Dr. Dawn opens with Halloween-themed scary medical stories, beginning with food toxins lurking in refrigerators and pantries. She explains how molds on grains and nuts, particularly Aspergillus species, produce aflatoxins that bind to DNA and cause liver cancer, making peanuts especially risky. Fusarium on wheat produces trichothecenes and fumonisins damaging cell membranes. Penicillium molds on fruits like apples produce patulin creating reactive oxygen species that harm organs. She advises discarding soft moldy foods entirely since fungal hyphae penetrate deeply, while hard cheeses can have moldy portions cut away. Meat spoilage involves bacteria producing cadaverine and putrescine, with E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Clostridium causing severe illness through heat-stable toxins.

A caller asks about yogurt-covered peanuts tasting rancid and confirms Botox contains botulinum toxin A in different salt forms, used medically for migraines, hyperhidrosis, and strabismus. The caller also describes paper-thin skin on sun-exposed forearms that bleeds easily. Dr. Dawn explains UV radiation damages collagen and elastin, making blood vessels vulnerable to shear forces. She recommends topical vitamin K products like Dermal K and protective lycra sleeves or gardening gauntlets to prevent injuries, emphasizing the need for annual dermatologic exams after extensive sun exposure.

An emailer asks about RSV vaccine recommendations before overseas travel. Dr. Dawn disagreed with the couple's physician, citing US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines recommending RSV vaccination for all adults 60 and older, plus those 50+ with chronic conditions. She discusses FDA-approved home testing options including the PIXEL by LabCorp test for COVID, flu, and RSV, and iHealth rapid tests. She notes RSV point-of-care tests are available to medical practitioners and recommends thorough vaccination before international trips.

Dr. Dawn presents a frightening investigation into private equity hospital bankruptcies, focusing on Steward Healthcare's 31 hospitals and Prospect's 16 facilities. Private equity firm Cerberus earned $700 million while Steward 650 documented incidents of deficient care including deaths. One woman died from hemorrhage after vendors repossessed equipment due to unpaid bills. She explains the shell game where companies sell hospital land to Medical Properties Trust, forcing new operators to pay rent while private equity extracts profits. The Brookings Institution study reveals systematic prioritization of investor returns over patient care, with courts failing to prevent these practices despite some states passing protective legislation.

She discusses stillbirth rates being significantly underreported, with Harvard research showing actual rates of 1 in 147 pregnancies versus CDC's 1 in 175, worsening to 1 in 95 for black families. Over 70% involved known risks like obesity or diabetes, but 30% had no identifiable factors. Dr. Dawn emphasizes unconscious bias in medicine where women's complaints are dismissed, particularly affecting women of color and non-English speakers, noting both patient and provider biases require training to address.

Dr. Dawn warns about HPV-related oral squamous cell carcinoma in young men, explaining that changing sexual practices over 30 years have created new transmission routes from genitals to mouth. Major risk factors include smokeless tobacco and hard alcohol which damage DNA. She mentions newly available saliva tests for persistent HPV detection, recommending risk factor reduction for positive cases.

She concludes optimistically with a breakthrough Huntington's disease treatment using microRNA molecule AMT-130 delivered via virus to brain striatum. The treatment mirrors toxic Huntington protein's RNA, creating double-stranded structures cells destroy, preventing toxic protein accumulation. The three-year trial of 29 patients showed 75% slowing of disease progression with few side effects, offering hope for 100,000 Americans carrying the mutation, including 40,000 with current symptoms.

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.

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 opens by addressing an emailer's question about safety of low-dose lithium for dementia prevention. She reports finding a two-year double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 61 patients with mild cognitive impairment that showed no kidney damage from therapeutic lithium doses. While low-dose lithium at 2-3 milligrams daily appears safe compared to therapeutic doses of 50-100 milligrams, she notes its calming effects may improve cognition.

She discusses over-the-counter hearing aids now available without prescription, ranging from $98 to $999, representing significant savings compared to prescription models costing four times as much.

An emailer asks about long-term methotrexate use for psoriasis, reporting declining white blood cell counts and slower healing. Dr. Dawn reviews studies showing that in 13-year rheumatoid arthritis trials, severe side effects occurred in only 3% of patients. She recommends monthly blood monitoring including comprehensive metabolic panels to check liver and kidney function. As an alternative, she suggests apremilast, which showed excellent long-term safety in pooled data from half a million patient years with virtually no liver, kidney, or blood count problems. She also recommends trying phototherapy with tuned red light frequencies and topical treatments before considering drugs like etanercept that carry leukemia and lymphoma risks.

