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for a special offer when you sign up to decode your genetics and get personalized, science-backed health recommendations.

====

Dr. Perlmutter’s groundbreaking new book, Brain Defenders, is now available for pre-order. Discover how to protect your brain and future health - reserve your copy today at https://www.braindefenders.com.

====

On this episode of The Empowering Neurologist, I’m joined by Dr. Sarah Marzi, a neuroscientist at King’s College London and a principal investigator at the UK Dementia Research Institute, whose work is transforming how we understand neurodegenerative disease risk.

Dr. Marzi’s research focuses on gene regulation in the human brain, particularly within microglia, the immune cells that orchestrate inflammation, synaptic pruning, and repair. Her studies show that genetic risk for diseases like Alzheimer’s is concentrated not in protein-coding genes, but in regulatory regions of the genome, epigenetic switches that control immune behavior in the brain.

This conversation with Dr. Marzi is not just about disease. It’s about agency. Understanding epigenetics helps explain how lifestyle, environment, and immune balance can influence brain destiny. It’s science that empowers prevention, resilience, and hope.

====

00:00 Intro

03:12 Epigenetics and Neurodegenerative Disease

04:49 Why Alzheimer’s Is Not a Single Gene Disorder

09:18 Protein Aggregation and Brain Cleanup Failure

10:55 Microglia vs Neurons in Alzheimer’s

19:04 Blood Brain Barrier and Inflammatory Signaling

20:39 ApoE Genetics Explained

23:37 Human Microglia Transplanted Into Mouse Brain

30:02 Vitamin D Receptor and Protective Gene Programs

38:18 Environmental Toxins and Parkinson’s

44:59 C1q Activation and Synapse Loss

49:33 Why Substantia Nigra Is Uniquely Vulnerable

51:39 Paraquat, Mitochondria and Converging Toxic Pathways

53:00 Epigenetic Memory of Toxic Exposure

54:09 Histones and Gene Regulation in Alzheimer’s

57:41 Oligodendrocytes as a Hidden Player

59:32 Why Single Target Drugs May Fail

01:02:10 Detecting Disease Through Blood and Machine Learning

01:04:41 Can Lifestyle Modify Epigenetics

====

Dr Sarah Marzi is a Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience at King’s College London and a Group Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute. Her work focuses on how our genes and environment change cellular processes in the brain and can predispose us to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and motor neuron disease.

An expert in epigenetics – the chemical switches that turn genes on and off – Dr Marzi uses cuttingedge genomic techniques on human brain tissue as well as cell and animal models. Her team combines these experiments with advanced statistics, bioinformatics and AI to map the earliest molecular changes that make brain cells vulnerable to disease, particularly in immune cells of the brain called microglia. This work aims to reveal how both genetic variants and environmental exposures, including pesticides, contribute to disease risk and to uncover new avenues for therapy.

___________________________

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====

Dr. Perlmutter’s groundbreaking new book, Brain Defenders, is now available for pre-order. Discover how to protect your brain and future health - reserve your copy today at https://www.braindefenders.com.

====

On this episode of The Empowering Neurologist, I sit down with one of the most influential voices in modern nutrition and women’s health, Rachel Swanson, MS, RD, LDN. Her new book, Trying! A Science-Based Plan to Optimize Your Fertility, is poised to reshape how we think about fertility, moving it out of the narrow confines of hormone-focused conversations and into the broader landscape of systems biology, metabolism, environmental exposure, and cellular health.

Swanson’s work begins with a powerful premise: fertility is not a mystery, and it’s certainly not something women should feel powerless about. Instead, she argues, fertility is a measurable, improvable expression of whole-body health. And her book provides the first integrated blueprint to understand and support that health.

The conversation starts with the microbiome, which Swanson calls the “mission control headquarters” of fertility. Who knew that our gut bacteria were playing an important role in determining fertility? Drawing from her book, she describes how the gut, vaginal, and even oral microbiomes create the biochemical environment that influences hormone balance, inflammation, implantation, egg quality, and partner sperm health.

What makes this book, and this podcast episode, so compelling and empowering is Rachel’s rare combination of scientific precision and heartfelt dedication to women’s autonomy. She refuses to oversimplify fertility into quick fixes or fad-driven advice. Instead, she offers deeply practical strategies rooted in peer-reviewed research and years of high-level clinical practice.

