Dr. Ryan Fortna, MD, PhD, is a board-certified pathologist with research experience in the biology of Alzheimer's disease. He joined me to talk about:

* What causes Alzheimer’s disease in the brain

* The difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

* New blood-based tests for Alzheimer’s disease

* Factors that affect one’s risk for Alzheimer’s disease:

* Non-modifiable risk factors: age, gender at birth, genetics

* Modifiable risk factors: the growing number of lifestyle factors that affect risk

* Reversible factors for cognitive changes to evaluate with your doctor

* What the new “disease-modifying” medications offer for patients with Alzheimer’s disease

* What Dr. Fortna foresees in the next two decades in the area of cognitive health and Alzheimer’s disease

Resources we mentioned:

* The Lancet 2024 publication, which supports that up to 45% of dementia cases are preventable

* World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on decreasing the risk of cognitive decline

For more information, I encourage you to check out the 4-part series I published on cognitive health:

Part 1: Understanding Cognitive Health & Cognitive Decline

Part 2: Understanding Non-Modifiable Risk of Cognitive Decline

Part 3: Understanding Modifiable Risk of Cognitive Decline

Part 4: Fueling your MIND

Thanks for being here,

~Allison

Remember that this information is meant to educate and inspire, but is not medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team to determine what is most appropriate for you.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insightintohealth.substack.com

Psychologist Dr. Mary Flett joined me to explore these aspects of emotional health:

-The difference between emotional health and mental health

-The reality that all humans experience a range of emotions and different levels of intensity

-Emotional development begins in infancy

-As we get into later childhood, an awareness of “self” starts to emerge, which is influenced by culture, family, social cues, and more

-Even unpleasant emotions serve a purpose! For example, anger motivates action, disgust encourages avoidance

-The value of naming an emotion to separate it from the story we tell ourselves about the emotion

-Emotional health is not something that we activate; it is an ongoing experience of curiosity, learning, and growth

Resources we mentioned:

-Terry Real

-Brene Brown & her book, Atlas of the Heart

-Jonathan Haidt

You can learn more about Dr. Mary Flett at drmaryflett.com

I will be with Dr. Mary LIVE in Sonoma at the very first Insight into Health, LIVE! event coming up August 24th, please consider joining us.

Thanks for being here,

~Allison

Subscribe for free at insightintohealth.substack.com to receive new episodes.

Remember that this information is meant to educate and inspire, but is not medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team to determine what is most appropriate for you.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insightintohealth.substack.com

Health is more than a number. Your health starts with exploring what that actually means. Today, I introduce a framework that I often use with my patients and clients to explore the motivators behind desired habit change. You can read more about defining health on your terms here.

Before jumping into the nutrition, movement, sleep, and connection interventions that can affect health, I highly recommend you take the time to define health for you.

Over the next four weeks, I’ll be joined by a different guest to explore a different “bucket” of health:

* Physical

* Functional

* Cognitive

* Emotional

Interested in more, and meeting me in person? Consider joining me at my first Insight into Health, LIVE! event coming up August 24th.

Thanks for being here,

~Allison

Subscribe for free at insightintohealth.substack.com to receive new episodes.

Remember that this information is meant to educate and inspire, but is not medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team to determine what is most appropriate for you.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insightintohealth.substack.com

I was joined by my brother, Ben Spencer, who is about to start a physical therapy program this fall. We talk about how he came to understand and appreciate the importance of sleep to improve his health and performance while also managing being a full-time student and new dad.

Books on sleep:

Why We Sleep, Dr. Matt Walker

At Day’s Close: A History of Nighttime, Roger Ekirch

Thanks for being here,

~Allison

Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work:

Remember that this information is meant to educate and inspire, but is not medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team to determine what is most appropriate for you.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insightintohealth.substack.com

If you came to listen in on a conversation, you’ll have to settle with just me this week. Perhaps you can think of it as a monologue that I put together just for you?

Today, I give a little more context about the importance of sleep — how sleep happens and how to set yourself up for the best sleep for you.

Resources I mentioned:

* Insight into Health Framework

* Chronotype Quiz

* The first article in my series on sleep (subscribe for free to receive upcoming articles)

Thanks for being here,

~Allison

allisonmckeany.com

Remember that this information is meant to educate and inspire, but is not medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team to determine what is most appropriate for you.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insightintohealth.substack.com

Listen in on my conversation with Dr. Mary Flett, a clinical psychologist with a lot to share about defining good sleep, handling sleep anxiety, and cutting yourself some slack.

For more information on sleep “hygiene,” refer to trusted resources like Dr. Matt Walker’s podcast & book and the National Sleep Foundation.

Learn more about Dr. Mary at drmaryflett.com - "No matter who is on the other side of the conversation with me, I offer compassionate honesty, real tools, and an experienced ally who will help you create your own pathway forward as all of us navigate aging in the 21st century.  Consultations available by Zoom or phone."

Thanks for being here,

~Allison

allisonmckeany.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insightintohealth.substack.com

Hi, and welcome to the first episode of the Insight into Health podcast. Listen in on my conversation with Dr. Larry Burchett, where I try to make him laugh, and he’s “not impressed by that.”

Are you tired? Dragging? Just... feel bad?

Hear what an experienced emergency medicine physician has to say about improving mood and energy levels, coming from a person who has seen it all.

Thanks for being here,

~Allison

Learn more about Dr Larry at @DrLarryBurchett on the gram.

Learn more about me at allisonmckeany.com.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insightintohealth.substack.com

Follow Insight into Health to get the latest episodes every Wednesday, as I explore a different area of health and nutrition each month through conversations with colleagues & friends.

Coming up:

June: Understanding Sleep

July: What Does It Mean to Be Healthy, Anyway?

August: Demystifying Metabolism

September: Women's Health

October: The Ins and Outs of Digestive Health

Hosted by Allison McKeany, MS, RD - Registered Dietian working to increase access to health and nutrition information that is accurate, approachable, and actionable. Find more about Allison at allisonmckeany.com.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insightintohealth.substack.com