Dr. Dawn expands on ultra-processed food dangers, explaining how mechanical processing of carbohydrates accelerates digestion and causes blood sugar spikes that lead to insulin resistance. Steel-cut oatmeal and wheat berries digest slowly and accelerate glucose at a low rate, while instant oatmeal and white bread hit like loud spikes. She emphasizes that processing primarily affects carbohydrates, not proteins or fats. Whole fruits are vastly superior to juices because juicing makes fruit sugars unnaturally available to metabolism. She also warns about hidden microplastics entering food through processing equipment, transport tanks, and packaging, with longer processing and travel distances increasing contamination.

Dr.Dawn discusses the health dangers of sedentary behavior, noting that simply walking 20 minutes daily can lower blood pressure without requiring intense exertion. Dr. Dawn offers creative exercise solutions including bouncing on inflatable exercise balls during screen time, keeping weights in bathrooms for tooth-brushing workouts or in other frequently used spaces, doing resistance band exercises while waiting in cars, and practicing single-leg squats for balance. She describes the geriatric "get up and go" test where inability to stand, walk 10 feet, return, and sit within 10 seconds predicts five-year mortality.

A caller discusses motivation challenges with his unused NordicTrack equipment. Dr. Dawn suggests making exercise rewarding by listening to engaging podcasts exclusively during workouts, creating positive associations that build sustainable habits. She explains that five minutes daily for six days weekly, maintained for a month, typically becomes permanent. The caller correctly notes that exercise increases mitochondrial production, and Dr. Dawn expands on this, explaining how oxygen debt triggers DNA signals to build new muscle fibers and mitochondria, raising metabolic rate, improving glucose metabolism, and increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor that promotes new neural connections, making exercise crucial for preventing cognitive decline.

Dr. Dawn opens by explaining how blood pressure treatment guidelines have been corrected back to 140/90 after the problematic 2015 SPRINT study temporarily changed recommendations to 120/80. That study used ideal measurement conditions - five minutes of quiet sitting, perfect cuff sizes, compliant patients - creating unrealistic targets that caused elderly patients to faint and break hips. The Veterans Administration and major cardiology organizations now recommend treating to 140/90, with statins only for LDL above 190 or 12% ten-year cardiovascular risk.

An emailer asks about claims linking Tylenol to autism. Dr. Dawn thoroughly debunks this, explaining that Swedish studies of 2.5 million children found no association when controlling for sibling comparisons. She notes autism rates remained flat from 1960-1990 despite widespread Tylenol use, then spiked after DSM-4 in 1994 and DSM-5 in 2013 broadened diagnostic criteria. Recall bias skews studies since mothers of autistic children are asked leading questions about past Tylenol use during pregnancy when fever treatment was medically necessary.

She discusses RFK Jr.'s mixed positions, comparing him to Isaac Newton who excelled at physics but believed in astrology. While criticizing vaccine misinformation, Dr. Dawn strongly supports RFK's stance on ultra-processed foods. She describes NIH researcher Kevin Hall's studies showing people consume 500 extra calories daily on ultra-processed diets versus whole foods, even when nutrients are matched. The US produces 15,000 calories per person daily, with the food industry engineered to promote overconsumption through hyper-palatable fat-sugar-salt combinations.

A caller asks about Healthcare 4.0 plans for biometric tracking bracelets and digital twins. Dr. Dawn discusses privacy concerns around constant health monitoring and data collection, noting that while early disease detection could be valuable, mandatory participation raises serious civil liberties issues. She acknowledges voluntary research projects like the Million Man Study but emphasizes the importance of consent and protection against unauthorized data access by advertisers or government agencies.

An emailer shares research on ultrasound brain stimulation helmets as alternatives to surgical electrode implants. Dr. Dawn explains how 256-element phased ultrasonic arrays can target brain regions like the visual cortex with high precision mechanical perturbation, potentially treating Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and depression without surgery. The technology remains experimental, requiring MRI guidance, but could become portable and dramatically improve quality of life for neurological conditions currently requiring invasive deep brain stimulation.

A caller with adrenal cancer asks about fasting-mimicking diets. Dr. Dawn explains that 14-hour fasting before chemotherapy improves outcomes because healthy cells can downshift metabolism while cancer cells cannot. Cancer cells rely only on glycolysis without mitochondrial function, making them vulnerable during fasting states. She recommends chronotherapy - scheduling treatments during fasting periods - and expresses optimism about new cancer therapies like CAR-T cells and CRISPR technologies.