====

00:00 Intro - Rachel Swanson04:38 Fertility as Whole-Body Health11:37 Metabolic Health Comes Too Late18:48 Ad - EVY21:17 The Microbiome as a Foundation of Health27:28 PCOS Is a Metabolic Disease, Not Just Hormonal35:15 Ad - Fresh Pressed Olive Oil37:07 Menstrual Products and the Vaginal Microbiome40:41 Inflammation and Metabolism Drive Fertility49:06 Ad - 3x4 Genetics50:26 Personalized Fertility Over One-Size-Fits-All56:16 Closing Thoughts

====

Rachel Swanson, MS, RD, LDN, is a registered dietitian and one of America’s most sought-after nutritionists, known for optimizing human performance through science-backed, personalized care. Her clients include celebrities, professional athletes, and Fortune 500 executives who trust her expertise in concierge medicine and private practice.

Rachel is a highly principled, intellectually rigorous, and passionately empowering expert, whose communication and sentiment are consistently driven by a profound conviction in her book's unique, holistic framework as the transformative solution to outdated and fragmented fertility advice, reflecting a deep commitment to women's health and autonomy.

___________________________

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and the code perlmutter26 will be auto-applied to your order to get $200 off & free shipping (90 days risk-free).

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for a special offer when you sign up to decode your genetics and get personalized, science-backed health recommendations.

====

Dr. Perlmutter’s groundbreaking new book, Brain Defenders, is now available for pre-order. Discover how to protect your brain and future health - reserve your copy today at https://www.braindefenders.com.

====

Gene therapy is no longer a distant promise, it is rapidly becoming one of the most disruptive technologies in medicine. And few figures embody the urgency, controversy, and pioneering spirit of this field more than Elizabeth Parrish, CEO of BioViva and widely recognized as the world's first self- engineered "GMO human."

In this episode of The Empowering Neurologist, we dive deep into her bold vision to treat aging not as an inevitable decline, but as a disease that can be targeted, modified, and potentially reversed. Again, treating aging as a disease.

Her journey into genetics began with a simple but profound realization: the diseases that kill most of us, including Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and overall frailty, are rooted in the biology of aging itself. Instead of waiting for late-stage decline, she argues that medicine should intervene upstream, correcting the genomic and cellular faults that accumulate over time. This perspective led her to take an extraordinary step: undergoing experimental gene therapy on herself in 2015, outside traditional regulatory frameworks.

====

0:00 Intro

3:16 Treating Aging as a Disease

12:16 Launching a Radical Biotech Company

15:49 Why Telomere Length Mattered Most

18:51 Fear at the Edge of Experimentation

24:19 Ad: Optoceutics

26:08 Alpha-Klotho, The Longevity Gene

30:02 Why Alzheimer’s Still Has No Cure

32:21 Mitochondria at the Center of Brain Health

36:04 Ad: Fresh Pressed Olive Oil Club

39:04 Keeping PGC-1 Alpha Switched On

42:43 Tracking Telomere Length Year After Year

47:11 Ad: 3x4 Genetics

48:37 Myokines and Whole-Body Health

51:48 Glutathione Deficiency and Neurodegeneration

1:00:20 Closing Thoughts

====

Elizabeth (Liz) Parrish, MBA, is the Founder and CEO of BioViva Sciences USA Inc., a pioneering biotechnology company committed to extending healthy human lifespan through advanced gene therapies. Under her leadership, BioViva is developing next-generation combinatorial gene treatments powered by its proprietary CMV delivery platform, positioning the company at the forefront of therapeutic innovation.

An accomplished entrepreneur, author, and visionary thinker, Liz is one of the leading global voices behind the Best Choice Medicine (BCM) initiative—a regulatory framework aimed at accelerating access to genetic therapies worldwide. She is deeply involved in international scientific education and has delivered keynote talks at major conferences and institutions, including WIRED, TEDx, and numerous other high-profile venues.

https://www.instagram.com/lizlparrish/?hl=en

https://bioviva-science.com/

___________________________

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EVY - https://www.optoceutics.com Use code perlmutter26 to save $200 & get free shipping on EVY (90 days risk-free).

Fresh Pressed Olive Oil - https://www.getfresh389.com For a complimentary bottle of one of the greatest olive oils I've ever discovered.

