Jonathan Cedernaes: Circadian Health from Molecular Clocks to Public Policy - David Rönnlid Podcast #14

Jonathan Cedernaes: Circadian Health from Molecular Clocks to Public Policy - David Rönnlid Podcast #14

🌍 How can we align our lives — and our societies — with our body clocks? Poor sleep and circadian misalignment don’t just make us tired — they impair several aspects of our metabolic health. I sat down with Jonathan Cedernaes, M.D., Ph.D., and explored what we can do about it: from personal daily habits to systemic policy reforms. Sleep quality and quantity isn’t just about recovery — it’s a public health issue. We dive deep into: ✅ Daily habits that keep your circadian rhythm aligned ✅ Why sleep timing is as important as sleep duration ✅ How late nights and irregular schedules impair metabolism and long-term health ✅ Policy changes that could protect circadian health at a population level — from school start times to shift work regulations ✅ The promise of circadian science for future treatments and prevention strategies 💡 What do you think matters more for our collective health: better personal habits or policy reforms? #SleepScience #CircadianHealth #Metabolism #PublicHealth Sleep science group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/495466987134152/ Connect with Jonathan on social media: X: https://x.com/jcedernaes IG: https://www.instagram.com/sleepydrcedernaesclocks/ Episode chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:05 Sleep as a Driver of Motivation and Healthy Habits 00:04:15 Weekend Catch-Up Sleep: Benefits and Limits 00:07:50 Sleep, Metabolic Health, and Obesity Links 00:10:13 Sleep Disruption and Neurodegenerative Disease 00:12:53 Mechanisms: How Neurodegeneration Impairs Sleep 00:18:30 Supplements, Exam Stress, and Slow-Wave Sleep 00:20:01 The Body's Master Clock in the Brain: The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus 00:23:20 Light, Retina, and the Body’s Internal Timekeeping 00:43:16 Late-Night Eating and Sleep Quality 00:46:00 Heart Rate Variability: What It Really Tells Us 00:52:10 Short Sleepers, Long Sleepers, and Individual Needs 01:05:22 Circadian Misalignment: Jet Lag and Shift Work 01:19:44 Sleep and Mental Health Connection 01:33:11 Diet Timing, Fasting, and Circadian Rhythm 01:43:52 Exercise After Sleep Loss: Helpful or Harmful? 01:56:20 MicroRNAs, Sleep Loss, and Neurodegeneration Risk 02:14:36 AI, Research, and Sleep Science in the Future 02:22:06 Summary of most important takeaways from the conversation

Daniel Elias-López: Heart Disease Prevention Beyond “Good” and “Bad” Cholesterol - David Rönnlid Podcast #13

Most of us think of different types of cholesterol as either “good” or “bad.” But the reality is more complex. Daniel Elías-López, Endocrinologist, Ph.D [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAtMVkMByg_K47jUvzPX9BINng35vADpulc], is a Mexican endocrinologist and researcher whose work spans both clinical care and public health. After years of treating patients with obesity, diabetes, and lipid disorders, he saw a limit to what could be achieved in the clinic alone. That realization led him toward research—with work aimed at generating knowledge that could inform prevention and treatment strategies for millions. In this episode, we discuss: - Why LDL is only part of the picture - How elevated cholesterol can remain asymptomatic for years, and why early measurement is important for timely risk detection - Practical, evidence-based strategies that can help lower risk for cardiovascular events Rather than claiming to have all the answers, Dr. Daniel Elías-López shares his insights from clinical experience and research —highlighting what’s known, what’s emerging, and why prevention matters. You can connect with Dr. Daniel Elías-López on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieleliasl/ and listen to his podcast in Spanish: https://open.spotify.com/show/31RDgmiIWXQHyHNjgBxeNe?si=6bdf7f42589f4af6 Episode chapters: 00:00:00 - Why lipoproteins are essential for human health 00:07:14 - Research motivation behind studying cholesterol particles 00:14:53 - How lipoprotein particle size affects heart risk 00:22:00 - The main types of cholesterol in the body 00:29:40 - Understanding non-HDL cholesterol and health impacts 00:36:50 - Genetics and their influence on lipid metabolism 00:44:02 - Strategies to improve current cholesterol guidelines 00:51:41 - How cholesterol knowledge translates to clinical practice 00:58:49 - Fasting versus non-fasting lipid blood testing 01:06:29 - What cholesterol levels really tell about health 01:13:40 - Additional lipid markers for cardiovascular assessment 01:20:55 - Current debates in cholesterol research and policy 01:28:30 - Impact of diet on lipid profile and heart health 01:36:10 - Future directions in lipid research and prevention 01:43:55 - Key takeaways and summary of cholesterol insights

Ray Dorsey: Environmental Toxins and Parkinson’s Disease - David Rönnlid Podcast #12

