Your Brain On

Epizode

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  Your Brain On... Testosterone 15.07.2026 45min

  Testosterone for women: what the evidence actually shows vs. what social media is selling you. Testosterone has become the hormone every midlife woman is told she is missing: the third hormone lost at menopause, the fix for brain fog, low energy, stubborn weight, and thinning muscle. The science tells a different and more reassuring story. In this episode, Dr. Ayesha Sherzai sits down with Professor Susan Davis, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, the clinician-researcher and academic endocrinologist who gathered much of the data and helped write the global guidelines, to separate what the research supports from what is simply being sold. Your Brain On... Testosterone [Season 7, Episode 7] Get our FREE NEURO Plan Brain Health Playbook: https://thebraindocs.com/playbook In this episode: Why testosterone does not crash at menopause the way estrogen does, and what actually changes across a woman's life What the research shows about testosterone and memory, brain fog, and dementia risk The real story on testosterone for muscle, bone, and anti-aging claims Why women tend to gain a little weight on testosterone rather than lose it The one use with genuine evidence behind it: low sexual desire after menopause that causes real distress Why more is not better, and what high-dose testosterone actually does What is really inside compounded creams, injections, and testosterone pellets sold at med spas Why routine testosterone blood testing generates bills and anxiety rather than answers Why there is no such thing as testosterone deficiency in women How to tell an evidence-based clinician from a sales pitch What genuinely protects a woman's aging brain, and why connection matters more than any hormone Professor Susan Davis is a consulting endocrinologist at Monash University in Melbourne, where she directs a leading women's health research program. She has studied testosterone in women since the 1990s and is the lead author of the Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women, endorsed by the International Menopause Society, The Endocrine Society, and menopause and obstetric societies around the world. References: Does testosterone crash at menopause? Wang Y, Islam RM, Bond M, Davis SR. Testosterone and pre-androgens by age and menopausal stage at midlife: findings from a cross-sectional study. EBioMedicine. 2025;121:105972. PMID: 41106025. Davis SR, Bell RJ, Robinson PJ, et al. Testosterone and estrone increase from the age of 70 years: findings from the Sex Hormones in Older Women Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(12):6291–6300. PMID: 31408149. Islam RM, Bell RJ, Handelsman DJ, Robinson PJ, Wolfe R, Davis SR. Longitudinal changes over three years in sex steroid hormone levels in women aged 70 years and over. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2021;94(3):443–448. PMID: 33351205. Does testosterone improve memory or protect against dementia? Sultana F, Davis SR, Wolfe RS, McNeil JJ, Islam RM. Associations between blood sex hormones, cognitive decline and incident dementia in community-dwelling older Australian women: a prospective cohort study. Climacteric. 2025;28(4):446–455. PMID: 40085743. Sultana F, Islam RM, Davis SR. Associations between declining testosterone concentrations and cognitive performance in community-dwelling older Australian women: a prospective cohort study. Climacteric. 2026;29(1):46–52. What does testosterone therapy actually do? Islam RM, Bell RJ, Green S, Page MJ, Davis SR. Safety and efficacy of testosterone for women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trial data. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2019;7(10):754–766. PMID: 31353194. What do the global guidelines say? Davis SR, Baber R, Panay N, et al. Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(10):4660–4666. PMID: 31498871. Can a blood test diagnose low testosterone? Wang Y, Islam RM, Hodge A, Handelsman DJ, Karim MN, Bond M, Davis SR. Associations between testosterone and pre-androgens and sexual function: findings from the Australian Women's Midlife Years Study. Fertility and Sterility. 2026. Get our FREE NEURO Plan Brain Health Playbook: https://thebraindocs.com/playbook Hosted by Drs. Ayesha & Dean Sherzai. Subscribe to The Synapse (free weekly newsletter): https://thebraindocs.com/newsletter  Follow @TheBrainDocs on Instagram
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  Your Brain On... Memory Testing 02.07.2026 54min

