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Most people think a brain scan is just a snapshot of what is wrong right now. Dr. Mistry has spent twenty years reading over 300,000 neuroimaging studies and what he has found is that your brain scan does not just show you the present. It reveals your past and with the right tools, it predicts your future. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mistry, a neuroradiologist and neuroimaging specialist, to break down exactly how AI is transforming what we can detect in the brain and why the window to intervene is decades earlier than anyone tells you. We cover the F1 car analogy that reframes every component of your central nervous system, why Alzheimer's disease begins twenty to thirty years before diagnosis, and how a volumetric MRI spotted a 2.2% hippocampal volume loss in a woman in her 50s that the human eye could not detect on two consecutive normal scans. This episode will change how you think about your brain scans, your cardiovascular health, and the daily decisions that are either protecting or silently degrading your most important organ. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Intro: Your Brain Scan Reveals Your Past and Future 01:20 300,000 Scans and the Farmer With a 78-Year-Old Brain 05:44 Which Brain Scan Actually Tells You Something 08:52 The F1 Car Analogy for Understanding Your Brain 13:29 Brain Volume, the Hippocampus, and the Cerebellum 17:01 Alzheimer's Starts 20-30 Years Before Diagnosis 19:24 The Beta Amyloid PET Scan Explained 25:04 How AI Maps and Measures Your Brain Volume 28:13 The 2.2% Hippocampal Loss Two Normal Scans Missed 34:02 How Exercise Grows the Hippocampus by 2% 40:41 The Vascular Prevention Window Nobody Talks About 46:20 What LDL and ApoB Actually Mean for Brain Health 51:25 Can Lifestyle Changes Actually Flatten the Atrophy Curve 57:01 How to Advocate for a Brain Scan Through the Medical System 01:05:09 Stillness vs. Illness: What Separates Brains That Age Well _______ Thank you to our sponsors Daily Basis: https://www.dailybasislife.com/NEURO for 50% off your first month KetoneIQ: https://ketone.com/NEURO for 30% off Caraway: https://carawayhome.com/neuro10 for 20% off Kinsyn: https://kinsyn.com/neuro And use code "neuro" for 20% off your first subscription _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people think allergies are seasonal annoyances and autoimmune disease is just genetic bad luck. The science says otherwise and the doctor making that argument has spent her career tracing both epidemics back to a cascade of well-intentioned medical decisions made thirty years ago that got it catastrophically wrong. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tania Elliott, board-certified in internal medicine and allergy and immunology, to break down why your immune system is not broken, it is confused. We cover how chronic stress triggers the same physiological response as a bacterial invasion, why 80% of autoimmune diseases occur in women, and what is actually driving the 1 in 3 allergy epidemic. Dr. Elliott reveals the institutional failure behind the 2001 peanut guidance, why the 0.2% peanut allergy rate in Israel versus 10% in the US is not a coincidence, and why nut-free schools may be quietly creating the next wave of food allergies. We also get into what Benadryl is actually doing to your brain, why food sensitivity tests sold through influencers are close to useless, the real reason adults are suddenly developing shellfish allergies, and why the black plastic container your lunch arrived in is a serious problem. This episode will change how you think about your immune system, your child's early exposures, and the everyday decisions quietly shaping your long-term health. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Intro: Why Your Immune System Is Not Broken, It Is Confused 01:02 Dr. Tania Elliott's Mission: Empowering People Through Evidence 02:46 What Is the Immune System and What Does It Actually Do 05:53 Autoimmune Disease, Chronic Stress, and Why 80% of Cases Are in Women 13:55 What Chronic Stress Actually Does to Your Immune System at a Cellular Level 25:29 The 1 in 3 Allergy Epidemic: What Changed in the Last 30 Years 30:08 The Hygiene Hypothesis, Antibiotics, C-Sections, and the Microbiome Disaster 36:09 The 2001 Institutional Failure That Made the Peanut Allergy Crisis Worse 41:52 Don't Put Peanut Butter on Your Child's Cheek, Do This Instead 43:19 Israel vs. the US: 0.2% vs. 10% Peanut Allergy and What Bamba Proved 45:37 Why Nut-Free Schools May Be Creating