The Empowering Neurologist Podcast

🧠 Stay ahead with the latest in science, nutrition, and wellness by subscribing to Dr. Perlmutter’s newsletter at: www.drperlmutter.com. ✉️🌱 What can we do to improve our brains? This is clearly a topic that is central to our messaging. And we have focused on a variety of levers to pull, including exercise, sleep, dietary changes, nature, connection, etc. But we've now learned about a powerful input that has proven incredibly effective in improving brain function, especially in a variety pathological situations like cognitive decline, anorexia, depression, and even autism. This innovative approach has been called olfactory enrichment. And basically, this involves stimulating the brain with various types of scents. Perhaps the top researcher on the planet exploring this subject and creating innovative ways for us to take advantage of olfactory enrichment is Dr. Michael Leon.He received his PhD from the University of Chicago and joined the professoriate at the young age of 24. He is currently Professor emeritus in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of California Irvine. He has received the Research Scientist Development Award from the National Institute for Mental Health for his work on the neurobiology of early learning, the D.G. Marquis Award from the American Psychological Association for developing an effective treatment for children with autism, and the Healthcare Technology Acceleration Award from the California HealthCare Foundation for his work on body weight normalization. In a recent analysis from the Stanford University, he was ranked among the top 2% of scientists in the world. On the podcast we review this empowering science in detail and I am certain you will be you captivated by the therapeutic potential of this intervention.Also, we’ll explore the device Dr. Leon has created so that everyone can take advantage of these exciting developments.  ==== 0:00 Intro 2:48 Researching Olfactory Enrichment  7:25 Impact of Olfaction on Disease 13:47 Relationship Between Inflammation & Sense of Smell 16:27 Study of Olfactory & Memory Loss 19:41 Losing Sense of Smell In Covid 24:01 Relationship of Taste to Olfaction 26:04 Impact on Depression  27:26 Difference Between this and Aromatherapy  31:59 Treating Anorexia with This 33:11 How This Works on a Subconscious Level 34:50 Memory Air Device  36:25 Conclusion ==== Michael Leon received his PhD from the University of Chicago and joined the professoriate at the age of 24.  He is currently Professor emeritus (recalled) in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of California Irvine. He also is a member of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, as well as the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders at UCI.  He has received multiple awards for teaching undergraduates, including the Professor of the Year Award as the best teacher on the UCI campus. He has received the Research Scientist Development Award from the National Institute for Mental Health for his work on the neurobiology of early learning, the D.G. Marquis Award from the American Psychological Association for developing an effective treatment for children with autism, and the Healthcare Technology Acceleration Award, from the California HealthCare Foundation, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for his work on body weight control. In a recent analysis from the Stanford University School of Medicine, he was ranked among the top 2% of scientists in the world for the impact of his research. He is a partner in Science Lab 3 and the Mando Group. ___________________________ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidperlmutter/ Website: https://www.drperlmutter.com/ Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRl_UAXxbHyOOjklnA0dxQ/?sub_confirmation=1

🧠 Stay ahead with the latest in science, nutrition, and wellness by subscribing to Dr. Perlmutter’s newsletter at: www.drperlmutter.com. ✉️🌱 Our lifestyle choices are fundamental as it relates to the health of our brains. Who knew? Well one person who knows this information and has done an amazing job getting this out to public awareness is Louisa Nicola, neurophysiologist, human performance coach and  founder of Neuro Athletics, a human performance coaching firm that supports the highest performing athletes and executives in the world. This organization bring science-based solutions to elite performers who want to perform at their highest level. Luisa graduated from the university of Sydney medical school and specializes in Neurophysiology. She is currently completing her PhD and has recently published fascinating report on the benefits of resistance exercises as it relates to Alzheimer's disease. The podcast that you were about to watch extremely empowering. What you will find in Louisa’s messaging is a heartfelt devotion to empowerment for all who will listen that truly, our brain’s destiny is something we can control. I'm very grateful that she joined us on the podcast today. ==== 0:00 Intro 2:37 How Louisa Got Started 5:00 Exercise’s Impact on Brain Health 11:37 Aerobics vs Strength Training  14:56 Wearable Devices to Track Exercise  19:53 What Happens in the Brain During Exercise  25:11 Importance of Restorative Sleep 30:42 Best Type of Diet for the Brain 33:09 Phd: Resistance Training & Alzheimer’s 36:28 Conclusion ==== Neurophysiologist and human performance coach, Louisa Nicola is the founder and head performance advisor of Neuro Athletics - a human performance coaching firm that boasts the highest performing athletes and executives in the world. Neuro Athletics brings science based solutions to elite performers who want to perform at their peak. Louisa graduated from the University of Sydney Medical School and specialises in neurophysiology.  https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ https://apple.co/3H02jPa  https://neuroathletics.substack.com/subscribe  https://www.neuroathletics.com.au/ ___________________________ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidperlmutter/ Website: https://www.drperlmutter.com/ Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRl_UAXxbHyOOjklnA0dxQ/?sub_confirmation=1

