15];
Blood pressure: an important modifiable lifestyle factor that can affect Alzheimer's disease risk [35:15];
Rhonda’s outlook on “precision medicine” as it pertains to one’s genetic predispositions [38:45];
Possible mechanisms by which exercise reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease [45:45];
Building your aerobic pyramid: neurobiological effects of exercise, benefits of lactate peaks, and more [53:45];
Maximizing mitochondrial biogenesis: alternative training approaches and strategies [58:45];
Possible brain benefits of sauna, and Rhonda’s personal protocol [1:09:30];
The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and dementia risk [1:15:30];
How exercise may reduce the risk of cancer [1:20:30];
The overarching impact of exercise on health, and the importance of focusing the factors that matter most [1:33:15];
Impact of alcohol consumption on breast cancer risk and overall health [1:37:15];
Exercise as an intervention for poor sleep habits [1:42:30];
The longevity benefits of consuming adequate protein and strength training to preserve muscle mass and strength [1:46:30];
How to get enough of the right kind of protein in your diet [2:05:15];
Fasting: weighing the risk vs. reward [2:12:15];
How Rhonda’s views have shifted on diet and exercise [2:15:30];
How to follow Rhonda’s work and more about the benefits of lactate for the brain [2:21:00]; and