the Next Allergy Epidemic 49:29 Health Misinformation and the Algorithm's Role in Health Extremism 51:37 Developing Allergies as an Adult and the Shellfish Allergy Epidemic Explained 55:30 New Allergy Treatments, Useless Food Sensitivity Tests, and Black Plastic Containers 1:05:04 How to Spot Allergy Symptoms in Babies and Young Children 1:07:56 Why Benadryl Should Be Pulled From the Market _______ Thank you to our sponsors Daily Basis: https://www.dailybasislife.com/NEURO for 50% off first month Function Health: https://www.functionhealth.com/louisanicola Timeline: http://timeline.com/NEURO Jones Road Beauty: https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com and use code NEURO Lifeboost Coffee: https://lifeboostcoffee.com/ and use code NEURO for 10% off Just Thrive: https://justthrivehealth.com/NEURO _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people think astrology is a personality quiz. This conversation will make you reconsider that entirely. Naomi Nama Bracha is one of the most sought-after birth chart readers working today. In this episode, she sits down with me for a live, cold read of my chart pulling from the exact position of the sky at the time of my birth to reveal things I've never had explained to me before. Not in therapy. Not in any other conversation. We break down what a birth chart actually is, why it's more mathematical than mystical, and what the planets, signs, and houses each represent. We go into the Saturn-Neptune conjunction that just occurred an event that happens once every 320 years and what it means for the collective and for your chart right now. I also bring the science: a 2015 Columbia University study of 1.7 million patients found birth month correlates with risk for nine types of heart disease, and a 2023 meta-analysis confirmed that being born in winter or spring carries a 5 to 8% higher risk of developing schizophrenia. We also cover what astrology can do that therapy cannot, how synastry charts reveal the truth about your relationships, and how to access your own birth chart for free. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/brain-code Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Naomi Reads Louisa's Birth Chart Live 01:28 Planets, Signs, and Houses Explained 07:25 What Is a Birth Chart 13:48 Saturn on the Sun and the 10th House of Work 16:06 Why People Seek Astrologers and Saturn Returns 18:19 Pisces Rising: The Most Sensitive Sign 22:12 Your Rising Sign as Your Entry Point Into the World 23:36 The Science Linking Birth Month to Disease Risk 27:11 The Saturn-Neptune Conjunction and Current World Events 30:05 Pisces Season and What It Means Personally 33:55 How the Conjunction Is Rewriting Louisa's Identity 37:46 Can Your Chart Predict the Next 5 to 10 Years 39:32 Louisa's 2026 Reading and the Zodiac Life Cycle 42:11 The Shadow of Pisces: Over Giving and Numbing 45:11 Spiritual Practices, Solitude, and the Gym as Ritual 47:40 Freewill vs. Fate in Astrology 50:03 The New Generation and the New Collective Dream 51:56 What Astrology Does That Therapy Cannot 55:19 Synastry Charts and Relationship Patterns _______ Thank you to our sponsors Just Thrive: https://justthrivehealth.com/NEURO for 20% off Warby Parker: https://WarbyParker.com/NEURO Jones Road Beauty: https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com and use Code NEURO _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/⁠ Twitter : ⁠https://twitter.com/louisanicola_⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people think going to the gym for aesthetics is shallow. Science says it's actually the most honest starting point you've got and the person making that argument built one of the most respected evidence-based fitness companies in the world, openly used steroids, and then had surgery to remove his love handles. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mike Israetel, PhD in Sport Physiology and co-founder of Renaissance Periodization. We break down why two 20 minute workouts a week can build genuine muscle, why compound movements beat isolation exercises for nearly everyone, and why yoga and Pilates will not get you the physique you're after. Mike also opens up about his own use of anabolic steroids and cosmetic surgery, and makes the case that aesthetics pursued honestly and without shame is one of the most empowering conversations in health. Then we go deep on the future of the human body: GLP-1s, myostatin inhibitors, retatrutide, and why Mike believes that by the 2040s, no disease we can identify today will still exist. We also cover AI-driven medicine, recursive self-improvement, the brain rot epidemic, and what's inside his upcoming book The Aesthetics Revolution. This conversation will completely change how you think about why you train, how you train, and what the human body is about to become. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Intro: The Biggest Mistake Most People Make With Their Training 05:17 The 20-Minute Paired Exercise Program That Hits Every Muscle Group 22:34 Will Lifting Make Women Bulky? Debunking the Biggest Fear 30:24 Why Women Train Too Light and How to Fix It 35:05 Mike's Origin Story: 20 Years, RP, and Fighting Fitness Misinformation 37:28 Yoga, Pilates, and Why They Won't Give You the Physique You Want 47:18 Mike's Cosmetic Surgery: Removing Love Handles, Zero Regrets 53:11 The Aesthetics Revolution Book and the Future of Looking How You Want 59:38 GLP-1s: What Nobody Tells You 01:07:18 AI and the End of Disease: Why Mike Thinks the 2040s Changes Everything 01:16:25 Brain Rot, Literacy, and the Cognitive Cost of the Scroll Era 01:23:15 Personal AI as Life Coach: What's Coming by 2027 _______ Thank you to our sponsors KetoneIQ: https://ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFF Kion: https://getkion.com/neuro for 20% off Pulsetto: https://pulsetto.tech/pages/NEURO or use Code NEURO for 20% off _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're going to do something a little different. Six of our experts reveal what most people are getting completely wrong about exercise. One: the minimum effective dose for resistance training is shockingly low, just 3 to 6 sets per muscle group per week. Two: the biohacking tools everyone is obsessing over, hyperbaric chambers, red light beds, and ice baths, are built for elite athletes, not the general public. Three: jumping three times a week for just ten minutes can reverse osteopenia entirely, no weights required. Four: the zone two obsession gripping the fitness world right now is a cultural movement, not based on science. Five: muscle is your most powerful glucose sink, and the type two fibers you start losing in your early 30s are exactly what drives insulin resistance as you age. Six: you only need to touch high intensity exercise a handful of times a week paired with two days of resistance training to meaningfully train for longevity. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Intro 00:57 Alan Aragon - The Truth About Resistance Training 13:14 Ben Bruno - Why Biohacking Is Overhyped 27:22 Dr. Vonda Wright - How To Reverse Bone Loss 29:49 Dr. Kristi - Why Zone 2 Is Not Based On Science 44:58 Dr. Stephanie Estima - How Muscle Loss Drives Insulin Resistance 55:11 Dr. Inigo San Millan - How To Actually Train For Longevity _______ Thank you to our sponsors IQBARS: https://www.eatiqbar.com/ Js Health: https://jshealthvitamins.com or Use code NEURO for 20% off Cellure: https://cellure.co/ or Use code NEURO for 20% Off Warby Parker: https://WarbyParker.com/NEURO KINSYN: https://kinsyn.com/neuro or Use code NEURO to Save 20% off your first subscription _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colorectal cancer is now the No.1 cause of death for people under 50 in the United States. When it is caught early, nine out of ten people survive. When it is caught late, only two out of ten do. Yet most people are not screening, not eating enough fiber, and have no idea how rapidly the gut microbiome is collapsing in modern populations. I sat down with Dr. Karan Rajan, NHS surgeon, gut health expert, and founder of Loam Science, to break down the real biology behind the gut microbiome and why it may be one of the most powerful levers we have for longterm health. We cover the rising colorectal cancer epidemic in young people, why fiber is the single most important thing you can do for your colon, and how the microbiome connects to your brain, heart, hormones, immune system, and even your skin. Dr. Karan also explains how stress, poor sleep, NSAIDs, antibiotics, and proton pump inhibitors silently destroy the gut lining, why the carnivore diet starves your microbiome, the emerging link between gut health and endometriosis, and what the science actually says about microbiome testing, GLP-1 peptides, and supplement quality. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Colorectal Cancer Is Now the #1 Killer Under 50 01:24 Why Early Screening Changes Everything 03:19 The Gut Microbiome Explained Simply 05:51 Why Fiber Is the Rent for Your Colon 11:32 The Hadza Tribe and What 100g of Fiber a Day Does 18:45 The Carnivore Diet and What It Does to Your Gut 24:10 Stress, the Vagus Nerve, and Gut Dysfunction 31:20 Sleep, Circadian Clocks, and Your Bowel Health 33:06 The Gut-Cancer Connection 34:12 Cholesterol, the Gut-Heart Axis, and LDL 38:50 Estrogen, Perimenopause, and the Microbiome 43:15 Endometriosis and the Microbiome Trial 48:30 Leaky Gut, NSAIDs, Antibiotics, and PPIs 53:25 GLP-1 Peptides, Semaglutide, and What the Research Says 55:38 Why Supplement Quality Is Mostly Unregulated _______ Thank you to our sponsors Function Health: https://www.functionhealth.com/louisanicola Timeline: http://timeline.com/NEURO Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com/ Cheers Health: https://CheersHealth.com/NEURO Use code NEURO for 20% off Jones Road Beauty: https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com Use code NEURO BASED Bodyworks: https://basedbodyworks.com/ Use code NEURO for 20% off _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The moment a woman’s hormones begin to decline, the entire body starts aging faster. The brain, heart, bones, immune system, and metabolism are all affected by a single biological shift most doctors barely explain. I sat down with Dr. Amy Killen, physician and leading expert in regenerative and longevity medicine, to explore the science of female aging and why ovarian health may be the true driver of how long women live. We break down the real biology behind menopause, why estrogen is far more than a reproductive hormone, and how hormone loss can accelerate cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, bone loss, and systemic inflammation. Dr. Killen also explains the emerging science behind hormone replacement therapy, the misunderstood relationship between estrogen and breast cancer risk, and why many doctors still are not properly trained to treat menopause. We discuss stem cells, mitochondrial health, and the growing interest in therapies like hyperbaric oxygen, peptides, red light therapy, and plasma exchange, and what the evidence actually says. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Why Ovarian Aging Impacts Lifespan 01:24 Why Dr. Amy Killen Focuses on Women’s Longevity 03:19 What Longevity Actually Means in Medicine 04:20 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Explained 05:51 How Stem Cells Help Repair and Communicate With Tissue 11:32 Hormones, Perimenopause, and Rapid Aging 18:45 Why the Ovaries Are the “Peacekeepers” of Aging 24:10 Hormone Replacement Therapy Explained 31:20 Vaginal Estrogen vs Systemic Estrogen 38:50 Testosterone Therapy in Women 43:15 Longevity Therapies and Mitochondrial Health 48:30 Red Light Therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen, and Recovery 50:54 Peptides and the Lack of Long-Term Safety Data 53:25 Therapeutic Plasma Exchange and Longevity Research 55:38 The Estrogen and Immune System Connection _______ Thank you to our sponsors Ketone-IQ: https://ketone.com/NEURO Cellure: https://cellure.co/ Use code NEURO Ka’Chava: https://kachava.com Use code NEURO for 15% off your first order Just Thrive: https://justthrivehealth.com/NEURO _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zone two has been sold to you as the gold standard for mitochondrial health, fat burning, and longevity. But what if it was built on culture, not science. In this episode, I sit down with Kristi Storoschuk, a PhD researcher whose work is challenging some of the biggest claims in the exercise world right now. We break down why zone two training lacks the scientific evidence everyone assumes it has, why higher intensity zones three and four are actually more potent for mitochondrial adaptation, and why the 80/20 training split from elite athletes was never designed for someone exercising four days a week. We also get into why fasting doesn't activate the same cellular pathways in humans as it does in rodents, why cortisol from exercise is not the same as chronic stress, the truth about fasted exercise for women, and what lactate actually tells us about our metabolic health. Kristi also shares her current research in collaboration with Dr. Andy Galpin and Dr. Tommy Wood on whether lactate threshold can serve as a non-invasive proxy for mitochondrial content. This conversation will completely change how you think about every cardio session you've ever done. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Intro: Was Zone Two Built on Culture, Not Science? 