In this episode of the Reverse Alzheimer’s Summit, Dr. Heather Sandison welcomes Dr. Mark Mattson, a leading neuroscientist and expert on intermittent fasting. Dr. Mattson, who recently retired as the Chief of Neuroscience at the National Institutes of Aging and now teaches at Johns Hopkins University, discusses his research on the crucial role of glutamate in brain function and the benefits of intermittent fasting for brain health.

Dr. Mattson explains that glutamate is the brain’s most important neurotransmitter, involved in more than 90% of brain neurons, and is essential for learning and memory. He describes how excessive glutamate can lead to neuronal damage and is implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Mattson also highlights the significance of other neurotransmitters, such as GABA, which modulate glutamate activity.