====

Dr. Perlmutter’s groundbreaking new book, Brain Defenders, is now available for pre-order. Discover how to protect your brain and future health - reserve your copy today at https://www.braindefenders.com.

====

In this week’s episode of The Empowering Neurologist, I sit down with registered dietitian, personalized-nutrition pioneer, and longtime friend, Ashley Koff, RD, to explore what may be one of the most misunderstood areas in all of health: weight, metabolism, and the pursuit of sustainable well-being. As the founder of The Better Nutrition Program, Nutrition Course Director at UC Irvine’s Integrative Health Institute, and faculty member at IFNA, Ashley brings a depth of clinical and practical insight that few can match.

Her new book, Your Best Shot,  tackles one of the most talked-about questions of our time: Is the GLP-1 shot your best shot—or not? But this is far from a book about medications. Instead, Ashley reframes the entire conversation around personalization, body-ecosystem thinking, and the liberating shift from perfectionism to her signature philosophy: better, not perfect.

In our conversation, Ashley explains why most people aren’t struggling with a lack of knowledge, but rather an overwhelming flood of it, something she calls “INFObesity.” She discusses the Switch Framework she developed to help individuals identify the key metabolic levers that matter most for them, and she shares compelling patient stories that demonstrate how real transformation happens when we align nutrition and lifestyle choices with our unique biology.

What emerges is a far more hopeful, empowering narrative about weight-health, one that acknowledges the complexity of modern life while giving us practical tools to navigate it.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated or confused by the conflicting messages around diet, GLP-1 medications, metabolism, or weight-loss strategies, this episode is an essential listen. It offers clarity, compassion, and a science-based path toward truly optimal health.

====

0:00 Intro

3:39 Misinformation in the world of weight loss

8:28 Calories in vs calories out

12:52 The importance of satiety related hormones

18:10 The experiment of GLP-1

24:49 Ad: Optoceutics

26:37 GLP-1 agonist drugs and the brain

37:16 Ad: Fresh Pressed Olive Oil Club

40:27 GLP-1 and mental health

50:02 Disconnect between food policy and obesity solutions

55:09 Conclusion

====

Ashley Koff, RD is the founder of The Better Nutrition Program (BNP), the Nutrition Course Director for UC Irvine’s Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute's Integrative and Functional Medicine Fellowship, and a faculty member at the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy (IFNA), where she teaches “An Integrative and Functional Nutrition Approach to Obesity and Weight Management.”

She is also the author of the upcoming book, Your Best Shot (Harper One, January 6, 2026). A practitioner for over 25 years, Koff is leading a transformative movement in personalized nutrition, turning “better, not perfect” choices into practical, sustainable strategies that deliver real health outcomes.

Through patient stories and personal experience, she shows that optimal health is not just possible—it’s essential to living your fullest life. Koff has been recognized as one of CNN’s Top 100 Health Makers, featured in InStyle as “Hollywood’s Leading Dietitian,” and has been selected as Westin’s Global Nutrition Ambassador.

🧠 Stay ahead with the latest in science, nutrition, and wellness by subscribing to Dr. Perlmutter’s newsletter at: www.drperlmutter.com. ✉️🌱

Today on The Empowering Neurologist podcast we are going to explore PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder, a pervasive issue that can be profoundly debilitating. PTSD is experienced by about 6% of the US population at some point in their lifetime and at any given time approximately 5% of American adults are living with this disorder. Certainly, we see high risk and veterans with PTSD affecting about 11 to 20% of veterans who served in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Vietnam veterans experience a lifetime prevalence somewhere in the neighborhood of 30%. PTSD symptoms usually begin within three months of a traumatic event, but can actually surface many years later making the diagnosis and the relationship to a traumatic event challenging. In about 1/3 of cases, PTSD becomes chronic and can last for years or even decades.

We know that there are significant comorbidities associated with PTSD, including other mental health conditions like depression or anxiety disorder, substance use disorders, and even cognitive decline.

While cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT, and pharmaceutical intervention are the “go to” treatments for this problem, hyperbaric oxygen therapy presents us with a new and emerging therapy now receiving global recognition. We will review research on this podcast demonstrating the profound effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen in treating PTSD, research that makes it clear that this is one of the most powerful interventions ever developed for treating this challenging disorder.

We will visit the Aviv Clinic in Central Florida, and spend time with Dr. Mohammad Elamir.