03:19 The Three Exercise Intensity Domains (Not Five Zones) 08:00 Zone Two and Fat Burning: What the Research Actually Shows 12:00 Why Women Are Being Scared Away from Zone Three and Four 20:45 Fasting in Rodents vs. Humans: The Research That Changed Everything 24:00 Fasted Exercise and Cortisol: The Real Story for Women 29:00 What Lactate Actually Tells Us About Mitochondrial Health 37:00 VO2 Max, Mitochondria, and Longevity 43:30 Exercise as Your Daily Metabolic Reset 49:00 The Best Cardio Prescription for Healthspan 55:30 How a 73 Year Old Should Think About High Intensity 58:00 How to Know What Zone You're In Without a Monitor 01:02:00 Sex Differences in Exercise: What the Data Actually Says _______ Thank you to our sponsors Function health: https://www.functionhealth.com/louisanicola Timeline: http://timeline.com/NEURO Jones Road Beauty: https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com And Use code NEURO Lifeboost coffee : https://lifeboostcoffee.com/ and Use code NEURO for 10% off Just Thrive: https://justthrivehealth.com/NEURO _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The surgeon who spent 12 to14 hours a day in the operating room developed diabetes, uncontrolled high blood pressure, and an autoimmune disease that was eating away at his skull and it forced him to confront what medical school never taught him about actually staying healthy. I sat down with Dr. Darshan Shah, board-certified surgeon, founder of Next Health (one of the largest longevity clinic networks in America), and a doctor who had to reverse his own chronic disease to understand the massive gap between Western medicine and the science of health. We explore why surgeons and physicians become some of the sickest people in healthcare, how functional medicine differs from what you learn in medical school, why biomarker testing matters more than your doctor's "you're fine" assessment, and what root cause medicine actually looks like in practice. Dr. Shah also breaks down the AI revolution happening in cardiovascular imaging with Cleerly scans, how his new AI health dashboard reads your bloodwork and medical records to give you proactive guidance, why Yamanaka factors could regenerate damaged nerves in the brain, and what the future of personalized, preventive medicine looks like when you combine AI with real biological data. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Intro: The surgeon who developed the diseases he was treating 01:17 From trauma surgeon to longevity doctor: Dr. Shah's journey 04:18 Autoimmune disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure in a surgeon 10:30 Western medicine vs. the science of health 18:45 Why doctors don't learn prevention in medical school 35:20 Next Health clinics and democratizing longevity medicine 52:40 Biomarker testing and why "your labs are normal" is dangerous 01:03:52 AI health dashboard: uploading bloodwork and getting proactive guidance 01:06:45 Cleerly scans and reversing cardiovascular disease with AI imaging 01:10:08 Yamanaka factors, nerve regeneration, and the future of brain health _______ Thank you to our sponsors Function Health: https://www.functionhealth.com/louisanicola Timeline Mitopure: http://timeline.com/NEURO Ka'Chava: https://kachava.com and use code NEURO for 15% off your first order Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com/ Fenix: https://www.fenixhealthscience.com/ Arey: https://arey.com/ and use code NEURO _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

80% of all autoimmune diseases occur in women, and no one can explain why. Cancer cells are always present in your body, but it's only when your T cells go into energy deficit that cancer starts overtaking the system. And here's what almost no one is talking about: the mitochondria in your immune cells are the reason MS, chronic fatigue, neurodegeneration, and even cancer progression happen when they happen. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Anurag Singh, MD, PhD immunologist and Chief Medical Officer of Timeline who spent 20 years studying mitochondria and screened 4000 compounds from pomegranates to discover one molecule that changes cellular aging. We break down immunometabolism, the emerging field linking immune health and metabolism, why your T regulatory cells are the CEOs of your immune system, how mitochondrial dysfunction in immune cells triggers autoimmune conditions, and why rejuvenating mitochondria can get your immune system in check to defeat cancer. We also cover NAD+ (and why NMN and NR supplements don't work the way people think), the creatine sweet spot for muscle quality (500mg-1g, not the 5g everyone's taking), why Parkinson's is linked to paraquat, a mitochondrial toxin used in fertilizers and dry cleaning and how AI is fast-tracking the discovery of next-generation molecules for neurodegeneration. This conversation completely shifted how I think about immune health, brain protection, and what's actually driving the diseases we fear most. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Intro: Why 80% of Autoimmune Diseases Occur in Women 01:24 Why Dr. Anurag Became an Immunologist 03:19 Immunometabolism: The Link Between Immune Health and Metabolism 04:20 T Cells, B Cells, and the Thymus Gland 05:51 MS and Autoimmune Disease: The T Regulatory Cell Problem 11:32 Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Immune Exhaustion 18:45 Cancer Cells and T Cell Energy Deficit 24:10 Urolithin A: Screening 4000 Pomegranate Compounds 31:20 Mitophagy and Autophagy: Cellular Housekeeping 38:50 NAD+ vs NMN and NR Supplements: What Actually Works 43:15 Creatine Dosing: The 500mg-1g Sweet Spot for Muscle Quality 48:30 Gut-Brain Connection and Neurodegeneration 50:54 Parkinson's Disease and Paraquat: The Mitochondrial Toxin 53:25 AI in Drug Discovery and Next-Generation Molecules 55:38 Skincare and Mitochondrial Health: Collagen Synthesis _______ Thank you to our sponsors KetoneIQ: https://ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFF Caraway: Carawayhome.com/neuro10 Jones Road Beauty: https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com - Use code NEURO _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people fear cancer, but they're never given a clear explanation of what it actually is, how it progresses, or why metastasis, not the initial tumor, is what kills 90% of people with solid tumors. And here's what almost no one talks about…30 minutes of exercise per day can down-regulate 13 types of cancers. I break down the biology of cancer and metastasis in plain language, then walk you through the evidence linking exercise to cancer outcomes across prevention, treatment, and survivorship. I explain how cancer cells have to physically enter circulation and survive a hostile journey to metastasize, and here's the part that changed how I think about high-intensity exercise: as shear stress increases during vigorous exercise (zone 5, 90%+ max heart rate), survival of circulating tumor cells decreases. I also cover immune surveillance, metabolic signaling, and why this is deeply personal for me. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. Topics Discussed 00:00 Intro: Why Cancer Is What Scares Me Most 01:37 Why We're Having This Conversation 03:33 What This Episode Covers: The Three-Part Framework 06:21 What Cancer Actually Is: When Cells Break the Rules 07:25 Metastasis: The Part of the Story No One Explains 27:57 Shear Stress and Circulating Tumor Cells: The Zone 5 Effect 30:16 Immune Surveillance: How Exercise Mobilizes Killer Cells 30:51 Metabolic Signaling: Insulin, IGF-1, and Inflammation 32:16 Limitations: What the Evidence Can and Can't Tell Us 34:37 Practical Framework: Prevention, Treatment, and Survivorship 36:04 Closing: Exercise as Repeated Physiological Stress Thank you to our sponsors Ketone-IQ: https://ketone.com/NEURO IQ BARS: Text NEURO to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products Cure Hydration: http://curehydration.com/NEURO Cellure: https://cellure.co/ and use code NEURO Arrey: https://arey.com/ and use code NEURO _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The peptide industry just hit $328 million in imports from China in nine months, and the fastest-growing buyers aren't bodybuilders. They're women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who were told their labs look "fine" when they know something is deeply wrong.In this episode, I break down why peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500 are being aggressively marketed to women in perimenopause, why there isn't a single randomized controlled trial proving they're safe or effective in humans, and what the actual evidence says about brain fog, muscle loss, joint pain, and metabolic decline. I explore why the "your bloods are normal" dismissal has destroyed women's health, how hormone replacement therapy actually protects your brain when timed correctly, why GLP-1s work when peptides don't, and what protein, sleep, and resistance training do that no research chemical can replicate, because the foundations of brain health will never trend on TikTok, but they're the only things backed by decades of rigorous science. *Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: * https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. *TOPICS DISCUSSED* 