  The neurologist who built the test that was used on the President of the United States explains what memory tests actually tell you, and why even a perfect score isn't the whole picture. We sit down with Dr. Ziad Nasreddine, the neurologist who created the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), to look at how memory is actually measured, why a score can be shaped by your education and how comfortable you are with tests, and what separates a quick screen from a full neuropsychological evaluation. The conversation opens with a patient who passed a short memory screen but whose family knew something was wrong, and what a deeper test revealed. From there it moves to how the MoCA works, how it became famous after a presidential exam (and the memorization problem that followed), why your education and nerves can shift a score, and why the real progress against dementia is happening in detection and prevention, not treatment. A memory test is not a verdict. Its value is early, honest information, and what you can do once you have it. In this episode: What the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) measures, and why it was designed to catch the earliest changes rather than advanced dementia How a quick memory screen differs from a full neuropsychological evaluation, and what a score actually represents Why education, language, and familiarity with testing can change your score even when your cognition is fine The story behind the MoCA becoming famous after a US presidential exam, and the memorization problem that followed XpressO, a free at-home cognitive pre-screener, and what a green result does and does not mean Why detection and prevention, not treatment, are where the real progress against dementia is happening right now The difference between slowing decline and reversing it, and why a diagnosis of dementia cannot be undone What the 2024 Lancet Commission's modifiable risk factors mean for your everyday choices How movement and social connection show up in the data on cognitive decline How to read a health headline: effect size, clinical versus statistical significance, and why a small change can be sold as a breakthrough Dr. Ziad Nasreddine is a neurologist and the creator of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), which he first developed in 1996 and spent nine years validating. It has since been translated into more than 50 languages and is used in over 100 countries, making it one of the most widely used cognitive tests in medicine. He completed his cognitive neurology fellowship at UCLA under Dr. Jeffrey Cummings. His more recent work includes XpressO, a free at-home pre-screener, and MoCA Solo, an AI-administered version of the test. Resources: The MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) XpressO (free at-home cognitive pre-screener) Our 2026 Brain Health Retreat Hosted by Drs. Ayesha & Dean Sherzai Subscribe to The Synapse (free weekly newsletter): thebraindocs.com/newsletter Follow @TheBrainDocs on Instagram
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  Your Brain On... Friendship 25.06.2026 54min

  We're more connected than ever, yet, we've never been lonelier. We sit down with neuroscientist Dr. Ben Rein, author of Why Brains Need Friends, to look at what isolation does to the brain and body, why we badly underestimate our own social skills, and how to build real connection back into ordinary life. The conversation opens 45,000 years ago, with a healed bone that points to one of the earliest signs of human caregiving. From there it moves to the present: why "rejection hurts because it used to kill," how chronic loneliness raises cortisol and inflammation, and why regular social connection lowers the risk of dementia, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, and depression. In this episode: The 45,000-year-old skeleton (Shanidar 1) that points to the origins of human caregiving and friendship Why "rejection hurts because it used to kill," and how that ancient circuitry still runs in the modern brain What chronic loneliness does to cortisol, inflammation, and long-term disease risk The research on solitary confinement and why isolation tracks with higher mortality How regular social connection lowers the risk of dementia, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, and depression The commuter-train experiment that shows strangers want to connect far more than we expect Introverts vs extroverts: the "plant watering" model for finding your own social dose The social diet: why a healthy social life, like a healthy plate, needs variety Why digital interaction flattens the social cues your brain evolved to read The Dunbar number, the loss of "third places," and the young men's loneliness epidemic One small, science-backed thing to try this week Dr. Ben Rein is a neuroscientist, science communicator, and author of Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection (Penguin Random House). He is chief science officer of the Mind Science Foundation, an adjunct lecturer at Stanford University, and a clinical assistant professor at SUNY Buffalo. His research focuses on the neuroscience of social interaction, and he teaches neuroscience to more than 1 million followers online. Resources: Why Brains Need Friends (book) Dr. Ben Rein Our 2026 Brain Health Retreat Hosted by Drs. Ayesha & Dean Sherzai Subscribe to The Synapse (free weekly newsletter): thebraindocs.com/newsletter Follow @TheBrainDocs on Instagram
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  Your Brain On... the MIND Diet 18.06.2026 1h 7min

