Food for Thought | David Perlmutter, MD

Sep 3, 2024

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Modern medicine has long considered many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease to be immutably linked to the fate of certain unlucky individuals through yet-poorly understood genetic mechanisms. But increasingly, we are seeing evidence that some of our lifestyle choices, including our diet, physical activity, and relationships, may play a significant role in the development of, or protection against, these diseases. Our guest on this episode, David Perlmutter, MD, is a neurologist and writer whose immensely popular books, including Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar — Your Brain’s Silent Killers (2013), discuss why diets low in refined carbohydrates and high in fats, in addition to foods that nurture a healthy gut microbiome, may prevent cognitive decline.

Over the course of our conversation, we discuss Dr. Perlmutter's path from conventional neurology to moving towards a more functional and holistic approach to treating brain disorders, the importance of metabolic health in maintaining our cognitive capacities, how Dr. Perlmutter responds to critics of his non-conventional medical advice, why nutrition science is riddled with messy and conflicting findings and how we can better navigate through it all, what clinicians can do to better help their patients live well, and more.

Note: Some of Dr. Perlmutter’s ideas and recommendations have been the subject of debate and controversy within the medical community. While we believe in fostering open dialog and exploring diverse perspectives, the views expressed in this episode are those of Dr. Perlmutter and do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of this podcast. We encourage listeners to critically evaluate the information presented and work with qualified healthcare professionals when making any changes to their health and wellness routines.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

3:11 - Dr. Perlmutter’s transition from conventional neurology to what he calls “preventative” neurology

8:43 - Dr. Perlmutter’s views on what constitutes a “disease” and the role of the doctor.

19:08 - Emerging science on the importance of metabolic health on brain health

25:17 - How scientific studies on preventative health can be (and have been) designed

34:56 - Why Dr. Perlmutter prioritizes health markers (such as HbA1c) over specific dietary recommendations when working with patients

42:21 - Dr. Perlmutter’s views on GLP-1 antagonists such as Ozempic and Mounjaro

50:36 - How Dr. Perlmutter has dealt with critics of his work

Dr. David Perlmutter is the author of eight books.

Dr. Perlmutter can be found on Twitter/X at @davidperlmutter.

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