====

0:00 Intro

4:55 Why Hyperbaric Works for PTSD Patients

8:44 Evaluating patients with PTSD

12:30 How the Protocol Was Chosen & Implemented 

16:40 Potential Side Effects 

18:00 Youngest People Treated with This

19:32 Combining Therapy Modalities for PTSD

20:14 Other Conditions that Can Be Helped By This

22:04 Amazing Results From These Studies

24:06 Using this with Our Military 

26:00 Getting to the Root Problems 

26:48 Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries 

28:54 Why This Isn’t More Widely Being Offered 

29:49 The Right Formula for This

32:55 Get Involved Today

====

Dr. Mohammed Elamir, or “Dr. Mo”to his patients, has been part of the Aviv Clinics team in The Villages since the clinic opened in 2020. As lead physician, he oversees the medical treatment for all clients in the Aviv Medical Program, collaborating with other members of Aviv’s clinical team to provide truly comprehensive care. As a presenter, his seminars often sell out, thanks in part to his ability to translate complex scientific concepts and data into easily-relatable language. 

Prior to joining Aviv Clinics, Dr. Elamir practiced internal medicine at the MM Jersey Breathing Center while also owning a medical spa in New Jersey. He completed his internal medicine internship and residency at RWJ-Barnabas: Jersey City Medical Center where he was chief resident and a member of the ethics committee. Dr. Mo has a passion for helping others who are pursuing a career in medicine and continues to mentor pre-med and medical school students. 

Dr. Elamir became involved with Aviv Clinics after his late father suffered a stroke, which sparked Dr. Mo’s interest in novel approaches to healing the brain. He is the father of two children, including a son with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dr. Elamir considers it his life’s mission to help progress his son’s development and better understand the causes and treatment of ASD.

___________________________

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In this compelling episode of The Empowering Neurologist, I sit down with Dr. Ray Dorsey, a leading voice in the world of neurology and author of the important new book, The Parkinson’s Plan. Dr. Dorsey is a passionate advocate for changing how we view and address Parkinson’s disease. His message is bold—and urgently needed: Parkinson’s is not simply a disease of aging or bad luck. It is, in his words, “a man-made disease,” driven by preventable environmental exposures.

Dr. Dorsey’s work shines a much-needed spotlight on the role of toxins in triggering Parkinson’s. In his new book, he lays out a comprehensive framework for understanding and reversing the rising tide of Parkinson’s cases, which have more than doubled in recent decades. He argues that this surge is no coincidence—it correlates with increased exposure to industrial chemicals, pesticides, and air pollutants that interfere with the brain’s delicate dopamine system.

One of the most striking recent contributions from Dr. Dorsey’s research is a JAMA-published study linking Parkinson’s risk to proximity to golf courses—locations that are frequently treated with high volumes of chemical herbicides and pesticides. The study found a significantly increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease in individuals living near these manicured greens. This adds to a growing body of evidence that toxic environmental exposures play a key role in the development of this neurodegenerative condition.

In our conversation, Dr. Dorsey discusses how Parkinson’s (once a rare disease) has become the world’s fastest-growing brain disorder, and why its rise can’t be explained by aging populations alone. He shares practical strategies for individuals and families looking to reduce their toxic burden and offers hope for a new paradigm. One in which we actively prevent, treat, and ultimately aim to eliminate Parkinson’s.

Try Lichen Air, an air filter carefully constructed to remove the maximum amount of PM 2.5 and smaller air pollutants possible:

https://lichenair.com/

====

0:00 Intro

2:40 Living Near to a Golf course Raises Parkinson’s Risk

4:58 How Pollutants Lead to Parkinson’s

7:12 Danger of Dry cleaning Chemicals

11:45 Parkinson’s is not just about Genetics

14:15 Why aren't these chemicals illegal?

17:07 Toxicity of Weed Killer

21:00 Chemicals that Damage Mitochondria 

26:39 Why Diabetes Increases Parkinson’s Risk

29:38Air Pollution & WildFires

34:04 The Air Purifier We Recommend 

34:49 Dealing with Indoor Air Pollution

37:02 Wash All Produce (Even Organic)

38:12 Best Diet for Parkinson’s Prevention

41:26 Safe Practices for Farming & Dry Cleaning

45:23 Benefits of Exercise

48:01 Public Figures Who Faced Parkinson's Disease

49:58 Why Men are More Likely to Get It

51:21 An Empowering Message for Us

54:27 Conclusion 

====

Dr. Ray Dorsey is the director of the Center for the Brain & the Environment at the Atria Health and Research Institute. The center’s mission is to identify the root causes of brain diseases from autism to Alzheimer’s so that we can prevent them. With his colleagues, he wrote Ending Parkinson’s Disease and the forthcoming The Parkinson’s Plan, which details a new path to preventing and treating this terrible disease.