🧠 Stay ahead with the latest in science, nutrition, and wellness by subscribing to Dr. Perlmutter’s newsletter at: www.drperlmutter.com. ✉️🌱 Around 60 million people around the world have dementia. 300 million have depression, and billions of people are experiencing brain problems due to chronic stress. These conditions are partially preventable, but most people don’t know the steps to take to decrease their risk and protect their brains. It turns out that the place where our brains are at the highest risk for being damaged is actually in our homes, and that we have an incredible amount of control over what happens here. But sadly, most of us are being unintentionally exposed to things in our houses that are poisoning our brain health. In this episode, we’re going deep into the science that examines those factors in our environments that are damaging our brains. We connect with an expert in environmental and lifestyle medicine, Dr. Austin Perlmutter. We’re going to explore exactly what we are exposing ourselves to, in our homes, cars and offices, that threaten to worsen our cognitive and mental health. And, importantly, Dr. Perlmutter will reveal simple steps we can employ, today, to reduce this threat.  ==== 0:00 Intro 3:06 How our environment threatens our brain 8:18 Health Begins in the Kitchen 12:10 Air Pollution in the Kitchen 18:13 Pollution in our World Today 23:23 Hidden Sources of Pollution: Vacuums & Incense 28:34 Effectiveness of N95 Masks 31:00 We Can’t Overlook This 35:00 Air Fresheners & Perfumes  39:13 Indoor Filtration & Ventilation  46:40 Other Pollutants to Watch Out For 49:25 Conclusion ==== Here's more about our guest, and yes, my son: Dr. Austin Perlmutter is a board-certified internal medicine physician, New York Times bestselling author, published researcher and international educator. His mission is to help people improve their health by targeting the biological basis of “stuckness” in our brains and bodies. His writings, presentations, podcasts, and online educational programs explore how environmental factors influence our cognitive and mental state and have reached millions. Dr. Perlmutter has been featured on PBS, Rolling Stone, MedPage today, Newsweek, Medical News Today, NPR and a wide range of other media outlets. He is a co-producer of the Alzheimer’s, the Science of Prevention series, and host of the Better Brain Blueprint series. Dr. Perlmutter currently serves as the managing director at Big Bold Health, a food-as-medicine company focused on helping people rejuvenate health through better immune function, where he is running a first-of-its kind study exploring the effects of plant nutrients on human aging through epigenetic modulation. ___________________________ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidperlmutter/ Website: https://www.drperlmutter.com/ Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRl_UAXxbHyOOjklnA0dxQ/?sub_confirmation=1

🧠 Stay ahead with the latest in science, nutrition, and wellness by subscribing to Dr. Perlmutter’s newsletter at: www.drperlmutter.com. ✉️🌱 Researchers around the world are looking at the role of a mechanism, inflammation, in what makes a good brain go bad, and specifically in diseases like Alzheimer’s. Dr. Jack Auty is a Tasmanian researcher who is focused on this process and is exploring a variety of inroads to inflammation, including, zinc deficiency, as well as the possible role of our ever-increasing exposure to microplastics in amplifying this mechanism. Dr. Auty has a very expansive social media exposure, bringing this information to the public awareness. He’s a very interesting researcher on a number of levels, including fieldwork looking at animals exposed to microplastics as well as translational research from the lab to humans again focused on inflammation and its damaging role throughout the body, and specifically the brain.  Currently, Dr. Auty is a lecturer in the Medical Sciences division in the School of Medicine at the University of Tasmania. He, in addition, serves as a collaborator with an organization called the Adrift Lab, and we will learn more about their mission on our podcast as well.   ==== 0:00 Intro 3:16 Studying the Mechanism of Inflammation 13:12 Optimizing Our Microglia 16:46 Polygenic Influences on Alzheimer’s 21:16 Accumulation of Microplastics  34:35 Avoiding Microplastics 36:53 Zinc’s Impact on Alzheimer’s  43:20 Removing the Blame From Lifestyle Choices 52:00 The Adrift Lab: Studying Microplastics 57:23 Conclusion ==== Jack completed a Bachelor of Science in anatomy with a neuroscience focus at the southernmost university in the world – the University of Otago. During his degree Jack took several botany papers and fell in love with the subject, so Jack continued studies at Otago with a post graduate diploma in botany followed by a Ph.D. which combined botany and neuroscience by investigating the effects of marijuana-like synthetic cannabinoids on inflammation in the ischemic brain, combining botany and neuroscience. After completing his Ph.D., Jack continued his research at the University of Otago with projects on hydrogen sulphide as an inflammatory signaling molecule and kamikaze neutrophils that release their DNA contents onto bacteria. He then moved to the University of Manchester, where he primarily investigated the role of the inflammasome in Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline. Jack was fortunate to have inspiring, supportive, and scientifically proficient supervisors and collaborators in Dr. Catherine Lawrence and Prof. David Brough, under whose guidance he was able to make significant contributions to the field of inflammation research. Currently, Jack is a lecturer in Medical Sciences at the University of Tasmania, where he investigates inflammation. He is focused on establishing the inflammatory properties of environmental microplastics and identifying the cellular mechanisms that mediate microplastic-induced inflammation. Additionally, he aims to understand how peripheral and central inflammatory responses contribute to Alzheimer's disease. https://jackauty.com ___________________________ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidperlmutter/ Website: https://www.drperlmutter.com/ Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRl_UAXxbHyOOjklnA0dxQ/?sub_confirmation=1

