Ask Doctor Dawn

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 11-20-2025: Dr. Dawn discusses GLP-1 inhibitors like Zepbound and semaglutide showing unexpected benefits for addiction treatment beyond diabetes and weight loss. Patients in rehab report these drugs mute cravings for alcohol, cocaine, and cigarettes. Multiple studies show reduced substance abuse rates in users, with VA and NIH conducting trials examining brain activity and responses to triggers. With 80,000 annual drug overdose deaths and 48 million Americans having substance abuse disorders, these medications may revolutionize addiction treatment by dampening brain reward circuitry, though costs threaten healthcare budgets. A Stanford twin study found those twins assigned a vegan diet had substantially lower cholesterol, insulin, and body weight compared to their omnivore twins after several months, with LDL dropping 15mg, four pounds more weight loss, and 20% lower insulin. Dr. Dawn explains how a fungal disease decimating Central American frog populations caused 500% malaria increases in some areas. The fungus kills frogs by blocking skin electrolytes until hearts stop, eliminating tadpoles that eat mosquito larvae. Ecosystem collapses followed with algae blooms and snake population drops. She provides other examples showing how species losses affect human health, emphasizing the "one health" movement recognizing ecosystem health as fundamental to human wellbeing. An Australian study found people aged 70+ who listen to or play music regularly had 39% lower dementia rates, though causation remains uncertain. Princeton research shows music activates multiple brain regions simultaneously. Learning instruments increases gray matter, and musical memory remains intact in advanced dementia since it's stored separately from other memories. A caller discusses how modern screen-based activities provide less multisensory engagement than past social experiences like dances. Another caller describes Grover's disease causing persistent itchy skin with no known cause. Dr. Dawn recommends an elimination diet removing common allergens for one month, then reintroducing individually to identify food sensitivities triggering immune responses. Dr. Dawn explains xenotransplantation advances with genetically edited pigs beginning full-scale kidney transplant trials. Companies use CRISPR to disable genes causing immune rejection and insert human genes promoting immune tolerance. With only 10% of global kidney patients receiving organs, these could provide unlimited supply. Other innovations include kidneys with thymus tissue to teach immune tolerance and external pig liver systems as transplant bridges. She concludes noting research showing female dogs remember and prefer humans who demonstrate competence at tasks, while male dogs show no preference.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 11-13-2025: Dr. Dawn discusses a New England Journal of Medicine study examining radiation exposure from medical imaging in over 4 million children showing increased hematological cancer risk. Head and brain CTs deliver highest bone marrow doses, with under-1-year-olds receiving 20 milligrays compared to background radiation of 1 milligray yearly. The study found 3,000 cancers in 4 million children over roughly 10 years, with relative risk increasing 1.6-fold per CT scan. However, methodological flaws include combining US and Canadian cohorts with different data quality, potential reverse causation where imaging detected pre-existing cancers, and arbitrary 6-month latency assumptions are significant flaws in this study.. Despite small absolute risk increases given low baseline cancer rates, she encourages parents to question necessity of repeat scans and request alternatives like MRI when appropriate. She reports on cutting-edge CRISPR therapy using lipid nanoparticles to deliver molecular scissors targeting the ANGPTL3 gene controlling LDL cholesterol production. Recent setbacks in several other CRISPR trials raise issues for unexplained liver toxicity. Concerns include off-target gene editing effects and partially repaired DNA creating mutated proteins triggering autoimmune reactions. Dr. Dawn emphasizes restricting gene therapy to life-threatening genetic diseases with no alternatives