Ray previously directed the Center for Health + Technology at the University of Rochester, chaired the international Huntington Study Group, led the movement disorders division at Johns Hopkins, and consulted for McKinsey & Company.

___________________________

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I’m thrilled to announce this exciting podcast episode featuring an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Mai Nguyen, CEO and Co-founder of OptoCeutics. Dr. Nguyen is a pioneering force in the field of neurotechnology, and in this episode, we unpack her revolutionary work using non-invasive light stimulation to enhance brain function and potentially prevent neurodegenerative disease.

At the center of our conversation is the EVY, a 40 Hertz light stimulation device developed by OptoCeutics under Dr. Nguyen’s leadership. This device is designed to target and enhance gamma oscillations in the brain—a specific frequency range of neural activity (around 40 Hz) that is critically involved in memory, attention, and perception. In recent years, scientific studies have linked disruptions in gamma oscillations with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. By restoring these rhythms, the EVY device aims to provide a non-pharmacological, non-invasive way to support brain health.

During our podcast, Dr. Nguyen explains how EVY works: the device emits flickering light at a precise 40 Hz frequency, which is thought to entrain brain activity to resonate at that same frequency. This gentle stimulation may help reduce amyloid-beta accumulation, improve neural connectivity, and promote immune system engagement in the brain—mechanisms that could slow or even reverse aspects of cognitive decline.

What sets Dr. Nguyen apart is not just her scientific brilliance, but her deep commitment to translating research into real-world solutions. She leads OptoCeutics with a clear mission: to bring accessible, evidence-based neurotechnology into homes and clinics, empowering people to take charge of their cognitive well-being. Her approach is both deeply human and rigorously scientific, blending innovation with empathy.

As you’ll hear in the interview, Dr. Nguyen's work exemplifies the exciting convergence of biology, technology, and therapeutic application.

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the future of brain health, the science of neuroplasticity, and the promise of light-based therapies. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, caregiver, or simply curious about how to support your brain as you age, Dr. Nguyen’s insights will leave you informed, inspired, and hopeful.

====

0:00 Intro

2:46 How Dr. Mai Started Studying it

5:16 How Light Enhances Gamma Oscillation 

7:22 Promise of These Studies

8:51 How the EVY Device Works

11:20 Early Clinical Results + Potential Side Effects

13:53 Application of this technology 

16:36 Why Mainstream is Late to Adopt This

22:04 Impact of Auditory Stimulation

23:38 The Future of This Research

25:25 Get Involved Today

====

Dr. Nguyen is a trailblazer in neurotechnology, pioneering advancements in non-invasive brain stimulation technology for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s and dementia. As CEO and Co-founder of OptoCeutics, Dr. Nguyen leads the charge in bridging the gap between neuroscience and therapeutic innovation, offering new hope to millions affected by cognitive decline. 

Under Dr. Nguyen’s leadership, Optoceutics has become a frontrunner in brain stimulation technology and a recognized authority in non-invasive neuromodulation. Her unique approach combines rigorous scientific methodology with groundbreaking therapeutic solutions.

This vision is shaped by her academic excellence, including a PhD in Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley with a specialization in Neuroendocrinology, and her extensive training in management, technology innovation, and entrepreneurship.

___________________________

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In our modern world, we are surrounded by a staggering number of invisible threats. These chemicals and pollutants can silently undermine our immune systems, increase our risk for chronic illness, and sabotage our health at the cellular level. That’s why I’m especially excited to welcome Dr. Aly Cohen to this episode of The Empowering Neurologist. This conversation is not only eye-opening, it’s empowering and filled with practical, actionable steps that each of us can take starting today.

In our conversation Dr. Cohen takes us through the science and the soul of her mission. We explore what inspired her to write Detoxify, a journey that began at the intersection of clinical frustration and personal awakening. Over the years, she began noticing that many of her patients with autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, and neurological complaints shared a common thread: consistent exposure to environmental toxins. This wasn't just about vague “bad stuff.”Dr. Cohen has zeroed in on a specific category of chemicals she terms “Immune-disrupting chemicals (IDCs).” These are substances that directly interfere with the immune system's ability to regulate and repair.

Dr. Cohen doesn’t stop at theory… she gets specific - with personal care products to avoid, water purification tips every household should know, and simple DIY recipes for safer cleaning and skincare. Her “Detoxify Food Pyramid” reimagines what a clean, immune-supportive diet looks like in a world of processed foods and contaminated agriculture.

We also touch on how environmental toxins can act as potent triggers for autoimmune conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis - diseases Dr. Cohen treats in her clinical practice almost every day.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer scale of modern toxicity, this episode offers a clear and hopeful path forward. Dr. Cohen emphasizes that detoxifying your life doesn’t mean doing everything at once. It’s about starting small. Things like switching to a glass water bottle, choosing fragrance-free detergents, and reading ingredient labels can lead to profound health benefits.

====

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction

02:15 Welcoming Dr. Amy Cohen & Her Inspiration for Her Book

05:45 Water & How Contamination Dysregulates Our Immune System

10:44 Recommendations for Filtration and Purification

13:13 Quality of Bottled Water Is Sub Par & Likely Tap Water

18:03 Endocrine Disrupting Chemical Contaminants Found In Our Water

21:47 Sparking Change with The Four A's: Assess, Avoid Or Swap, Add, Allow

27:39 How Did These Chemicals Enter Our Food & Water Supply?

34:10 How Do Genetics Determine Your Ability To Detoxify?

37:50 Air Quality, Pollution, and The Impact On Our Bodies

43:49 Navigating How To Improve The Air You Breath

47:41 Detoxifying The Body From Air Pollution

51:18 Hidden Threats In Your Personal Care Products & How To Avoid Them

1:04:19 Conclusion

====

Dr. Aly Cohen is a board-certified physician practicing in rheumatology and integrative medicine, as well as an environmental health expert in Princeton, New Jersey. Her new book, DETOXIFY: The Everyday Toxins Harming Your Immune System and How to Defend Against Them, available now for preorder, connects the dots between everyday chemicals and the epidemic rise in immune disorders and autoimmune disease...and what we CAN all do about it! You can follow her health and wellness tips and recommendations on Facebook at The Smart Human, Twitter, and Instagram: @thesmarthuman, and TikTok. 

___________________________

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The ketogenic diet has become a household term, often associated with rapid weight loss and an effective means of shedding stubborn fat. However, as my guest on this episode of The Empowering Neurologist, Dr. Dominic D’Agostino, will explain, there is so much more to the ketogenic lifestyle than simply dropping a few pounds. We’re diving deep into the science of metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and how our lifestyle choices impact long-term health, particularly brain health.

While many people adopt a ketogenic diet for its well-documented benefits in weight management, its effects on metabolism reach far beyond simple fat burning. Nutritional ketosis helps the body transition from relying primarily on carbohydrates for energy to efficiently burning fat and producing ketones, an alternative fuel source for the brain and muscles.

As Dr. D’Agostino will discuss, one of the most crucial aspects of metabolic health is insulin sensitivity. When insulin function is compromised, the body struggles to regulate blood sugar levels, leading to increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and even cognitive decline. By keeping insulin sensitivity in check through dietary choices, fasting, and exercise, we can enhance our metabolic health and lower the risk of chronic disease.

The brain is an energy-intensive organ, and its function is directly influenced by our metabolic state. Research has shown that ketones provide a more efficient and neuroprotective fuel source for the brain compared to glucose. This is particularly relevant for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and even traumatic brain injury.

By making intentional choices about what we eat, how we move, and how we recover, we can take control of our metabolic health and improve our longevity.

