Behind the staggering statistics on global diabetes prevalence are millions of individuals with different stories, struggles, and solutions.

In this episode, we explore how diabetes affects your brain, body, and cognition, and how it can be prevented, managed, and (in many cases) reversed.

We share some powerful personal stories from the clinic, bust some persistent food myths, and learn why diabetes is as much a neurological emergency as a metabolic one.

Plus, we speak to three leading experts who are changing the way we treat diabetes:

BRENDA DAVIS, RD: renowned dietitian and global authority on plant-based nutrition.

DR. MICHELLE MCMACKEN, MD: Executive Director of Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals, Associate Professor at NYU, and public health leader.

DR. THEODORE FRIEDMAN: Professor and Chair of Internal Medicine at Charles Drew University.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The difference between Type 1, Type 2, and prediabetes • How diabetes can contribute to cognitive decline • The role of lipotoxicity and intramuscular fat in insulin resistance • Why “cutting carbs” isn’t the full story (and how to focus on food quality) • How public health systems are evolving to make prevention accessible and equitable • The real science behind CGMs (and why glucose spikes shouldn’t cause a panic) • How new drugs like Ozempic can support (but not replace) lifestyle change

This is... Your Brain On Diabetes.

SUPPORTED BY: NEURO World. Help your brain thrive, now and into the future: https://neuro.world/ 

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. 

‘Your Brain On... Diabetes’ • SEASON 5 • EPISODE 10 [FINALE]

Season 6, coming soon!

LINKS

Brenda Davis’ website: https://brendadavisrd.com/

Dr. McMacken at NYC Health: https://med.nyu.edu/faculty/michelle-mcmacken

Dr. Theodore Friedman at CDU: https://www.cdrewu.edu/directory/friedman-md-phd-theodore/

Alzheimer’s disease is constantly surrounded by myths and misinformation. Let’s set the record straight.

In this episode, we bust through the most persistent Alzheimer’s myths, with facts based on decades of clinical experience and cutting-edge research.

Myths include:

• “Alzheimer’s is inevitable in old age”

• “It’s all genetic, and there’s nothing you can do”

• “There’s no cure, so diagnosis is useless”

• “Supplements and vitamins can prevent or cure Alzheimer’s”

• “Statins and vaccines cause Alzheimer’s”

Plus many others.

We also share our science-backed insights and practical tips for helping you prevent cognitive decline, starting TODAY.

‘Your Brain On... Alzheimer’s (Mythbusting Special)’ • SEASON 5 • EPISODE 9

SUPPORTED BY: NEURO World. Help your brain thrive, now and into the future: https://neuro.world/

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

CONNECT WITH THE BRAIN DOCS

Website: https://thebraindocs.com/

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With big changes happening in the Sherzai family household, we sat down for a roundtable discussion about the concept that will shape what we’re all doing next: our purpose.

In this ‘unplugged’ mid-season chat, we’re joined by our kids — Sophia and Alex! — for a wide-ranging conversation about our values and goals. How they form, how they falter, and how they evolve, in an increasingly noisy world.

Together, we discuss:

• The neurological and evolutionary importance of purpose

• How a firm sense of purpose can help us develop better habits

• The difference between ‘internal’ and ‘external’ purpose

• How we can stay focused on our values in the face of modern life’s distractions

• The promises and pitfalls of AI in shaping (and potentially hijacking) our sense of purpose

Sophia — now heading off to Boston! — works in biomedical engineering and brain-computer interfaces.

And Alex (self-proclaimed Tetris champion) is focused on the intersection of brain health and artificial intelligence.

This is Your Brain On... Purpose, a Sherzai Family Special!

Creatine for Alzheimer’s — let’s separate the hype from the hope.

A new study has caused a stir in June 2025, but lead researcher Matthew K. Taylor told us: “ I don’t think I can recommend it to a patient that this is going to ultimately have some sort of cognitive influence.”

We speak to Dr. Taylor and Dr. Russell Swerdlow in this episode, discussing:

• Role of creatine in your brain, and why it matters for energy metabolism

• What the 2025 study found (and why it wasn’t designed to prove effectiveness)

• How scientific nuance gets lost in supplement hype

• Why even promising early data must be handled with care

• The vital difference between hype and hope

Dr. Russell Swerdlow, MD is Director of the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

Dr. Matthew Taylor, PhD, RD is Associate Professor of Dietetics & Nutrition at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

This is... Your Brain On Creatine.

SUPPORTED BY: NEURO World. Help your brain thrive, now and into the future: https://neuro.world/ 

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. 