until safety improves. Stanford scientists used AI model Evo trained on 9 trillion gene samples to design 300 new bacteriophages from scratch, with 16 phages successfully killing E. coli bacteria. AI tools now predict protein structures, design custom drugs, create antivenoms, invent antibiotics, and break down PFAS forever chemicals. The research represents evolution through computation and requires guardrails on AI's ability to manipulate biological structures. An emailer shares the Rosencare model where hotel chain owner Harris Rosen created self-insured health coverage featuring direct provider contracting, imaging facilities charging one-third to one-half traditional costs, transparent pharmacy benefit management, and zero or $5 primary care copays. Employees receive proactive screening for colonoscopies, mammograms, cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension during clinic visits. Ninety percent of medicines including insulin cost nothing, with remaining drugs $0-25, and hospital admissions cost flat $750. The model saved $600 million while providing superior preventive care by eliminating insurance middlemen and focusing on early chronic disease detection when 75-85% of costs originate. Dr. Dawn explains abdominophrenic dyssynergia causing bloating unrelated to gas or food. The diaphragm descends and abdominal wall muscles relax, pushing organs forward after meals. CT scans showed lettuce-related bloating involved no intestinal gas changes but demonstrated this abnormal muscle reflex. Randomized trials showed biofeedback training with chest-lifting and abdominal wall contracting exercises before and after eating for four weeks improved symptoms 66%. She warns that constant bloating in postmenopausal women unrelated to eating requires ovarian cancer screening. She discusses how genes drive personality using dopamine receptor gene DRD4 polymorphisms as an example. The 7-repeat variant present in 48% of Americans creates receptors binding dopamine poorly, associating with ADHD, pathological gambling, alcoholism, drug dependence, and bulimia, plus personality traits of novelty-seeking, impulsiveness, and optimism. The 2-repeat DRD4 variant common in Asia correlates with lower anger and higher forgiveness. DRD2 variations enhance the memory of negative outcomes, creating pessimistic bias and avoidance behavior. She presents the KETO trial showing "lean mass hyper-responder phenotype" where very low-carbohydrate dieters averaging age 55 maintained LDL cholesterol of 272 for five years but showed identical coronary artery calcium scores and plaque burden as matched controls with LDL under 150. Despite extreme LDL elevation, the very low insulin levels from carbohydrate restriction prevent LDL oxidation, the inflammatory "loading" process enabling arterial damage. She concludes with unusual cancer symptom where recurrent pain in specific body locations after alcohol consumption, lasting 1-2 days, occurs in 5% of Hodgkin lymphoma patients and in other cancers when alcohol induced blood vessel dilation and inflammatory chemical release in cancer-containing lymph nodes causes pain after drinking.

Dr. Michael Alexander, a medical oncologist and former director at Solari Cancer Center, discusses the challenges of pancreatic cancer, which has low survival rates and complex screening methods. He emphasizes the importance of community support through a fundraiser for pancreatic cancer. The conversation also highlights the significance of timely colon cancer screenings, especially for at-risk individuals, and the effectiveness of preventive measures like diet and early detection. Additionally, they address rising cancer rates in the Midwest and possible environmental links, showcasing a comprehensive view on cancer care and awareness.

Uncover the spooky side of food safety as Dr. Dawn reveals hidden food toxins lurking in pantries. Learn about the harmful effects of molds like Aspergillus on peanuts and the dangers of bacterial meat spoilage. A discussion on the implications of private equity buyouts highlights access to care and rising maternal health risks. Plus, an exciting breakthrough in Huntington's Disease therapy shows promise in slowing progression. It's a mix of chilling tales and hopeful advancements in health!