🧠 Stay ahead with the latest in science, nutrition, and wellness by subscribing to Dr. Perlmutter’s newsletter at: www.drperlmutter.com. ✉️🌱 In this episode of The Empowering Neurologist Podcast, we had the profound pleasure of reconnecting with my longtime friend and now filmmaker, Max Lugavere, the creative force behind the deeply moving documentary Little Empty Boxes. Max, who is as articulate as he is passionate, took us through the deeply personal journey that led to the making of his film—a narrative woven from love, loss, and the quest for understanding dementia. The genesis of Little Empty Boxes is as poignant as it is inspiring. Max shared the moment his life changed during what was meant to be a serene summer vacation: his mother, Kathy, was unable to recall the current year, a lapse that signaled the onset of her cognitive decline. This incident wasn't just a fleeting moment of forgetfulness; it was the beginning of a challenging journey through the landscape of dementia, a condition affecting over 55 million people worldwide. Moved by his mother's struggle, Max returned to New York City, transitioning from a concerned son to a determined researcher, diving deep into the complexities of dementia. The film follows his exploration of innovative approaches beyond conventional medication, aiming to slow the progression of his mother's illness. Max described Little Empty Boxes as a project that "crept in, claws out." It wasn’t a film he planned, but one that emerged from necessity. His mother's worsening condition was harrowing to witness, but it birthed a purpose that transcended personal pain. Max emphasized that the film isn’t centered on definitive medical answers or miraculous recoveries. Instead, it presents a raw, messy, and intimately personal look into the life of a dementia patient and the daily realities of their caretakers. One of the most touching moments in our conversation was Max’s reflection on the film as a tribute to his mother and a love letter to the science of dementia prevention. He hopes that by sharing his mother's story, the film will not only shine a light on ways to delay or prevent this devastating condition but also encourage viewers to cherish every memory. "It's about making the most of what remains, together," Max remarked, highlighting the film’s focus on the human elements of love, memory, and resilience. Our discussion with Max was more than just an interview; it was an exploration of the emotional and scientific facets of dementia through the lens of a devoted son's experience. For anyone who has witnessed the impacts of dementia firsthand, or for those interested in the intersections of film and real-world issues, Little Empty Boxes offers a compelling narrative that is both educational and deeply moving. Watch Little Empty Boxes here: https://littleemptyboxes.com/ ==== 0:00 Intro 3:49 The Diagnosis That Changed Everything 8:09 How Medicine Failed Max’s Mom 12:07 How Fraudulent Research Clouded Our Knowledge 18:14 Making “Little Empty Boxes” 26:06 Bringing the Prevention Conversation to the Masses 35:50 Conclusion ==== Max Lugavere is a health and science journalist, filmmaker, and bestselling author. He is the author of the Genius trilogy of books, including the New York Times bestseller Genius Foods and the Wall Street Journal bestseller Genius Kitchen. He hosts The Genius Life podcast, one of the top health and wellness podcasts in the U.S, and has an audience of over 1.5 million followers across social media. ___________________________ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidperlmutter/ Website: https://www.drperlmutter.com/ Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRl_UAXxbHyOOjklnA0dxQ/?sub_confirmation=1