====

00:00  Introduction 

02:21 How Dr. D’Agostino Went From Seizure Research To Nutrition Science

03:31 From Drug Failures To The Medical Power Of Ketosis

05:15 What Ketones Really Are And Why They’re A Metabolic Game-Changer

09:37 Why Ketogenic Therapy Is Now In 400+ Clinical Trials Worldwide

12:21 GLP-1 Drugs, Weight Loss, And Keto: What They Do To Your Metabolism

15:10 Inside A Ketogenic Body: Fat Burning, Fuel Switching, And More

17:25 How Lowering Insulin Turns On Fat Burning And Ketone Production

20:03 Why Ketones Keep The Brain Stable And Cravings Under Control

23:54 The Right Amount Of Protein For Muscle, Aging, And Staying In Ketosis

27:03 Do You Actually Need Fiber? The Carnivore Diet And Gut Health

30:00 How Ketosis Reduces Inflammation And Repairs The Gut Barrier

34:31 Genomics of Ketonics: Beta-Hydroxybutyrate’s Epigenetic Power

45:38 Allulose: The Sweetener That Lowers Blood Sugar And Boosts GLP-1

52:03 Why MCT Oil Might Be The Most Underrated Keto Hack Available

54:30 Conclusion

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Dominic D’Agostino, Ph.D., is a tenured Associate Professor at the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology. He teaches medical neuroscience, medical physiology, nutrition and neuropharmacology. He is also a Senior Visiting Research Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) to assist with their efforts towards optimizing the safety, health and resilience of the warfighter and astronaut. His primary research focuses on developing and testing nutritional and metabolic-based therapies for a variety of disease states and advancing the use of metabolic-based therapies into human clinical applications.  

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Cancer remains a formidable global challenge, with nearly one in six deaths worldwide attributed to the disease. Over 60% of patients undergoing conventional treatments experience severe side effects, highlighting the need for complementary therapies that enhance efficacy and reduce harm.

Dr. Valter Longo, a leading figure in aging and nutritional science, has introduced a groundbreaking approach known as the fasting mimicking diet (FMD). Through years of research, Dr. Longo has shown that cycles of controlled fasting can trigger cellular regeneration, reduce inflammation, and improve metabolic health.

His work has reshaped our understanding of nutrition’s role in health and disease, providing a scientific basis for fasting as a tool to support standard cancer therapies. The fasting mimicking diet offers a promising adjunct to traditional treatments. By strategically reducing calorie intake, FMD protects healthy cells and makes cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy and radiation.

This dual effect boosts the effectiveness of treatment while mitigating debilitating side effects. Dr. Longo’s new book, Fasting Cancer, the subject of our podcast, explores the science behind fasting and its potential to transform cancer care. He shares practical guidelines, compelling case studies, and robust research that illustrate how FMD can be integrated with standard therapies for better outcomes.

Listeners of The Empowering Neurologist were captivated by Dr. Longo’s ability to translate complex science into actionable advice in his previous appearance, and this episode is no exception. His work continues to inspire both patients and healthcare professionals to explore innovative, science-driven approaches in the fight against cancer.

As research unfolds, the fasting mimicking diet stands as a testament to the power of nutritional science in modern medicine. Embracing this strategy, patients and clinicians alike are witnessing a promising future in cancer care.

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00:00 Introduction
02:10 The Cancer Nutrition Scientist Changing Everything
04:36 How Cancer Cells Hack Aging And Stay Immortal
06:00 The Hidden Danger Of Cancer Cell Survival After Chemo
07:30 Why Young People Are Getting More Cancer Than Ever
10:48 Are We Eating Too Much Protein For Longevity
13:22 A Diet That Weakens Cancer But Shields Healthy Cells
17:55 What Is The Fasting Mimicking Diet And Why It Works
21:40 The Critical Timing That Makes Chemo More Effective
23:00 How Starving Cancer Creates A Predictable Weak Spot
27:30 The Multi-Angle Attack That Slows Glioblastoma
29:15 Could This Diet Delay Or Reverse Alzheimer’s
32:50 Clinical Trials Show This Diet Reverses Diabetes
36:30 How Fasting Triggers Organ Regeneration In Humans
41:05 The Shocking Risks Behind Popular Weight Loss Drugs
57:14 Conclusion

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Valter Longo is the director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He studies basic and clinical research on nutrition, aging, and disease, with a focus on cancer, autoimmunity, Alzheimer’s, and cardiometabolic illness. Dr. Longo has received multiple awards including the 2010 Nathan Shock Lecture Award from the National Institute on Aging, the 2013 Vincent Cristofalo Rising Star Award, and the 2016 Glenn Award for Research in the Biological Mechanisms of Aging. In 2018, Time named him one of the 50 most influential people in health care, and in 2021 Science magazine called him a pioneer in nutrition and cancer. He is the author of Fasting Cancer and The Longevity Diet.

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