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 10-23-2025: Dr. Dawn opens with a passionate plea about E-bike safety after observing riders ignoring stop signs and wearing inadequate helmets in Santa Cruz. She explains the physics of collisions, noting that force equals mass times acceleration, and a car hitting an E-bike rider at 20 mph delivers impact equivalent to falling from a two-story building. She emphasizes that 97% of bike fatalities in New York involved helmetless riders, and brain injuries result from the brain striking the skull twice during impact - once on the impact side and again on the opposite side during deceleration. She urges drivers to honk at helmetless riders and calls for stricter helmet law enforcement. An emailer asks about hydroxyapatite in toothpaste. Dr. Dawn traces its origins to NASA research in the 1960s by Dr. Bernard Rubin studying crystal growth for preventing bone and tooth mineral loss in astronauts. Japanese company Sangi acquired the patent and created the first hydroxyapatite toothpaste by 1980, receiving official anti-cavity recognition in 1993. Studies show it matches fluoride's cavity prevention effectiveness by filling microscopic cracks where bacteria take root. It also relieves temperature sensitivity by sealing micro-fractures in enamel that expose the dentin layer, making it especially helpful for people who clench their jaws. Researchers from UC Berkeley and the Allen Institute used electrodes and lasers to study how mouse brains process optical illusions like the Kanizsa triangle. They discovered specialized IC encoder neurons in the visual cortex that fill in missing information, creating complete shapes from partial cues. When these pattern-completing circuits activate inappropriately, they may trigger hallucinations in conditions like schizophrenia. Dr. Dawn explains that illusions occur when the brain perceives something different from actual visual input, while hallucinations create perceptions with no external stimulus. She discusses frontotemporal dementia where visual hallucinations result from protein deposits in the occipital cortex, and notes that a 2021 British Journal of Psychiatry study found hallucination rates varying from 7% in young people to 3% in those over 70. An emailer describes unbearable chronic lumbar pain with degenerative disc disease shown on MRI. Dr. Dawn emphasizes that MRI findings don't necessarily correlate with pain levels, citing shopping mall studies showing equal degenerative changes in people with and without back pain. She stresses checking for sciatica symptoms including leg pain below the knee, sensory differences between sides, calf size asymmetry, and ability to walk on tiptoes and heels. Without these red flags, the degenerative disease likely isn't causing the pain. She warns against unnecessary surgery citing frequent "failed back" syndrome when surgery for a disk image doesn't "fix" the pain. She recommends water jogging with a ski vest, McKenzie exercises, abdominal strengthening, ergonomics, removing wallets from back pockets, and alternating heat and ice therapy. She discusses mindfulness meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy for pain management. A caller references Daniel Levitin's book "Your Brain on Music," discussing research using functional MRIs showing distinct brain activation patterns in musicians versus non-musicians due to integrated auditory, visual, and kinesthetic training. Dr. Dawn describes how infant brains develop from three to six layers with increasingly complex synaptic connections resembling circuit boards. She highlights a blindfold study where college students' visual cortices began responding to sound within two weeks as the auditory cortex expanded. She shares her husband's remarkable recovery demonstrating adult brain plasticity through intensive rehabilitation. Learning new musical instruments helps dementia patients by activating multiple brain regions simultaneously and improving standard cognitive test performance. A caller describes an eight-day chest cold with thick white phlegm. Dr. Dawn recommends guaifenesin as a mucus-thinning expectorant to prevent bacterial growth in respiratory secretions that serve as "bacteria chow." She emphasizes the importance of current flu, COVID, and RSV vaccinations. Secondary bacterial infections develop when bacteria colonize viral-induced mucus in the lungs and invade tissues. She advises aggressive hydration and chicken soup, which research shows helps clear mucus. Another caller provides additional information about Daniel Levitin as a musicologist, neurologist, and musician who runs the Music Perception, Cognition and Expertise laboratory at McGill University.