Dr. Dean Ornish proved heart disease Is reversible. Now he's doing it with Alzheimer's

Ash Zenooz and Luba Greenwood interview Dr. Dean Ornish, a cardiologist, researcher, and advocate for lifestyle medicine who notably treated Bill Clinton. They discuss his journey into preventative medicine, the development of the Ornish Diet, and his data showing reversal of chronic diseases and improving overall health and longevity.

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LINKS: 

Ornish Lifestyle Medicine: https://ornish.com/ 

Michael E. DeBakey, M.D.: https://www.bcm.edu/about-us/our-campus/debakey-museum/legacy-of-excellence

Books by Dr. Ornish (mentioned):

Love and Survival: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Survival-Scientific-Healing-Intimacy/dp/0060172134

Undo It: https://www.amazon.com/Undo-Lifestyle-Changes-Reverse-Diseases/dp/052547997X 

The Spectrum: https://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-Scientifically-Proven-Program-Better/dp/0345496310 

Eat More, Weigh Less: https://www.amazon.com/Eat-More-Weigh-Less-Abundantly/dp/006109627X 

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Dr. Ornish took a year off medical school to conduct a pilot study, finding that 8 out of 10 patients showed improved blood flow to their hearts through lifestyle changes alone.
• The landmark Lifestyle Heart Trial proved that arteries could become less clogged through lifestyle changes.
• The program crystallized into four key elements: whole foods plant-based diet, moderate exercise, stress management through meditation/yoga, and social support groups.
• It took 16 years of effort to get Medicare to cover the program, demonstrating that changing medical practice required changing reimbursement structures.
• The program achieved a remarkable 93% completion rate because participants felt better quickly, compared to only one-third of people staying on statins after a few months.
• Research with Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn showed these lifestyle changes could lengthen telomeres, potentially reversing aging at a cellular level.
• Recent studies demonstrated the same program could stop or reverse early-stage Alzheimer's progression in 71% of participants within 20 weeks.
• Data from health insurers showed significant cost savings: 80% of cardiac patients avoided surgery, saving $30,000 per patient in the first year.
• Studies of over 20,000 participants revealed a nearly 50% reduction in depression scores through the program.
• President Clinton's adoption of the program helped demonstrate its effectiveness to a broader audience and influenced healthcare policy.
• The program's core philosophy emphasizes joy and immediate benefits over fear of future consequences, making the changes more sustainable.
• For disease reversal (versus prevention), patients need 80-100% adherence to the program's principles.