Parkinson’s disease is now the fastest-growing neurological disorder in the world — and according to Dr. Ray Dorsey, it’s not just about aging or genetics. Dr. Dorsey argues that environmental toxins — including certain pesticides, industrial chemicals, and air pollutants — are significant, modifiable risk factors for developing Parkinson’s disease. In this podcast episode, we discuss: 🔬 The evidence linking environmental toxins to Parkinson’s disease 💡 What individuals can do today to reduce their exposure to environmental toxins that research has shown are associated with increased risk for developing Parkinson's disease 🏛 The public health policy changes Dr. Dorsey advocates to address the rapid rise of Parkinson’s disease in today’s society. Dr. Dorsey's book "The Parkinson's Plan": https://www.amazon.com/Parkinsons-Plan-Path-Prevention-Treatment/dp/1541705386 Episode chapters: 00:00:00 Episode highlight reel 00:02:11 Introducing Dr. Ray Dorsey, Parkinson’s Disease Researcher 00:04:43 Evidence Linking Long-Term Exposure to Trichloroethylene to Neurological Decline 00:08:10 Environmental Contributions to Parkinson’s Beyond Genetics 00:12:37 Communicating Risks Without Overstating the Evidence 00:16:47 Historical Use and Persistence of Paraquat in Agriculture 00:19:20 Testing Options for Potential Parkinson’s-Related Risk Factors 00:21:48 Why Parkinson’s Risk Reduction Remains a Global Challenge 00:24:51 Practical Measures to Limit Environmental Neurotoxins 00:30:40 The Role of Policy in Reducing Harm 00:33:05 How Public Awareness Can Drive Change in Exposure

Louise Hecker: Psilocybin Improves Survival in Aged Mice - David Rönnlid Podcast #11

Louise Hecker, PhD, is a scientist of the cellular mechanisms of aging, such as oxidative stress and endogenous antioxidant enzymes in lung tissue and how such mechanisms influence development of fibrotic lung tissue. During the early phases of this study on the effects of psilocbin on aging in human cells and mice, she was an Associate Professor at Emory University, whereas toward the final data analysis and manuscript preparation, she held the same position at Baylor College of Medicine.The study discussed in this episode investigated psilocybin’s ability to prolong cellular lifespan and reduce oxidative stress in human fibroblasts, and it reported that higher doses extended cellular lifespan dose-dependently by up to 57 %. In aged mice, monthly psilocybin dosing markedly improved survival and even restored fur color and hair growth. Both the cell study and the mouse study suggest that psilocybin targets multiple hallmarks of aging, possibly even reversing some age-related processes.The study, "Psilocybin treatment extends cellular lifespan and improves survival of aged mice": https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-025-00244-xYou can connect with Dr. Hecker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-hecker-69ba1915/ and on X: https://x.com/heckerlouise.Episode chapters:00:00:00 Can psilocybin slow cellular aging? 00:03:29 Introducing aging researcher Dr. Louise Hecker 00:08:24 The psilocybin-telomere hypothesis explained 00:10:18 What telomeres are & why they shorten with age 00:17:14 Psilocybin makes old cells "behave" like young cells 00:23:23 Regulatory hurdles of psilocybin research 00:25:54 Checking cancer risk & cell division results 00:30:12 Measuring life extension in cells 00:36:34 Scar tissue, fibroblasts & aging 00:42:25 When to start treatment & dosing of psilocybin for maximum anti-aging effects? 00:46:38 Designing the psilocybin mouse study 00:57:28 Mice live longer & look younger after monthly psilocybin dosing 01:07:44 Unanswered questions & follow-up studies 01:27:44 Implications for chronic diseases

Alberto Espay: Precision Medicine for Neurodegenerative Diseases - David Rönnlid Podcast #10

In this episode, neurologist Dr. Alberto Espay shares a bold new vision for treating Alzheimer's—beyond plaques and toward personalized care. We discuss limitations of current drug strategies and the potential of the Cincinnati Cohort Biomarker Program to individualize treatments for patients with neurodegenerative disease. Find his book Brain Fables here: https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Fables-Neurodegenerative-Diseases-Blueprint/dp/1108744621 References: #1: β-Amyloid accumulation in the human brain after onenight of sleep deprivation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29632177/ Episode chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction & Dr. Espay's Neurology Speciality 00:01:05 Cincinnati Cohort Biomarker Program (CCBP) Goal 00:02:04 Placeholder Diagnoses: How we Choose Clinical Labels for Diagnoses 00:05:28 Precision Medicine Goal: Individualized Diagnostics and Treatments 00:08:27 Dr. Espay's Critique of the Amyloid Hypothesis 00:11:42 Lecanemab: Validation of the Amyloid Hypothesis? 00:13:56 On the Toxicity of Amyloid Plaques 00:18:05 Monoclonal Antibody Issues: ARIA, Swelling & Bleeding 00:20:18 Data Presentation vs Manipulation: Relative vs. Absolute Risk Reduction 00:27:52 Interpreting Research Data: Sleep Deprivation & Amyloid Example 00:30:23 Amyloid Structure and Toxicity 00:32:27 Preclinical Anti-Amyloid Trials (4 Studies) 00:36:40 CCBP: A Precision Medicine Research Programme 00:39:06 Developing Divergent & Therapy-Linked Biomarkers 00:43:02 Focus on Biological Subtypes, Not Clinical Diagnoses 00:48:03 CCBP as Exploratory Research: A 'Fishing Expedition' 00:50:50 Identifying Outliers (Uric Acid Example) 00:54:28 Skepticism in Medical Research 00:55:40 About the Book 'Brain Fables'