MedEvidence! Truth Behind the Data

Send us Fan Mail

The winter months can bring more than colder weather and shorter days. For many people, this time of year can make depression symptoms harder to manage. But depression is much more than the winter blues, and the science behind it is more complex than a simple chemical imbalance.

In this episode, Dr. Michael Koren talks with psychiatrist Dr. Heather Luing about the science of depression, how seasonal changes can affect mood, and when it's time to seek professional help. They explore lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, antidepressants, light therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), vagus nerve stimulation, ketamine, and emerging treatments being investigated through clinical research.

They also discuss why traditional antidepressants don't work for everyone, how new treatment approaches are expanding options, and why there's reason for hope in the future of depression care.

In this episode:
- Why the holiday season and shorter days can be difficult for some people
- What distinguishes major depressive disorder from everyday mood changes
- How sleep, exercise, nutrition, and time in nature can support mental health
- The limitations of the traditional serotonin-based approach to depression
- How TMS, light therapy, and vagus nerve stimulation work
- Emerging medications, ketamine, and psychedelic research
- How clinical trials are helping advance depression treatment
- When to seek help and how to support someone experiencing depression

If you're struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for mental health or substance use support.

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.

Have a question for Dr. Koren? Email him at [email protected]

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube

Share with a friend. Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the MedEvidence! podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.

Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
X (Formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn

Want to learn more? Checkout our entire library of podcasts, videos, articles and presentations at www.MedEvidence.com

Music: Storyblocks - Corporate Inspired

Thank you for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Mitchell Rothstein joins Dr. Michael Koren to discuss Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, also called POTS. This condition, where heart rate rises when a person stands up, is often misunderstood and/or takes years to properly diagnose. The two doctors discuss the background and symptoms of POTS, but really dig deep into the broad problem of autonomic dysfunction. They distinguish between POTS and other autonomic problems, and look at how COVID and autoimmune diseases can cause autonomic dysfunction. Finally, the two doctors look at treatment options for POTS, including hydration, salt, medications, and new clinical trials.

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.

Have a question for Dr. Koren? Email him at [email protected]

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube

Share with a friend. Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the MedEvidence! podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.

Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
X (Formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn

Want to learn more? Checkout our entire library of podcasts, videos, articles and presentations at www.MedEvidence.com

Music: Storyblocks - Corporate Inspired

Thank you for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Weight loss can come with muscle loss, even when medication is involved. Dr. H. Jackson Downey shares practical guidance on strength training, protein intake, balanced meals, and smaller portions to help support muscle maintenance and make weight-loss treatment easier to manage.

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.

Have a question for Dr. Koren? Email him at [email protected]

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube

Share with a friend. Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the MedEvidence! podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.

Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
X (Formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn

Want to learn more? Checkout our entire library of podcasts, videos, articles and presentations at www.MedEvidence.com

Music: Storyblocks - Corporate Inspired

Thank you for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Medical headlines shape our food, our drugs, and our fears. But how much should we believe? In this episode, Dr. Michael Koren and Dr. Mitchell Rothstein explore how medical news is made, why headlines can be misleading, and how to tell the difference between evidence and hype.

Learn a simple 4-step practical framework to evaluate health claims: check the claim, evidence, source, and incentives. We discuss study design, relative vs. absolute risk, and reporting on topics like Lp(a), daily aspirin, coconut oil, ivermectin, omega-3 supplements, and others. We also cover dietary supplements, FDA oversight, and marketing claims that may mislead consumers.

Learn to read medical news with more confidence and make more informed health decisions. What health headline has you wondering what to believe?

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.

Have a question for Dr. Koren? Email him at [email protected]

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube

Share with a friend. Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the MedEvidence! podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.

Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
X (Formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn

Want to learn more? Checkout our entire library of podcasts, videos, articles and presentations at www.MedEvidence.com

Music: Storyblocks - Corporate Inspired

Thank you for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Michael Hafran joins Dr. Michael Koren to discuss new investigational gene editing therapies. They talk about what genes and gene editing are, the history of gene editing, and some of the FDA-approved therapies on the market today. They also address fears people have about gene editing and clinical trials, explain the long and intensive safety measures in place, and reveal that these therapies aren't too different from what the body does naturally, just in a more guided and specific way to address genetic problems. They finish up by talking about an investigational medication designed to reduce an overactive cholesterol-related gene and lower the incidence of heart problems.