00:00 Intro: Why women are the fastest-growing peptide buyers 07:01 Perimenopause reality: why "your labs look fine" is destroying women's health 15:20 What peptides actually are and the missing human evidence 31:00 Quality control disasters and documented side effects 39:50 What actually works: resistance training, protein, and muscle preservation 44:30 Hormone replacement therapy and brain protection 51:14 GLP-1 receptor agonists: evidence-based use vs. gray market risks *Thank you to our sponsors* Caraway: https://carawayhome.com/neuro10 Timeline Mitopure: http://timeline.com/NEURO Function Health: https://www.functionhealth.com/tcm/louisanicola _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s one of the most uncomfortable truths in modern medicine: women’s hearts have been misunderstood, under-researched, and misdiagnosed for decades. I sat down with Dr Jayne Morgan, cardiologist, heart health expert, and one of the leading voices calling out gender bias in cardiovascular medicine, to uncover why women’s heart attacks are still being missed - and what every woman needs to know to protect her brain and heart long before symptoms appear. We explore why women experience heart disease differently than men, how inflammation quietly damages blood vessels, the hidden heart attack signs doctors overlook, and why mammograms, pregnancy history, and menopause all hold critical cardiovascular clues. Dr Morgan explains why “gender-neutral” research has harmed women, how common medications can affect women differently, and why prevention needs to start earlier, not after the first cardiac event. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. ______ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Intro: Why women’s heart disease is still misunderstood 02:18 How gender bias shaped modern cardiology 05:04 Why women’s heart attacks look different than men’s 08:12 The dangerous myth of “gender-neutral” medicine 11:30 Inflammation, blood vessels, and silent cardiovascular damage 15:02 Hidden heart attack signs on mammograms 18:45 Pregnancy history and long-term heart risk 22:10 Menopause, estrogen loss, and cardiovascular decline 26:40 Why standard heart medications can harm women 30:05 Beta blockers, blood pressure, and female physiology 33:50 The heart-brain connection and dementia risk 38:20 Viruses, shingles, and cardiovascular inflammation 42:05 Why women are dismissed in clinical settings 46:10 Prevention vs reaction in modern healthcare 49:30 What women should demand from their doctors ______ A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts: IQBAR- Fuel your brain and body with IQBAR’s protein bars, hydration mixes, and mushroom coffees. Text NEURO to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products plus free shipping. Cure Hydration - Clean, plant-based electrolytes with no added sugar, hydration that actually works. Get 20% off your first order at curehydration.com/NEURO with code NEURO. Jones Road Beauty- Effortless, skin-first makeup created by Bobbi Brown. Use code NEURO at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a free Cool Gloss with your first purchase. RHO Nutrition- Science-backed supplements designed to support cognitive performance and metabolic health. Visit rhonutrition.com and use code NEURO for exclusive savings. ______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain - reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I sat down with Dr. Kelly Casperson, urologist, women’s health advocate, and a leading voice fighting for equality in healthcare, to explore what’s really happening to women’s bodies and brains during perimenopause and menopause. We discuss why UTIs spike after menopause, how vaginal estrogen actually works (and why the FDA finally removed the black box warning), the truth about HRT and dementia prevention, and why estrogen receptors in your brain matter more than you think. We also unpack why blood work interpretation matters more than ever, how compounding pharmacies work, the shingles vaccine and dementia connection, and why women need to stop waiting for permission to take control of their health. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. _______ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Intro: Why women’s hormone health is misunderstood 02:10 Who Dr. Kelly Casperson is and why women’s sexual health became her focus 05:10 Hormone Replacement Therapy explained (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) 08:30 Vaginal estrogen, UTIs, and restoring tissue health 12:40 Vaginal estrogen vs systemic estrogen and the FDA warning myth 15:20 Estrogen receptors, skin aging, and visible signs of hormonal decline 18:30 Estrogen, the brain, and Alzheimer’s risk in women 22:10 Why hormone research is conflicting and often fails women 26:00 Sleep, hot flashes, inflammation, and brain health 30:00 Testosterone in women: beyond libido and muscle 33:40 Compounding pharmacies and personalized medicine 38:00 Inflammation, viruses, vaccines, and dementia risk 43:00 The breakdown of modern healthcare and why women feel dismissed 47:30 Blood testing, data ownership, and the future of women’s health _______ A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts: Timeline Mitopure Gummies: Don't let another year go by feeling less than your best. Grab 35% off your one month subscription of Mitopure Gummies at Timeline.com/neuro35. That's Timeline.com/neuro35 while the offer lasts. Function Health: Own your health for $365 a year. Learn more and join using my link. Visit www.functionhealth.com/louisa and use gift code LOUISA for a $25 credit toward your membership. Ka'Chava: Rewild your nutrition at kachava.com and use code NEURO. New customers get twenty dollars off an order of two bags or more! Wayfair: Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Every style. Every home. _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain - reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a controversial topic, fasting, especially for women. Dr. Mindy Pelz was teaching women to fast primarily because they wanted to lose weight, but what she was witnessing was women saying things like, "I lost weight, but my hair's falling out. I don't have a period anymore. I sat down with Dr. Mindy Pelz, New York Times bestselling author of Age Like a Girl, hormone expert, and the voice redefining fasting for women - because doing it wrong can wreck your health. We explore why fasting affects women differently, how ketones can restore brain function during menopause, and why understanding your hormonal cycle is critical for metabolic health, cognitive performance, and longevity. Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance. _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED 00:00 Intro 01:50 What put Dr. Mindy Pelz on the map 03:14 The truth about fasting vs intermittent fasting 05:13 How the brain uses glucose vs ketones 07:25 Why the brain "eats itself" during menopause 10:14 What is mitophagy and cellular autophagy 13:11 Why autophagy is the body's repair system 15:24 The 12-hour vs 17-hour vs 72-hour fast 17:23 Why women's cycles are disrupted by fasting 19:59 The fasting cycle for women 21:05 Lactate as a fuel source for the brain 23:01 Hemoglobin A1C and insulin resistance 27:36 Understanding CGM data correctly 30:13 Where women should start at 48 32:01 HRT: personal decision or necessity? 34:15 The nervous system shift during perimenopause 38:48 The grandmother hypothesis and evolutionary sensitivity 41:09 The "menopause divorce" phenomenon 44:18 Dementia, Alzheimer's, and women46:17 Dopamine, novelty, and neuroplasticity47:23 Cold water immersion and trauma rewiring51:19 Cold water and cortisol for women53:51 Exercise, BDNF, and brain health55:21 Serotonin, light exposure, and sleep58:00 Glycine, bone broth, and longevity01:02:26 Preparing for perimenopause and menopause 01:04:24 Acetylcholine, storytelling, and memory 01:08:38 Why eggs and cholesterol matter for the brain _______ A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts: Ketone-IQ: Mental clarity that lasts - without the crash. Visit https://ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFF your subscription order - PLUS receive a free gift with your second shipment or find Ketone-IQ at Target stores nationwide and get your first shot free! IQBAR: The New Year gives us all a chance to reset. Maximize your brain and body's potential with IQBAR's protein bars, hydration mixes, and mushroom coffees. Text NEURO to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Caraway: Visit Carawayhome.com/neuro10 or use code neuro10 at checkout to take an additional 10% off your next purchase. Caraway. Non-Toxic cookware made modern. Cure Hydration: For The Neuro Experience listeners, you can get 20% off your first order at curehydration.com/NEURO with code NEURO. Cure is FSA/HSA approved, so you can use your FSA or HSA funds to stay hydrated the smart way. Jones Road Beauty: Use code NEURO at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Cool Gloss with your first purchase! _______ I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices