Your Brain On

We spend a third of our lives sleeping. The benefits for our brain are incredible. Restorative sleep is essential for good brain health. When you sleep, your brain washes away waste products from around your synapses, consolidates short-term memories into long-term knowledge, and processes thoughts and emotions. In this episode, we explain how, and discuss: • How much sleep your brain really needs • The different phases of sleep, and how each one strengthens your cognition • Why good sleep is key for minimising the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases • Insomnia, sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders, and how to treat them • The environmental factors which can help improve sleep • Why paying too much attention to sleep trackers and smart wearables can do more harm than good This week, we’re joined by Dr. Donn Posner, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. We also welcome Dr. Sujay Kansagra, the Director of Duke's Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program and an Assistant Professor in Duke's School of Medicine. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. Drs. Ayesha and Dean are now welcoming patients via the Brain Health Institute: https://brainhealthinstitute.com/ ‘Your Brain On... Sleep’ • SEASON 2 • EPISODE 7 ——— LINKS Dr. Donn Posner: Sleepwell Consultants: https://www.sleepwellconsultants.com/ Dr. Sujay Kansagra: at Duke Health: https://www.dukehealth.org/find-doctors-physicians/sujay-kansagra-md on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsleepdoc ——— FOLLOW US Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

Virtual reality gadgets trick our brains by creating hyper-realistic simulations. VR game designers prevent motion sickness cleverly. VR is used for treating conditions like PTSD. VR was used in neurological studies back in the 90s. We must adopt VR tech responsibly with caution.

Unraveling the impact of sunlight on our brains: from serotonin production for alertness to melatonin release for sleep. Explore the benefits of Vitamin D, disruptions in our circadian rhythm, and how light therapies can combat cognitive decline. Join experts as they discuss the evolutionary link between sunlight exposure and our health.

Explore the different types of fats essential for brain health, debunking myths about high-fat diets. Understand the link between saturated fats, cognitive decline, and dementia. Learn about incorporating healthy fats into meals and the impact on heart and brain health. Hear from nutrition scientist Dr. Alan Flanagan and cardiologist Dr. Danielle Belardo on fats, cholesterol, and cardiovascular interventions.

The podcast discusses the impact of hearing loss on cognitive decline, the distinction between 'hearing' and 'listening', recent studies linking hearing loss with neurodegenerative diseases, advancements in hearing aid technology, and the relationship between tinnitus and brain responses.

This podcast explores the science of humor, discussing evolutionary origins and therapeutic benefits. Topics include the benign violation theory, using humor for therapy, involuntary laughter disorders, and comedy as a tool for communication and growth. Guests discuss the role of comedy in finding shared understanding, coping with life's challenges, breaking repression, and pushing societal boundaries.

Space travel goes against a million years of human evolution. So how does it affect our brains? In just six decades of manned space flights, we’ve discovered a remarkable amount about the neurological effects of venturing to the stars. In this episode of ‘YOUR BRAIN ON...’ we discuss: • How low gravity changes your brain structure, impacts your balance, and... actually might improve your sleep • The cognitive dangers of space travel, from the mania of isolation to the destructive forces of cosmic radiation • Why we’re evolutionary drawn to explore other worlds and believe in aliens • What spaceflight can teach us about neuroplasticity and cogntive decline This episode, we’re joined by: DR. JAY BUCKEY, astronaut and space physiologist, who, in 1998, was part of the Neurolab mission, going to space for 16 days to study the effects of spaceflight on the brain and nervous system. DR. SHEYNA GIFFORD, aerospace medic, who famously spent a year in a simulation of Mars on a volcano in Hawaii, to study the psychological impacts of long-term space travel. DR. RACHAEL SEIDLER, Professor in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida, and an expert on spaceflight’s affects on neuroplasticity. EMILY CALANDRELLI, renowned science educator and engineer, who highlights how what we learn while exploring space greatly benefits our lives down here on Earth. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... SPACE TRAVEL’ • SEASON 2 • EPISODE 1   👉 LINKS Dr. Jay Buckey at Dartmouth: https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/faculty/facultydb/view.php/?uid=426 Dr. Sheyna Gifford’s website: https://sheynagifford.com/ Dr. Rachael Seidler at University of Florida: https://hhp.ufl.edu/about/faculty-staff/seidler_rachael/ Dr. Rachael Seidler on Twitter (AKA ‘X’): https://twitter.com/SeidlerRachael Emily Calandrelli’s website, ‘The Space Gal’: https://www.thespacegal.com/ Emily Calandrelli on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespacegal Emily Calandrelli on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thespacegal   👉 FOLLOW US Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

Neuroscientist Dr. Charan Ranganath challenges the notion of age as a barrier to effective leadership. Discussions cover various memory types, cognitive resilience in older age, historic figures' contributions, and the power of cognitive reserve. Longevity expert Dan Buettner joins to explore the benefits of having older leaders. The podcast delves into memory complexities, strategies for maintaining cognitive health, and the future of memory research.

Discover the neuroscience behind the benefits of cardio workouts - from improving mood and reducing stress to enhancing memory and immunity. Hear from experts like Dr. John Ratey and Dr. Art Kramer on the cognitive benefits of exercise. Learn how cardio can reverse aging effects, boost brain function, and integrate more fitness into your daily life.

Explore the power of stories and community in facing Alzheimer’s. Learn about preventing cognitive decline through brain-healthy living. Understand the neurochemistry of how Alzheimer’s changes the brain. Discover genetic predispositions and why women have a higher risk. Approach brain health like heart health for a better future without Alzheimer’s.