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.

Have a question for Dr. Koren? Email him at [email protected]

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube

Share with a friend. Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the MedEvidence! podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.

Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
X (Formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn

Want to learn more? Checkout our entire library of podcasts, videos, articles and presentations at www.MedEvidence.com

Music: Storyblocks - Corporate Inspired

Thank you for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Leslie Byatt joins Dr. Michael Koren to talk about leadership in the clinical research space. The two research professionals discuss the importance of qualified researchers in a research trial and the qualities that make for a good clinical research leader. They also talk about research as a treatment option and the benefits observed in research patients (even those in the placebo arm). They explain that the attention, care, and time with research professionals leads to better understanding and health for those who join, and that's on top of the altruistic benefits to science and health in general.

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.

Have a question for Dr. Koren? Email him at [email protected]

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube

Share with a friend. Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the MedEvidence! podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.

Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
X (Formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn

Want to learn more? Checkout our entire library of podcasts, videos, articles and presentations at www.MedEvidence.com

Music: Storyblocks - Corporate Inspired

Thank you for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

A Cardiologist & Nephrologist Go Head-to-Head, er... "Heart-to-Kidney"

Nephrologist Dr. Ali Rawabdeh joins Cardiologist Dr. Michael Koren to debate which is the bigger contributor (and problem) with high blood pressure: the heart or the kidneys. The two doctors discuss this extremely prevalent condition from their competing perspectives and give information on how different body systems can influence blood pressure. they also talk about the importance of understanding that blood pressure varies over time and that individual measurements are not the end-all of determining hypertension. They also dig into lifestyle and medical treatments for high blood pressure and upcoming genetic treatments that are currently being investigated.

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.

Have a question for Dr. Koren? Email him at [email protected]

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube

Share with a friend. Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the MedEvidence! podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.

Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
X (Formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn

Want to learn more? Checkout our entire library of podcasts, videos, articles and presentations at www.MedEvidence.com

Music: Storyblocks - Corporate Inspired

Thank you for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Cardiologists Dr. Seth Baum and Dr. Michael Koren discuss the newly released top-line results from a big Lp(a) study investigating the effects of the drug pelacarsen. They talk about what Lp(a) is, why it matters, happened in the study, and what this means for other pelacarsen and Lp(a) studies worldwide. They take a deep dive into some of the factors that can reduce the effectiveness of clinical trials and explain that this particular failure doesn't undermine the theory behind controlling Lp(a) levels or the potential effectiveness of competing investigational medications. Finally, the companion cardiologists talk about what this means for people who have high Lp(a) and what they can do to help control their risks of associated heart problems.

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.

Have a question for Dr. Koren? Email him at [email protected]

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube

Share with a friend. Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the MedEvidence! podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.

Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
X (Formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn

Want to learn more? Checkout our entire library of podcasts, videos, articles and presentations at www.MedEvidence.com

Music: Storyblocks - Corporate Inspired

Thank you for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Mitchell Rothstein explains that GLPs have been with us for thousands of years. He gives a brief overview of how these medications work, some of the side effects they can cause, and to mitigate things like muscle loss and GI issues through exercise and dose management.

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.

Have a question for Dr. Koren? Email him at [email protected]

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube

Share with a friend. Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the MedEvidence! podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.

Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
X (Formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn

Want to learn more? Checkout our entire library of podcasts, videos, articles and presentations at www.MedEvidence.com

Music: Storyblocks - Corporate Inspired

Thank you for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Mitchell Rothstein joins Dr. Michael Koren to discuss a current trend in unapproved medicine: peptides. They investigate what peptides are, why they have become so popular, and the very real problems with getting off-market medicines through the "grey market." They also talk about the history of peptides, including why they were banned from compounding pharmacies and why they are back on the market. Tune in for history, medicine, technical detail, and politics.

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.

Have a question for Dr. Koren? Email him at [email protected]

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube

Share with a friend. Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the MedEvidence! podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.

Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
X (Formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn

Want to learn more? Checkout our entire library of podcasts, videos, articles and presentations at www.MedEvidence.com

Music: Storyblocks - Corporate Inspired

Thank you for listening!