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If Alzheimer’s Is Type 3 Diabetes, Why Are We Ignoring Insulin?
Episode 77 of Metabolic Wellbeing Without the BS is not just another conversation.
It’s a wake-up call.
This week, I’m joined by Dr Sarah Stephens, an Australian medical doctor with a PhD in mitochondrial biochemistry, and over 15 years of clinical experience challenging how we think about cognitive decline.
We explore a question that should concern every leader, parent, policymaker, and professional:
What if Alzheimer’s is not simply “bad luck” — but a metabolic condition?
Often described as “type 3 diabetes of the brain,” Alzheimer’s reframes the narrative. Instead of inevitability, we discuss preventability. Instead of decline, possibility.
Sarah now dedicates her work to helping people take proactive steps to support brain health — with the aim of preventing and even reversing early Alzheimer’s disease. Her approach incorporates the Bredesen Protocol — the only treatment shown in published clinical trials to improve outcomes in Alzheimer’s disease.
Let that sink in.
This is not about managing symptoms.
This is about addressing root causes — mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, inflammation, environmental load, sleep, and nutrient deficiencies.
In leadership, we speak often about legacy.
But what is legacy without cognition?
What is success without memory?
What is performance without metabolic resilience?
The uncomfortable truth is this:
The same metabolic dysfunction driving corporate burnout, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease is also impairing our brains.
And yet — we rarely connect the dots.
In this episode, Sarah shares:
- Why mitochondrial health is central to cognitive performance
- The early warning signs most clinicians miss
- Practical, preventative strategies anyone can begin implementing
- Why medical school focus on avoiding death not prevention
- Why motivated individuals can meaningfully influence their cognitive trajectory
Her work is grounded in science but powered by agency.
Outside of medicine, she finds balance at the beach, crocheting, and competing in track cycling, a mum, partner, and a reminder that vibrant health is multidimensional.
If we are serious about leadership in business, in healthcare, in family we must move from reactive medicine to preventative strategy.
Brain health is not a future problem.
It is today’s responsibility.
🎙️ Listen to Episode 77 of Metabolic Wellbeing Without the BS on your favourite audio
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Metabolic Wellbeing Without the BS is more than a podcast—it’s a growing global movement. Launched in March 2024, the show has already surpassed 80 episodes and reached listeners in over 100 countries and 1,100 locations, sparking meaningful conversations about why metabolic health truly matters.
Each episode brings together incredible guests, thought leaders, and everyday storytellers from around the world, blending real-life experiences with science-backed insights.
Featuring voices like Rob Lufkin, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, Dominic D’Agostino, Dr Sarah Myhill, and Professor Thomas Seyfried, the podcast continues to challenge outdated health narratives and empower listeners to take control of their wellbeing.
From insulin resistance and gut health to mental clarity and sustainable weight management, this is a space for learning, questioning, and evolving—together.
🌍 Join the movement. Learn, listen, subscribe, and take action—because your health starts with YOU.
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