An emailer asks about inulin fiber for fatty liver disease. Dr. Dawn explains how this fiber found in chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, and root vegetables stimulates gut bacteria to break down fructose before it reaches the liver, preventing fructose-induced hepatic lipogenesis. Inulin supplementation protects against fatty liver disease, increases antioxidant production, and helps with obesity by reshaping the gut microbiome to better process dietary sugars.

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.

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.

Dr. Dawn announces COVID-25/26 vaccines are now available at Safeway with same-day appointments, urging listeners to schedule quickly due to potential supply shortages amid uncertain federal vaccine policies.

She discusses promising research on metformin for knee osteoarthritis in obese patients. Studies show metformin users lost half as much cartilage (0.75% vs 1.5%) over four years and had reduced knee replacement risk. The mechanism involves AMPK protein kinase pathways that reduce inflammation and cellular energy storage, with benefits independent of weight loss effects.

Dr. Dawn warns hunters about blue pig meat from wild boars that consume rodenticide, which acts like warfarin to prevent blood clotting. The anticoagulant creates blue-tinted tissue that cooking cannot eliminate, making such meat dangerous for consumption during hunting season from September through November.

She criticizes the elimination of women's health research funding, highlighting how the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Institute has advanced medical knowledge benefiting everyone. Dr. Dawn notes that $2.5 billion in research was rescinded for containing terms like "women" and "female," creating dangerous knowledge gaps when women experience different disease symptoms and medication responses than men.

The brown rice versus white rice debate centers on arsenic content, with brown rice containing about 138 parts per billion compared to 93 in white rice. While both remain below WHO safety limits, children are especially vulnerable. Dr. Dawn recommends diverse grain options and specific cooking methods like soaking, rinsing, and using excess water to reduce arsenic levels.

A caller asks about glutathione supplementation, specifically gamma-glutamyl cysteine products. Dr. Dawn explains how these precursors bypass liver metabolism to deliver glutathione to cells, while discussing the balance between oxidative and reductive stress. She notes individual genetic variations can affect supplement responses and emphasizes measuring markers rather than expecting immediate symptomatic improvements.

Another caller inquires about histamine intolerance causing puffy eyes and food reactions. Dr. Dawn explains histamine's role as a neurotransmitter, sources in fermented foods and gut bacteria, and genetic enzyme deficiencies in DAO and histamine transferase. She recommends cromolyn sodium eye drops and systematic food elimination, particularly targeting recently increased consumption of chai tea and smoked brisket.

Dr. Dawn concludes with news about an AI tool called FaceAge that predicts biological age and survival rates from facial photographs. Trained on 60,000 photos of people over 60, the system achieved 80% accuracy in predicting six-month survival for terminal cancer patients compared to 61% accuracy for human doctors, potentially offering a non-invasive health assessment tool.

Dr. Dawn opens by criticizing new FDA restrictions on simultaneous COVID and flu vaccinations, calling out vaccine regulator Vinay Prasad for creating artificial shortages. She explains that while no formal studies test multiple vaccines together, decades of safe practice demonstrate effectiveness. The FDA's requirement for separate testing ignores practical evidence and threatens vaccine supply chains during critical flu season.

She discusses Oregon research suggesting adults may not need tetanus boosters every 10 years, but warns this misses the pertussis component. Dr. Dawn explains that acellular pertussis vaccines only provide 4-year immunity, making adult boosters essential to prevent whooping cough transmission to vulnerable infants. The focus should remain on pertussis prevention rather than tetanus economics.

California, Oregon, and Washington announced a West Coast Health Alliance to maintain scientific integrity in public health policy amid federal changes. Dr. Dawn supports this states' rights approach to vaccination recommendations based on trusted medical organizations, expressing concern about potential vaccine shortages if manufacturers reduce production due to uncertain federal demand.

An emailer shares an AI-generated analysis comparing tuberculosis and Lyme disease. Dr. Dawn critiques the AI's inaccuracies, noting that while tuberculosis may be present in 25% of people globally s the AI reports (she did not fact check this), the distribution is very uneven and cases in the US are low which we know since accurate latent TB testing is readily available in the US. She warns against AI's tendency to incorporate conspiracy theories due to a bias which favors frequency vs accuracy and emphasizes the importance of fact-checking AI-generated medical content.

