Your Brain On

Dr. Olajide Williams, a neurologist and vice dean at Columbia University, shares his expertise on stroke prevention. He emphasizes that up to 90% of strokes could be prevented with awareness and education. The discussion includes how to quickly recognize a stroke using the ‘act FAST’ acronym, and the importance of blood pressure management. Dr. Williams highlights his Hip Hop Public Health initiative, which teaches kids to save lives, and addresses healthcare disparities, stressing that lifestyle changes are key in stroke prevention.

Marion Nestle, a renowned authority on food policy and Emerita Professor at NYU, sheds light on the challenges posed by the food industry in making healthier choices. She discusses how food marketing exploits our psychology and why willpower alone isn't enough. Marion emphasizes the significance of community initiatives, schools, and policy in shaping nutritional habits. She also highlights the detrimental effects of stress and decision fatigue on our diets, and the double-edged role of social media in spreading nutrition information.

 A tiny bite from a tiny tick can trigger a complex disease which speaks to some huge problems with our healthcare system. In this episode, we explain the biology, controversy, and cultural blind spots around Lyme disease, a condition that reflects much more than just a bacterial infection. It’s also a mirror for our most urgent public health issues: inequality, misinformation, climate change, and the growing mistrust of science. We speak with two world-class experts: • Dr. John Aucott: Director of the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Clinical Research Center and leading voice on post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) • Dr. Richard Marconi: Professor of microbiology and immunology at Virginia Commonwealth University, and a pioneering scientist behind next-generation Lyme vaccines Together, we explore: • Why Lyme disease symptoms can linger long after treatment • What makes Lyme so neurologically disruptive (and so hard to diagnose) • How climate change, suburban development, and racial disparities intersect with the rise of tick-borne illness • The dangers of alternative medicine grifters preying on desperate patients • The truth about the original Lyme vaccine, and what’s coming next... We also share practical prevention tips and discuss how Lyme disease is shaping the future of infectious disease research, diagnostics, and brain health. This is... Your Brain On Lyme Disease. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. SUPPORTED BY: NEURO World. Help your brain thrive, now and into the future: https://neuro.world/  ‘Your Brain On... Lyme Disease’ • SEASON 5 • EPISODE 4 ——— FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraindocs YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebraindocs Website: https://thebraindocs.com/

Leigh Hochberg, a leader in neurotechnology at Massachusetts General Hospital, David Brandman, co-director of UC Davis Neuroprosthetics Lab, and neural engineer Sergey Stavisky explore groundbreaking advancements in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). They discuss how BCIs restore speech and movement for individuals with paralysis, the ethical implications of neural data privacy, and the emotional journeys of patients involved in clinical trials. The conversation emphasizes the technology's potential while advocating for ethical and inclusive practices in this rapidly evolving field.

Gluten has become one of the most misunderstood aspects of modern nutrition. Let’s set the record straight. In this episode, we untangle the medical, neurological, and cultural narratives surrounding gluten, from celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity to real (and rare) cases of gluten-induced brain dysfunction. We discuss: • The differences between celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergy • How gluten affects the gut, and what ‘leaky gut’ really means • Whether gluten can trigger neurological symptoms like ataxia and brain fog • Why cutting out gluten without a diagnosis may do more harm than good • How wheat contributes to a healthy microbiome (and why fiber matters) • What role zonulin plays in gut permeability and immune activation • Why brain fog isn’t yet well understood (and the theories behind it) To help us decode the science (and bust the myths) of gluten, nutrition, and the brain, we’re joined by two world-renowned experts: DR. ALESSIO FASANO: pediatric gastroenterologist, research scientist, and chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Mass General for Children (MGfC), and director of the Center for Celiac Research. DR. FRANK CUSIMANO: gastroenterologist, physician-scientist, and gut-brain health communicator with a PhD in Nutritional and Metabolic Biology from Columbia University Institute of Human Nutrition. This is... Your Brain On Gluten. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... Gluten’ • SEASON 5 • EPISODE 2 ——— Your Brain On... is supported by the FREE monthly Brain Box, available in our NEURO World community: http://thebraindocs.com/brainbox

