Think Neuro

By Think NeuroScience Medicine Health & Fitness Mental Health Life Sciences

Think Neuro episodes

November 04 Low Testosterone: What You Need to Know with Noa Tal, MD
Hypogonadism is a defect of the reproductive system resulting in lack of function of the gonads (ovaries or testes). The gonads have two major functions: to produce hormones (testosterone, estradiol), and to produce gametes (eggs or sperm). Sex hormones deficiency can result in defective primary or secondary sexual development, infertility and loss of libido. Defective egg or sperm development results in infertility. pituitary adenomas and other tumors that impinge upon the pituitary gland can cause hypogonadism (a subset of hypopituitarism) by causing either decreased production of LH and FSH or by causing hyperprolactinemia which inhibits LH and FSH production.
Think Neuro is produced by Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Request an appointment: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/contact/request-an-appointment/
Call: 310-582-7640

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5 min
October 28 Hearing Aid Recycling Program (HARP) at Pacific Neuroscience Institute
Pacific Neuroscience Institute Foundation’s Hearing Aid Recycling Program (HARP) accepts your generous monetary and device donations. We have partnered with industry sponsors to provide the necessary services to clean and prepare recycled hearing aids for a new life of use. Your support allows us to mold, fit and refurbish hearing aids for people with limited financial resources to hearing-related care.
Think Neuro is produced by Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Request an appointment: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/contact/request-an-appointment/
Call: 310-582-7640

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7WP07vn6Ef77Bp1YwH27ck2VB7B6-uV

Get our newsletter: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/patient-care/newsletters/

Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Think Neuro on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other listeners find us.
2 min
October 21 80. Being An Empowered Care Partner for Parkinson's Disease with Sheila Moore, MSG, LCSW
When a person receives a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, the effects extend out into that person’s world. Family members often find themselves in new roles as caregivers—or, in the phrase of Sheila Moore, a licensed clinical social worker at Pacific Neuroscience Institute—care partners. Sheila works with people who have Parkinson’s disease and their care partners at PNI and at PNI’s Movement Disorders Center. Sheila has a wealth of information, resources and referrals for families, as well as support for those incredibly trying times. Sheila also works closely with PNI’s Parkinson’s disease and movement disorder neurologists, Dr. Melita Petrossian and Dr. Natalie Diaz as well as the rest of the team. Sheila shares with us today some of her experiences and advice for when situations become tough, along with her top ten tips for the empowered care partner. We also talk to Mary, who found herself thrust into the role of care partner when her husband Charles received a Parkinson’s diagnosis at PNI almost 10 years ago. Mary has worked with Sheila and participated in support groups, and offers her own advice and experience in how to cope with this challenging situation.
Think Neuro is produced by Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Request an appointment: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/contact/request-an-appointment/
Call: 310-582-7640

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7WP07vn6Ef77Bp1YwH27ck2VB7B6-uV

Get our newsletter: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/patient-care/newsletters/

Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Think Neuro on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other listeners find us.
59 min
October 14 PNI & 25 Years with the Los Angeles Kings - 2026 with Chester Griffiths, MD, FACS
Celebrating 25 years with the team, Chester Griffiths, MD, FACS, has been a member of the Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team medical staff since 2002 as their maxillofacial plastic surgeon. Maxillofacial surgeons are trained to handle facial trauma as well as a wide variety of conditions and injuries that affect the head, neck, mouth, and jaw. Dr. Griffiths has done hundreds of procedures for team players as well as visiting team members and the referees who have been injured during games including the Olympics. And he has even saved a life on the ice. Dr. Griffiths’ passion for hockey and the LA Kings is lifelong, and he is reminded of their shared values each time he looks at his two Stanley Cup rings.
Think Neuro is produced by Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Request an appointment: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/contact/request-an-appointment/
Call: 310-582-7640

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7WP07vn6Ef77Bp1YwH27ck2VB7B6-uV

Get our newsletter: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/patient-care/newsletters/

Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Think Neuro on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other listeners find us.
2 min
October 07 Hearing Loss, Cognition, Dementia, and the CELEBRATE Protocol with Rebecca Lewis, AuD
Hearing loss is common as we age, but its effects reach far beyond the ears. Research increasingly links untreated hearing loss to a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia, while treating hearing loss with hearing aids or cochlear implants may help protect memory and quality of life. At PNI’s Ear, Hearing & Balance program, our audiologists and ENT specialists work together to evaluate your hearing and recommend the right next step, whether that’s hearing aids, cochlear implants, or another treatment path.
Think Neuro is produced by Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Request an appointment: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/contact/request-an-appointment/
Call: 310-582-7640

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7WP07vn6Ef77Bp1YwH27ck2VB7B6-uV

Get our newsletter: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/patient-care/newsletters/

Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Think Neuro on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other listeners find us.
3 min
September 30 Common Questions About Cochlear Implants with Rebecca Lewis, AuD
Hearing loss is one of the leading causes of overall disability worldwide, affecting approximately 466 million adults and children. In this video, Rebecca Lewis, AuD, the Audiology Director of the Adult & Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, answers common questions about cochlear implants.
For more information:
https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/patient-care/treatments/cochlear-implants/
Think Neuro is produced by Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Request an appointment: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/contact/request-an-appointment/
Call: 310-582-7640

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7WP07vn6Ef77Bp1YwH27ck2VB7B6-uV

Get our newsletter: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/patient-care/newsletters/

Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Think Neuro on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other listeners find us.
12 min
September 23 Investigating Hormone Imbalances That Cause Irregular Cycles with Noa Tal, MD
The pituitary gland may be tiny, but it plays a significant role in a woman’s health. When functioning properly, this master gland regulates essential hormones that influence many of bodily functions, from menstrual cycles to metabolism. Therefore, when pituitary gland disorders arise, they can disrupt reproductive health, energy levels, and overall quality of life. In this article, we’ll explore the role of the pituitary gland in women’s health, common disorders, symptoms to watch for, and how these conditions can be diagnosed and treated.
Think Neuro is produced by Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Request an appointment: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/contact/request-an-appointment/
Call: 310-582-7640