‘Your Brain On... Creatine’ • SEASON 5 • EPISODE 8

LINKS

 Dr. Taylor at the University of Kansas: https://www.kumc.edu/mtaylor3.html

Dr. Swerdlow at the University of Kansas: https://www.kumc.edu/rswerdlow.html

REFERENCES

1. Smith AN, Choi IY, Lee P, Sullivan DK, Burns JM, Swerdlow RH, Kelly E, Taylor MK. Creatine monohydrate pilot in Alzheimer's: Feasibility, brain creatine, and cognition. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions. 2025 Apr;11(2):e70101.

2. Taylor MK, Burns JM, Choi IY, et al. Protocol for a single-arm, pilot trial of creatine monohydrate supplementation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Pilot Feasibility Study. 2024;10(1):42. 

3. Habeck C, Risacher S, Lee GJ, et al. Relationship between baseline brain metabolism measured using [18 F]FDG PET and memory and executive function in prodromal and early Alzheimer’s disease. Brain Imaging Behav. 2012;6(4):568-83. 

4. Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, et al. International Society of Sports. Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:18.

Stress isn’t just a threat to your brain. It’s also one of its best tools for growth.

We often hear that stress is bad for your brain. And it can be. Chronic, unpredictable, and uncontrollable stress can damage cognition, harm memory, and accelerate aging.

But we don’t talk enough about how the right kind of stress can actually improve brain function, grow your hippocampus, and help you feel happier and more purposeful.

In this episode of Your Brain On..., we explore the science of stress with two brilliant guests:

Dr. Sharon Bergquist, Yale- and Harvard-trained internal medicine physician and author of ‘The Stress Paradox’

Dr. Mithu Storoni, neuroscientist and author of ‘Stress-Proof’ and ‘Hyper Efficient’

Together, we explore:

• The biological difference between good and bad stress

• Why ‘eustress’ (good stress) can actually build your brain

• Balancing stress: not too little, not too much

• How to use stress as a tool to enhance resilience and protect against aging

• What brain imaging reveals about stress hormones, attention, and burnout

• Practical ways to reframe, recover from, and even seek out positive stress

This is... Your Brain On Stress.

SUPPORTED BY: NEURO World. Help your brain thrive, now and into the future: https://neuro.world/ 

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

‘Your Brain On... Stress’ • SEASON 5 • EPISODE 7

LINKS

Dr. Sharon Bergquist’s website: https://drsharonbergquist.com/ 

‘The Stress Paradox’: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-stress-paradox-sharon-horesh-bergquist

Dr. Mithu Storoni’s website: https://www.mithustoroni.com/

Stress-Proof: https://www.mithustoroni.com/stress-proof

CONNECT WITH US

Join NEURO World: https://neuro.world/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraindocs

YouTube: https://youtube.com/thebraindocs

Website: TheBrainDocs.com

Stroke is one of the biggest causes of death in the world — but also one of the most preventable.

Up to 80–90% of strokes could be avoided with more awareness, resources, and a firmer focus on prevention over intervention.

In this episode, we’re joined by renowned stroke neurologist and public health pioneer Dr. Olajide Williams, MD, MS, whose ‘Hip-Hop Stroke’ movement is a shining example of enacting culturally-sensitive community-wide healthcare change.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What actually causes a stroke (and how to spot one in seconds using the ‘act FAST’ acronym)

• Why blood pressure is the #1 modifiable risk factor (and how stress and sleep impact it)

• How social determinants like ZIP code and health literacy shape stroke risk

• How Dr. Williams’ Hip Hop Stroke campaign helped kids teach their parents how to save lives

• What every family should know about TIAs (‘mini-strokes’) and silent strokes

Whether stroke runs in your family, or you simply want to protect your brain, this episode could change (and save) lives.

This is... Your Brain On Stroke.

SUPPORTED BY: NEURO World. Help your brain thrive, now and into the future: https://neuro.world/ 

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

‘Your Brain On… Stroke’ • SEASON 5 • EPISODE 6

LINKS

Dr. Olajide Williams at Columbia: https://doctors.columbia.edu/us/ny/new-york/olajide-a-williams-md-ms-710-west-168th-street

The Hip-Hop Public Health project: https://www.hhph.org/

How can we eat better when we’re constantly marketed to in a way that hijacks our attention and habits?

To complement the incredible discussions we regularly have about brain-healthy nutrition, in this episode, we’ve having a very important conversation about how the food industry works against our best intentions, and how we can break through the psychological barriers they use to hold us back.

We’re joined by Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, at New York University, whose name is practically synonymous with food policy: a pioneering nutritionist, public health advocate, and author of some of the most important books in this space, including Food Politics, What to Eat, and Unsavory Truth.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The neuroscience of why food choices aren’t “just willpower” • Why access, not just knowledge, is the biggest barrier to good nutrition • The importance of schools, policy, and local food programs in shaping food culture • The role of stress, fatigue, and decision overload in weakening dietary choices • Why social media is a double-edged sword for nutrition information  • How we can make a difference at the community level

This is... Your Brain On The Food Industry.

