# 338 - Live longer by meditating - with neurologist Dr Steven Laureys

My guest today is Dr Steven Laureys, a world leading neurologist, researcher, author and keynote speaker with a passionate interest in understanding and caring for the brain. His team works principally with severely brain damaged patients with various degrees of consciousness including comatose patients, to determine their extent of neurological disability and their degree of neuronal plasticity, which ultimately will govern their capacity to recover. They do these using various forms of brain scans.

Dr Laureys is also a passionate meditator and has married his medical background, his interest in the brain, and his curiosity regarding meditation by writing a book entitled: The no nonsense meditation book, a scientist's guide to the power of meditation.

In this episode expect to learn what meditation is, how studying the brains of expert meditators like buddhist monks while they're meditating is giving us an insight into the brain's ability to physically change. We learn of the physical, psychological and emotional benefits of meditation. We also find out how applying our knowledge about the brain's ability to change can be used to benefit severely brain damaged patients. Plus Dr Laureys talks to us about brain activity in those people who have undergone a near death experience, and finally we learn about how meditation changes our DNA to help us live longer!

I loved talking with Dr Laureys, his work is lifechanging and groundbreaking, I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Dr Laureys' Ted Talk : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qqc_wJS6-Q

Dr Laureys' book : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Steven-Laureys/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ASteven+Laureys

His website : https://www.drstevenlaureys.org/