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7WP07vn6Ef77Bp1YwH27ck2VB7B6-uV

Get our newsletter: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/patient-care/newsletters/

Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Think Neuro on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other listeners find us.
3 min
September 16 79. Restoring Hearing Health with One Cochlear Implant at a Time with Courtney Voelker, MD, PhD
It sounds almost too good to be true: A simple solution to a major health issue, that’s safe, effective and covered by insurance—yet most of the people who would benefit from this procedure don’t even know about it. We’re talking about cochlear implants—a well-established procedure that can restore hearing loss. Dr. Courtney Voelker has made it her life’s work to spread the word about this remarkable surgery. One of her patients, Sharon, also wants people to know how her cochlear implant completely changed her life, restoring her ability to hear everything from her pet birds to her yoga teacher to actors on stage in theatrical performances. Dr. Voelker and Sharon share those stories with us today.
Think Neuro is produced by Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Request an appointment: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/contact/request-an-appointment/
Call: 310-582-7640

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7WP07vn6Ef77Bp1YwH27ck2VB7B6-uV

Get our newsletter: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/patient-care/newsletters/

Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Think Neuro on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other listeners find us.
55 min
September 09 Rapid Stroke Treatment at Comprehensive Stroke Centers with Jason Tarpley, MD, PhD
With four Comprehensive Stroke Centers at Providence hospitals in the greater Los Angeles region, Pacific Neuroscience Institutes specialists have expert teams to treat stroke patients. Working with EMS, neurointerventional teams are standing by to provide immediate, advanced treatment. Using the latest in leading-edge imaging and minimally invasive clot-retrieval and clot busting techniques, we are able to treat strokes right away, maximizing the chance of recovery.
Think Neuro is produced by Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Request an appointment: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/contact/request-an-appointment/
Call: 310-582-7640

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7WP07vn6Ef77Bp1YwH27ck2VB7B6-uV

Get our newsletter: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/patient-care/newsletters/

Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Think Neuro on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other listeners find us.
4 min
September 02 What is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus? | With Garni Barkhoudarian, MD
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) can cause symptoms of dementia, but these are reversible.
NPH is a neurological condition that occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up in the brain’s ventricles, causing them to enlarge. It most commonly affects older adults and can lead to a unique set of symptoms, including difficulty walking, problems with bladder control, and cognitive decline. Because its symptoms often overlap with those of other neurological conditions, NPH can be challenging to diagnose but is often treatable once identified.
310-582-7450
pacifichydrocephalus.com
Think Neuro is produced by Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Request an appointment: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/contact/request-an-appointment/
Call: 310-582-7640

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7WP07vn6Ef77Bp1YwH27ck2VB7B6-uV

Get our newsletter: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/patient-care/newsletters/

Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Think Neuro on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other listeners find us.
4 min

About Think Neuro

From the publisher's feed

The Think Neuro podcast from Pacific Neuroscience Institute takes you into the clinic, operating room and laboratory with doctors and surgeons who are tackling the most challenging brain diseases and disorders. You’ll go deep into the brain and beyond, exploring the neurological processes and structures that control our health, hormones, behaviors, movements, moods, and emotions. You’ll learn about new therapies that are giving hope for sufferers of the most challenging diseases, and you’ll hear about some habits you can develop to keep your brain in good working order for years to come. We’ll show you why patients from around the world are coming to Pacific Neuroscience Institute for novel treatments that are in many instances, available at few other institutions.

pacificneuro.org | (310) 582-7640

The Think Neuro Podcast has two co-hosts, Anthony Effinger and Dan Fost.

Think Neuro host Anthony Effinger is an award-winning journalist fascinated by neuroscience and the workings of the brain.

Anthony spent 24 years at Bloomberg News, where he covered finance and made deep forays into science and health. In 2006, the Association of Health Care Journalists awarded him first prize for “Playing the Odds,” an in-depth look at changing strategies for treating prostate cancer.

After a stint at the World Bank, Anthony joined Willamette Week, the Pulitzer Prize-winning newsweekly in Portland, Oregon. He won the 2022 award for health care journalism from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for his piece on the disproven Covid remedy ivermectin and the anti-vaxx Portland biologist who was its biggest booster.

His 2023 examination of Oregon’s black-market psilocybin economy, “The Mushroom Underground,” won first prize in AAN Publishers’ exploratory reporting category. The Society of Professional Journalists Northwest gave him and colleague Lucas Manfield its top business award for “Junk Ambulances,” a 2023 exposé of private equity’s mismanagement of Multnomah County’s ambulance contractor.

In 2026, AAN awarded him first place for health care reporting for “Operation: Merger,” his examination of Oregon Health & Science University’s failed bid to merge with rival Legacy Health.

Raised in Copper Mountain, Colorado, Anthony lives in Portland with his wife, Diana Bianco. They raised two children there: one is a journalist, the other a fluids engineer.

Dan Fost is a veteran journalist who has written for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and the Washington Post. A former staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, he covers health, science, and technology, making complex subjects accessible to a broad audience. Dan has written extensively for the University of California, San Francisco, one of the nation’s leading health science universities, where he’s reported on leading scientists (including Nobel Prize winners), global health, and biotechnology innovations that have led to the launch of new companies. Dan is the author of “Giants Past and Present,” a book about the San Francisco baseball team. A native of New Jersey and a graduate of Boston University, Dan lives in Marin County, Calif., with his wife. They have one adult son.