Dr. Dawn addresses FDA concerns about unregulated GLP-1 drugs, warning about counterfeit semaglutide and tirzepatide from questionable sources. She discusses dosing errors, non-FDA-approved compounds appearing in gray markets, and the rare but serious cancer risk for people with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes - affecting 1 in 30,000 people who could develop hormone-producing cancers.

A caller asks about genetic testing for GLP-1 cancer risk. Dr. Dawn explains that complete genome testing costs around $1,000 and requires professional interpretation. She discusses the economic challenges of testing 30,000 people to prevent one cancer case, while acknowledging that obesity's health risks generally outweigh the small cancer risk for most patients.

She examines FDA challenges in approving MDMA for PTSD treatment, explaining the "Catch-22" of blinding studies when drugs cause obvious consciousness changes. Dr. Dawn describes how psychedelic research faces unique obstacles requiring 8-10 hour supervised sessions with therapists, making traditional double-blind studies nearly impossible to conduct properly.

An emailer asks about B vitamin effects on brain and heart health. Dr. Dawn warns about high-dose biotin interfering with thyroid tests and troponin levels used to diagnose heart attacks. She explains how B12 deficiency affects 40% of people over 80, recommending methylmalonic acid testing for accurate assessment rather than standard blood levels.

She discusses research showing coastal living extends life expectancy by over a year compared to inland areas, attributed to cleaner air and better recreational opportunities. However, living near inland waterways may slightly decrease lifespan due to flood risks and environmental factors, suggesting ocean proximity specifically provides health benefits.

Dr. Dawn opens with concerning research about PFAS (forever chemicals) found in feminine hygiene products. Chinese and American studies reveal significant concentrations in paper diapers, sanitary pads, and especially period underwear, with some products containing up to 77,000 parts per million. These compounds can absorb through skin and never break down in the environment, raising health concerns for products used in intimate contact.

She shares research on vitamin K (MK7) for nocturnal leg cramps in older adults. A study of people 65 and older showed that 180 micrograms of menaquinone-7 reduced cramp episodes by half over two months while placebo group episodes doubled. This form of vitamin K also helps direct calcium to bones rather than arteries when taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.

Dr. Dawn explains how gut bacteria are evolving to digest food thickeners like guar gum found in ketchup, salad dressing, and toothpaste. Previously considered non-digestible, these cellulose-based compounds are now being broken down by bacterial enzymes that develop when people eat high-fiber diets, potentially adding hidden calories to processed foods beyond what labels indicate.

An emailer asks about Botox brain effects after reading a study in Advanced Science. Dr. Dawn critiques the research methodology, explaining that the organoid model using fetal cells doesn't replicate real-world conditions. She argues the cosmetic doses used are orders of magnitude smaller than the doses used in the study. The study concentrations are much higher than doses used in even the most aggressive therapeutic applications and concludes the study doesn't provide compelling evidence for brain toxicity concerns.

Another emailer inquires about myalgia encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome genome research. Dr. Dawn explains that while GWAS studies identifying eight genetic loci are scientifically interesting, they don't provide practical diagnostic tools or treatment insights. She notes the resemblance of ME/CFS to long COVID and describes the hallmark symptom of post-exertional malaise lasting days after activity.

Dr. Dawn presents encouraging dementia prevention research showing Mediterranean diet benefits. The study found 13% reduced dementia risk overall, with 25% reduction for those improving adherence. Most significantly, people with the high-risk APOE4 gene variant showed the greatest protective effect from eating leafy vegetables, fish, whole grains, and limiting processed foods.

She provides an extensive discussion of hormone therapy for mental health, criticizing the medical field's neglect of hormonal causes of depression and anxiety. Dr. Dawn explains how 35% of men over 45 are testosterone deficient and describes perimenopause effects on women's mental health, including 30% increased depression risk and 112% increased bipolar disorder risk during hormonal transitions.

Dr. Dawn criticizes Gameday men's health clinics for exploitative practices, describing their "man cave" marketing approach and expensive injection protocols. She explains how normal testosterone production involves daily mini-spikes rather than weekly injections, and discusses clomiphene citrate as an alternative that can improve both testosterone levels and fertility without suppressing sperm production.

She concludes with a cautionary tale about imaging studies, describing a patient whose X-ray showing arthritis led to activity restrictions that may have worsened her condition. Dr. Dawn emphasizes that movement and weight-bearing exercise are crucial for joint health, even when imaging shows degenerative changes. She warns against letting scans dictate treatment over clinical symptoms and urges a "physical therapy first" approach.