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 10-16-2025: Dr. Dawn explains the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology awarded to Shimon Sakaguchi, Mary Brunkow, and Fred Ramsdell for discovering T regulatory cells. Previously, medical teaching held that the thymus only eliminated self-attacking T cells, but Sakaguchi found that removing the thymus from newborn mice caused autoimmune disease, suggesting protective regulatory cells existed. He identified CD4+CD25+ cells that suppress inflammation and can convert other T cells. Brunkow and Ramsdell discovered the FOXP3 gene that controls these cells, linking mutations to severe autoimmune diseases like IPEX syndrome. Tissue-specific Tregs regulate metabolism in fat, maintain gut microbiome tolerance, promote wound healing in skin, and control muscle regeneration. Therapeutic applications include stopping type 1 diabetes, preventing organ rejection, and treating multiple sclerosis. An emailer asks about a study linking soft drinks to depression through gut bacteria changes. Dr. Dawn critiques the cohort association study for establishing only correlation, not causation, with a weak risk ratio of 1.1 representing just 10% increased association. She explains that bacteria can influence food cravings, making it unclear whether sodas change bacteria levels or bacteria drive soda consumption. Without Koch's postulates—isolating bacteria, growing them, and reproducing disease—the causal direction remains uncertain despite statistical significance. Dr. Dawn reads David Whyte's essay on injury as invitation to transformation, exploring how pain reveals vulnerability, changes identity, requires patience, and teaches compassion. She notes this perspective may come easier to men who reach midlife believing they control their bodies, while menstruation disabuses women of that illusion earlier. As a physician, she emphasizes the ego crisis when people transition from healthy to "person with disease," requiring identity restructuring that can shake foundations but also mature and strengthen individuals. A caller responds enthusiastically to the injury essay, citing quotes from André Gide, James Hillman, and Norman O. Brown about how illness opens doors to reality closed to healthy mindedness, how the soul sees through affliction, and how vulnerability is inherent to being human. Dr. Dawn agrees that many religions embrace wounds as paths to spiritual enlightenment and commits to deeper reflection on suffering's role in the human condition. Dr. Dawn discusses cognitive functional therapy for chronic back pain, describing firefighter Joe Lawrence who believed his spine was irreparably damaged until physical therapist Peter O'Sullivan challenged those beliefs. The therapy addresses psychological aspects by teaching that backs need movement, not protection, and that tensing muscles worsens pain. The three-step approach examines pain origins including emotional context, gradually reintroduces avoided activities while learning relaxation, and establishes healthy sleep and exercise routines. GLP-1 drug prices have dropped dramatically to $499 monthly at Costco due to compounding pharmacy competition. Dr. Dawn urges immunizations, noting studies show shingles vaccination reduces dementia risk by 20% over seven years, possibly by generating T regulatory cells that reduce brain inflammation. Natural experiments in England where vaccine rollout occurred at different times in different regions provided strong evidence. She explains that chickenpox vaccination in childhood prevents both chickenpox and future shingles. Even tetanus shots appear to lower dementia risk, suggesting vaccines activate immune responses that reduce chronic inflammation. She concludes with practical advice to reduce microplastic exposure by avoiding plastic cups and containers, especially with heat. Eight-year-old coffee makers contain twice the microplastics of six-month-old machines due to deterioration. She recommends ceramic cups, glass or metal kettles, removing food from plastic before cooking, and washing polyester clothing on low heat to minimize microplastic generation.

Dr. Dawn explores the safety of low-dose lithium for dementia prevention, revealing its calming effects may actually enhance cognition without kidney damage. She highlights the benefits of over-the-counter hearing aids that can save users significant costs. Addressing concerns about methotrexate for psoriasis, she recommends monitoring and safer alternatives like apremilast. Additionally, she emphasizes the dangers of ultra-processed foods and the importance of building exercise into daily routines, promoting simple tips to stay active and motivated.

Blood pressure guidelines have reverted to 140/90 after issues with the 2015 SPRINT study's unrealistic targets. Claims linking Tylenol to autism are debunked, highlighting significant biases and historical trends in autism rates. The dangers of ultra-processed foods are discussed, revealing a link to overeating and excess calorie intake. Additionally, innovative health technologies like biometrics and ultrasound helmets for brain stimulation raise concerns about data privacy and effectiveness.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 9-25-2025: Dr. Dawn opens with disturbing whistleblower allegations from Patrick Chase about organ transplant corruption. He claims poor patients at Parkland Hospital were systematically denied kidneys that were redirected to wealthier patients at UT Southwestern Medical Center. In 36 documented cases, doctors rejected kidneys as unsuitable for Parkland patients, then transplanted those same organs at the prestigious academic hospital. Chase alleges financial incentives corrupt the entire system, from procurement organizations to waiting list management. She discusses widespread scientific fraud in medical journals, citing research about PLOS journal showing 45 editors facilitated acceptance of fraudulent papers at rates far exceeding chance. These editors represented only 1.3% of reviewers but were responsible for 30% of retracted articles. Paper mills now use AI to generate fake studies with fabricated data, selling authorship to academics seeking publication credits. This undermines evidence-based medicine when treatment guidelines rely on potentially fraudulent research. Dr. Dawn