Two-thirds of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are women — but why? In this episode, we unpack the neurological, hormonal, and social drivers that uniquely affect women's brain health during the menopausal transition — from estrogen’s protective role in the brain to the misunderstood history of hormone replacement therapy. We discuss: • Why women face a higher risk of Alzheimer’s than men • How menopause accelerates brain aging (and how it starts earlier than is often expected) • The role of estrogen in brain metabolism and neuroprotection • The real story behind hormone replacement therapy (HRT) • The impact of genes like APOE4 on women’s brain health • How lifestyle factors like stress, sleep, and cognitive activity can help reduce the impact of neurological changes onset by menopause ——— Get our free curation of women’s brain health resources in our Brain Box: http://thebraindocs.com/brainbox ——— To help us tell this story, we welcome three world-renowned women’s health experts to the podcast: DR. LISA MOSCONI: Director of the Women's Brain Initiative, author of ‘The Menopause Brain’, and pioneering researcher in brain imaging and hormonal neuroscience. MARIA SHRIVER: Founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, journalist, and relentless advocate for gender equity in brain health research. DR. LISA GENOVA: Neuroscientist and bestselling author of ‘Still Alice’, which was adapted into a film starring Julianne Moore, who won the  2015 Best Actress Oscar for her role as Alice Howland. This is... Your Brain On Menopause. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... Menopause’ • SEASON 5 • EPISODE 1 ——— Our free Women’s Brain Health Brain Box includes: • Guides on how to speak with healthcare providers about menopause • Delicious brain-healthy Mother’s Day brunch recipes • Meaningful gift ideas for the women you love • Inspiring interviews with world-leading women’s health experts • And even a chance to check your cognitive health with an insightful, science-backed test Get the Brain Box for free! Here: http://thebraindocs.com/brainbox ——— References: Mosconi, L. (2017). Perimenopause and emergence of an Alzheimer's bioenergetic phenotype in brain and periphery. PloS One, 12(10), e0185926.  Belloy, M. E. & Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. (2019). A quarter century of APOE and Alzheimer's disease: Progress to date and the path forward. Neuron, 101(5), 820-838.  Rahman, A. (2019). Sex and gender driven modifiers of Alzheimer's: The role for estrogenic control across age, race, medical, and lifestyle risks. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 11, 315.  Rocca, W. A. (2012). Hysterectomy, oophorectomy, estrogen, and the risk of dementia. Neurodegenerative Diseases, 10(1-4), 175-178.  Scheyer, O. (2018). Female sex and Alzheimer's risk: The menopause connection. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, 5(4), 225-230.  Women's Health Initiative Memory Study Investigators. (2003). Estrogen plus progestin and the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women: The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study—a randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 289(20), 2651–2662.  Women's Health Initiative Investigators. (2002). Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: Principal results from the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 288(3), 321-333.  Whitmer, R. A. (2005). Midlife cardiovascular risk factors and risk of dementia in late life. Neurology, 64(2), 277-281.  Livingston, G. (2024). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. The Lancet, 404(10452), 572-628. Maki, P. M. (2016). Hormone therapy, dementia, and cognition: The Women's Health Initiative 10 years on. Climacteric, 19(3), 313-315. 

Dr. Ani Patel, a cognitive psychologist, Dr. Charles Limb, a surgeon and musician, and Jonathan Biss, a renowned pianist and author, dive into the captivating connection between music and the brain. They discuss how music enhances cognitive functions and emotional well-being. From therapeutic uses in Alzheimer's patients to the impact of rhythm on language recovery, their insights reveal music's powerful role in fostering communication and learning. The trio also explores music's cultural significance and how creativity intertwines with neurological processes.

Dr. Adrian Chavez, a nutrition researcher with a PhD in Nutrition and Health Promotion, dives into the booming supplement industry. He reveals the shocking lack of evidence behind many popular claims, urging listeners to distinguish between genuine effects and placebo. Topics like omega-3s and the impact of ashwagandha on brain health are explored, alongside the psychology driving our supplement choices. With tips on navigating misleading marketing, this conversation empowers listeners to make informed decisions about their wellness.

Traumatic Brain Injury is a major cause of death, disability, and cognitive decline. Thankfully, evolving research is helping us protect our heads and lessen the long-term impacts of TBIs. In this episode of ‘Your Brain On...’ we discuss: • The effects and symptoms of TBI, from mild concussions to more severe head injuries • What actually happens to your brain when you sustain a TBI • The links between TBI and neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairment • The prevalence of TBI in military personnel and sportspeople, and how we’re improving protective technologies • Steps to take after experiencing concussions or head traumas • How brain-healthy preventative lifestyle habits can lessen the long-term impacts of TBI Our guest for this episode is Dr. David Brody, MD, PhD, Chief Science Officer/Chief Innovation Officer, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD. Dr. Brody is a pre-eminent researcher of traumatic brain injuries, particularly in military personnel who experience TBIs during combat.  This is... Your Brain On TBI. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On...’ is supported by the NEURO World Retreat, taking place in San Diego, September 2–5 2025: https://neuroworldretreat.com/ ‘Your Brain On... TBI’ • SEASON 4 • EPISODE 8  — LINKS David Brody, MD, PhD: https://www.usuhs.edu/profile/david-brody-md-phd  — FOLLOW US  Instagram: @thebraindocs  Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

In this discussion, Richard Bazinet, a University of Toronto professor researching brain lipid metabolism, and Bill Harris, an omega-3 expert behind the Omega-3 Index, share insights on the significance of omega-3 fatty acids for brain health. They unpack the differences between omega-3 and omega-6, revealing how dietary sources are crucial since our bodies can’t produce these essential fats. The conversation also explores the risks of low intake and the importance of DHA at every life stage, while advocating for more comprehensive research on omega-3 benefits and metabolism.