We ask a lot of our spines. They keep us upright, they bend into myriad positions, and they protect our spinal cord, a huge job by itself. And they go the distance, doing all of those things, if we’re lucky, well into our 90s. But the longer we live, the more we wear out our spines. That’s where Dr. Jian Guan comes in. He handles complicated spinal issues that don’t get better with rest, exercise or physical therapy. After medical school and residency, he did a fellowship in complex spinal neurosurgery at the Lahey Clinic in Massachusetts, one of the top U.S. spine centers. Many of the patients that Dr. Guan sees have been in accidents or experienced other trauma. But many others are the victims of poor posture and inactivity, two things that are detrimental to spine health. In this episode, Dr. Guan talks about how important it is to get up and out of chairs in front of our computers and how to sit when we must. Hit play and learn how to keep an incredible structure healthy for the long run.

Having a healthy voice is important for everyone, whether you are a professional singer, teacher, salesperson or simply like to read aloud to your grandchildren. Similarly, our ability to swallow is an essential part of everyday life and when comprised can feel frustrating and even embarrassing in public settings. If you suffer from hoarseness or trouble with your voice or throat, our team of expert ENT providers can help. We provide comprehensive care for voice and swallowing disorders. Omid Mehdizadeh, MD is our fellowship trained laryngologist who specializes in voice and swallowing treatment and care.

Fellowship trained, Noa Tal, MD, is a devoted endocrinologist committed to delivering exceptional care and striving for excellence in her field. With a diverse background encompassing medicine, research, teaching, and wellness, she endeavors to make significant contributions to healthcare. At the Pituitary Disorders Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute®, Dr. Tal cares for patients with endocrine issues as a result of pituitary tumors.

Dr. Tal earned her medical degree from Tel Aviv University School of Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY. Subsequently, she pursued further specialization through an endocrinology fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. Her research focuses on advancing understanding in areas such as microbiome, pituitary pathology, and endocrine pathways related to aging and age-related diseases.

Beyond her medical achievements, Dr. Tal is deeply passionate about promoting wellness. She has volunteered at “Plant Powered Metro New York,” sharing insights on plant-based nutrition, chronic disease management, and diabetes prevention. Dr. Tal has also undergone additional training in diet and lifestyle intervention and has served as a yoga instructor, integrating holistic approaches into her practice. She firmly believes in a comprehensive approach to patient care, encompassing research, quality improvement, and wellness promotion, with the ultimate aim of making a positive impact in medicine, academia, and wellness.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the brain’s function and causes a gradual decline in cognitive function, including memory, thinking, and behavior. It is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for approximately 70% of all cases of dementia.

The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not fully understood, but it is believed to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The disease is characterized by the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain, which interfere with the communication between brain cells and cause their death over time.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but there are medications available that can help manage the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. These medications work by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, which can improve communication between brain cells and delay the onset of more severe symptoms.

Lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and cognitive stimulation, may also be helpful in managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, it is essential to work closely with a healthcare professional experienced in treating Alzheimer’s disease to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

While Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating condition that affects millions of people worldwide, early detection and treatment can help individuals maintain their quality of life for as long as possible.

Dr. Scott Kaiser, a board-certified family physician and geriatrician, is the Director of Geriatric Cognitive Health and provides specialty geriatric medical consultations at the Pacific Brain Health Center. Focused on the needs of older patients, he works with his colleagues to provide an integrated and holistic approach to their cognitive challenges. With this “whole person” approach, Dr. Kaiser works to connect patients and their families with a broad range of resources to support their overall health and well being.

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL), or sudden deafness, is a rapid loss of hearing. SSHL can happen to a person all at once or over a period of up to 3 days. It should be considered a medical emergency. Hearing loss affects only one ear in 9 out of 10 people who experience SSHL. Many people notice it when they wake up in the morning. Others first notice it when they try to use the deafened ear, such as when they make a phone call. Still others notice a loud, alarming “pop” just before their hearing disappears. People with SSHL often experience dizziness or a ringing in their ears (tinnitus), or both.