introduces holy basil as a sleep aid beyond melatonin, explaining how its active compound ocimum lowers cortisol and inhibits orexin pathways that promote wakefulness. Unlike melatonin which signals sleep onset, holy basil helps maintain deep sleep by preventing middle-of-night stress spikes. She recommends 500 milligrams of aqueous leaf extract, noting this Ayurvedic herb may be particularly helpful for menopausal women experiencing sleep disruption. She warns about medication-induced osteoporosis, revealing that proton pump inhibitors increase hip fracture risk by 217% after four years of use by impairing calcium absorption and triggering parathyroid hormone release. Antidepressants pose similar risks, with SSRIs increasing fracture risk by 68% and causing women to lose bone 1.6 times faster than non-users. Cancer treatments like androgen deprivation therapy cause severe bone loss, with 81% of long-term users developing osteoporosis. Dr. Dawn challenges cholesterol treatment guidelines, explaining that Quest Labs' recommendation for LDL under 100 contradicts actual medical standards. The Veterans Administration only recommends statins for LDL above 190 plus high cardiovascular risk, or 12% ten-year risk calculated using multiple factors. She criticizes the focus on cosmetic cholesterol numbers while ignoring that high-dose statins increase diabetes risk, which is a greater health threat than elevated LDL alone. A caller describes experiencing severe ear itching followed by facial puffiness after a haircut. Dr. Dawn explains this likely represents a histamine-mediated allergic reaction, possibly triggered by salon products rather than the haircut itself. She advises getting ingredient lists from the salon to identify potential allergens and notes that bilateral symptoms suggest systemic rather than contact allergy. The oral antihistamines the caller took were appropriate treatment. Another caller asks about statin use with LDL of 155, expressing concern about adverse effects. Dr. Dawn recommends calculating ten-year cardiovascular risk rather than focusing solely on LDL numbers. She explains serious statin risks including muscle breakdown and diabetes development, particularly in women. For patients with muscle pain from statins, she suggests CoQ10 supplementation, but discontinuation if symptoms persist to prevent kidney damage from rhabdomyolysis.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 9-18-2025: Dr. Dawn opens by establishing her psychobiology background and introducing the neurohormonal axis connecting mind and body. She describes revolutionary research published in Nature Neuroscience showing that simply seeing sick people in virtual reality triggers actual immune responses. The study used VR avatars displaying infection symptoms approaching participants, measuring brain activity with EEG and fMRI while analyzing blood samples for immune cell changes. The research demonstrates that infectious avatars approaching in virtual reality activate the same immune pathways as actual flu vaccination. Brain areas including the salience network and peripersonal space system detect potential threats and communicate with the hypothalamus to trigger white blood cell activation. Proximity matters - threats 20 feet away don't trigger responses, but approaching threats do. Dr. Dawn explains the sophisticated methodology, including 128-channel EEG monitoring and flow cytometry analysis of immune markers. Participants showed faster reaction times when infectious avatars approached compared to neutral ones, demonstrating subconscious threat assessment. The study reveals built-in disgust responses that evolved to protect against pathogens. She comments on how her medical training rewire the protective disgust reaction through repeated exposure.. She transitions to discussing stress effects on gastrointestinal function, explaining how the gut-brain axis operates through the vagus nerve and neurohormonal pathways. The adrenal glands produce both immediate epinephrine responses and longer-term cortisol release, with chronic stress leading to digestive disruption, increased intestinal permeability, and microbiome changes that can trigger food sensitivities and autoimmune conditions. Dr. Dawn details the difference between acute and chronic stress responses in the gut. Acute stress redirects energy from digestion for fight-or-flight responses, while chronic stress causes mast cell activation, histamine release, mucus layer thinning, and bacterial overgrowth. These changes can lead to irritable bowel syndrome, increased food allergies, and even celiac disease in genetically susceptible individuals. The discussion covers various brain networks including the default mode network active during rest, the central executive network for problem-solving, and the salience network that switches between them when detecting important stimuli like threats, food, or reproductive opportunities. Functional MRI studies show these networks' activity patterns and their connections to immune system regulation through the hypothalamus. Dr. Dawn emphasizes practical implications for modern life, warning that constant screen exposure and doom-scrolling activate chronic stress responses unnecessarily. She recommends avoiding phones upon waking, spending time outdoors, wearing amber glasses for evening screen use, and practicing specific breathing techniques - inhaling for 5 counts, holding for 5, exhaling for 5, holding for 5 - to regulate nervous system activation and reduce inflammatory responses.