SUPPORTED BY: NEURO World. Help your brain thrive, now and into the future: https://neuro.world/ 

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

Find out more about Marion Nestle’s work: https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/people/marion-nestle

‘Your Brain On... The Food Industry’ • SEASON 5 • EPISODE 5

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FOLLOW US

Join NEURO World: https://neuro.world/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraindocs

YouTube: https://youtube.com/thebraindocs

Website: TheBrainDocs.com

 A tiny bite from a tiny tick can trigger a complex disease which speaks to some huge problems with our healthcare system.

In this episode, we explain the biology, controversy, and cultural blind spots around Lyme disease, a condition that reflects much more than just a bacterial infection. It’s also a mirror for our most urgent public health issues: inequality, misinformation, climate change, and the growing mistrust of science.

We speak with two world-class experts:

• Dr. John Aucott: Director of the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Clinical Research Center and leading voice on post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS)

• Dr. Richard Marconi: Professor of microbiology and immunology at Virginia Commonwealth University, and a pioneering scientist behind next-generation Lyme vaccines

Together, we explore:

• Why Lyme disease symptoms can linger long after treatment

• What makes Lyme so neurologically disruptive (and so hard to diagnose)

• How climate change, suburban development, and racial disparities intersect with the rise of tick-borne illness

• The dangers of alternative medicine grifters preying on desperate patients

• The truth about the original Lyme vaccine, and what’s coming next...

We also share practical prevention tips and discuss how Lyme disease is shaping the future of infectious disease research, diagnostics, and brain health.

This is... Your Brain On Lyme Disease.

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

SUPPORTED BY: NEURO World. Help your brain thrive, now and into the future: https://neuro.world/ 

‘Your Brain On... Lyme Disease’ • SEASON 5 • EPISODE 4

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FOLLOW US

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraindocs

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Website: https://thebraindocs.com/

Restoring a person’s ability to speak, enabling individuals with paralysis to regain movement, and detecting neurodegenerative diseases earlier than ever — these are just some of the breakthroughs brain-computer interfaces are making possible.

In this episode, we explore the astonishing world of BCIs: technologies that are giving autonomy and independence back to people with diseases like ALS.

We discuss:

• How BCIs are helping people with neurodegenerative diseases and spinal cord injuries communicate using decoded brain signals • How brain-computer interfaces actually work (and why they’re NOT just reading your mind) • Why motor cortex implants may help decode speech, even when inserted in unexpected regions • The ethical challenges of privacy, data ownership, and access in the era of brain-connected devices • The future of the field, from restoring language after stroke to enabling communication in children with cerebral palsy

We speak with three world-leading researchers and clinicians who are helping shape this rapidly-advancing area of neuroscience:

• Dr. Leigh Hochberg, director of the Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery at Massachusetts General Hospital, and principal clinical investigator of the pilot clinical trials of the BrainGate Neural Interface System.

• Dr. David Brandman, neurosurgeon and co-director of the UC Davis Neuroprosthetics Lab.

• Dr. Sergey Stavisky, neural engineer and co-director of the UC Davis Neuroprosthetics Lab.

For more information about the Braingate project, and to volunteer as a participant, visit: https://braingate.org/

This is... Your Brain On Brain-Computer Interfaces.

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

‘Your Brain On... Brain-Computer Interfaces’ • SEASON 5 • EPISODE 3

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FOLLOW US

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraindocs

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebraindocs

Website: https://thebraindocs.com/

Gluten has become one of the most misunderstood aspects of modern nutrition. Let’s set the record straight.

In this episode, we untangle the medical, neurological, and cultural narratives surrounding gluten, from celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity to real (and rare) cases of gluten-induced brain dysfunction.

We discuss:

• The differences between celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergy • How gluten affects the gut, and what ‘leaky gut’ really means • Whether gluten can trigger neurological symptoms like ataxia and brain fog • Why cutting out gluten without a diagnosis may do more harm than good • How wheat contributes to a healthy microbiome (and why fiber matters) • What role zonulin plays in gut permeability and immune activation • Why brain fog isn’t yet well understood (and the theories behind it)

To help us decode the science (and bust the myths) of gluten, nutrition, and the brain, we’re joined by two world-renowned experts:

DR. ALESSIO FASANO: pediatric gastroenterologist, research scientist, and chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Mass General for Children (MGfC), and director of the Center for Celiac Research.

DR. FRANK CUSIMANO: gastroenterologist, physician-scientist, and gut-brain health communicator with a PhD in Nutritional and Metabolic Biology from Columbia University Institute of Human Nutrition.

This is... Your Brain On Gluten.

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

‘Your Brain On... Gluten’ • SEASON 5 • EPISODE 2

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Your Brain On... is supported by the FREE monthly Brain Box, available in our NEURO World community: http://thebraindocs.com/brainbox