Dr. Abbas Anwar, a native of Southern California, is a board certified otolaryngologist – head and neck surgeon, at the Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center, Pacific Neuroscience Institute. He specializes in all aspects of general and pediatric ENT and has special interests in sinonasal diseases and infections, head and neck surgery, otologic disorders, and throat complaints. He is well trained in the latest leading-edge innovations in otolaryngology including balloon sinuplasty, CT guided sinus surgery, and microlaryngeal laser surgery.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea, characterized by repeated episodes of partial or complete blockage of the airway during sleep. These blockages occur when the muscles at the back of the throat relax excessively, causing the airway to narrow or close, and momentarily stopping breathing. This condition contrasts with central sleep apnea, where the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. When the brain is deprived of oxygen during sleep, OSA can lead to a number of serious conditions affecting not only quality of life, but brain health and function. It is important to seek medical attention.

Omid B. Mehdizadeh, MD, is an otolaryngology-head & neck (ENT) surgeon with particular expertise in voice, swallowing and airway conditions at Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI). A Los Angeles native, his career has spanned treating world-class opera and Broadway singers to surgical mission trips serving underprivileged and indigenous populations of Central America. Outside PNI, he has focused his time on educating medical and undergraduate students and providing medical care to disenfranchised populations through community clinics.

Sandra Narayanan, MD, Vascular Neurologist and Neurointerventional Surgeon at the Pacific Stroke and Neurovascular Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, explains the difference between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke.

The main difference between the two types of stroke is the underlying cause of the brain damage. In ischemic stroke, the damage is caused by a lack of blood supply, while in hemorrhagic stroke, it is caused by bleeding into the brain tissue. Both types of stroke are medical emergencies and require immediate medical attention to prevent further damage and improve outcomes.

For decades, people thought physical exercise benefited only the body. But every year we learn how incorrect that was, and Dr. David Merrill, director of PNI’s brain health center, is one of the people pushing our knowledge forward. It turns out that exercise builds the brain by prompting the production of brain derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF. “Trophic” compounds cause things to grow, and BDNF helps create new connections among neurons, which is how we learn. In short, BDNF is fertilizer for the brain, Dr. Merrill says. In a perfect world, we would be able to take BDNF in a pill, like a vitamin. But it’s a big, clunky molecule that doesn’t pass easily from blood to brain. Exercise gets the job done, boosting BDNF and keeping our brains nimble. That fact makes exercise crucial as we age. Pumping iron, and therefore pumping up BDNF, promotes brain plasticity: the ability to change, grow and adapt to the insults that come with growing older. Listen to this episode to hear how you can boost BDNF through exercise and stay sharp into your golden years.

There are no specific diets that have been shown to reduce the progression of PD. However, there is good reason to believe that a well-balanced, nutritious diet would be best. In those without other medical conditions, the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurogenerative Delay (MIND) diet may be of benefit in Parkinson’s as well since both are neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

In movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia, normal function can be restored to the circuitry of the brain, resulting in significant improvement in function and quality of life. The goal of deep brain stimulation surgery is to modulate the activity of a specific brain region.

In DBS, thin electrodes are placed in the disruptive areas of the brain and small electrical pulses normalize or eliminate the irregular signals. DBS is the non-permanent suppression of overactivity in the autopilot structure of the brain called the basal ganglia.

Like a pacemaker for the brain, the battery (pulse generator) is implanted under the skin of the chest, and leads (wires) are tunneled under the skin via the deep part of the brain through a quarter-sized opening in the skull. The system is fully implanted under the skin, so there are no external wires or devices. The stimulator is fully programmable and therefore adjustable over time, as the disease changes. Patients can use a simple hand-held device to turn the DBS on or off, and adjust various other parameters if needed.