  Researchers found people who ate these 9 foods consistently had brains that aged 7.5 years slower. Not a supplement stack, not a protocol, not a hack. A pattern of real food that keeps showing up across decades and across the world. It's called the MIND diet, and it's what we're breaking down in this episode. We explore the scoring system behind the MIND diet with a registered dietician who came to brain health through her own mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis, and who has spent 20 years helping real women in real kitchens make these changes stick. In this episode, you'll learn: What the MIND diet actually is: a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH diets built at Rush University to target brain health specifically, and why the acronym uses the word "delay," not "reversal" The 10 brain-healthy foods and 5 foods to limit, and why the scoring system rewards you for progress, not perfection: full adherence lowered Alzheimer's risk by 53%, and even moderate adherence cut it by 35% Why leafy greens are the single most consistent finding in the field and the one change worth making first How berries, beans, nuts, olive oil, and omega-3s each contribute to the pattern, and why frozen and canned versions count just as much as fresh The problem with the term "ultra-processed food": why yogurt, tofu, and soy milk get mislabeled, and how a dietician actually talks to clients about it Why the protein conversation has gotten louder than the evidence: what 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram actually looks like, and why 150 grams a day is not a universal target Why wine was quietly dropped from the MIND diet recommendations and what the current evidence says about alcohol and brain health Midlife as a metabolic inflection point: why perimenopause and menopause change the equation for cardiovascular and brain health, and why it is not too late to start The 2024 Lancet Commission report adding LDL cholesterol as a modifiable risk factor for dementia, and when diet alone is not enough to manage it A week-one assignment: one leafy green every day for seven days, then build from there Barbie Boules is a registered dietician with more than 20 years of experience in women's health and brain health nutrition. Her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2022, and her work bridges clinical evidence with practical, accessible meal planning for women in midlife. Follow Barbie: https://www.instagram.com/the_cognition_dietitian  Hosted by Drs. Ayesha & Dean Sherzai Subscribe to The Synapse (free weekly newsletter): thebraindocs.com/newsletter Follow @TheBrainDocs on Instagram
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  Your Brain On... Insomnia 03.06.2026 1h 38min

  It's 3 AM and your brain won't shut off. About 1 in 10 adults meets the clinical definition of chronic insomnia, and most never get treated. Instead, they scroll through an endless aisle of magnesium gummies, melatonin, and $300 trackers that don't address the real problem. We brought in a neurologist and a psychologist who never spoke to each other and landed on almost the exact same conclusions. In this episode, you'll learn: How the brain's glymphatic cleaning system works during sleep and why chronic insomnia is a brain health problem Why melatonin is a darkness signal, not a sleeping pill, and how nocturnal animals prove the point A sleep neurologist's honest 1-to-10 ratings of every sleep aid you've heard of: magnesium (2/10), CBT-I (10/10), alcohol (-10/10), and 12 more What orthosomnia is and why your sleep tracker might be making your insomnia worse Why perimenopause and menopause create what one expert calls "a perfect storm" for sleep disruption, and why doctors keep missing sleep apnea in women How CBT-I works: sleep restriction, stimulus control, and why your therapist will tell you to spend less time in bed, not more The data showing CBT-I may outperform hormone therapy for menopausal insomnia ACT therapy for insomnia: a different approach for people who get more anxious from CBT-I Blue light, naps, the 8-hour rule, catching up on weekends: what holds up and what doesn't Five steps to start tonight, and why you should pick just two Dr. Sujay Kansagra is a pediatric neurologist and sleep medicine specialist at Duke University, director of Duke's Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program, and author of "My Child Won't Sleep." Follow Dr. Kansagra: @thatsleepdoc Dr. Shelby Harris is a clinical psychologist and behavioral sleep medicine specialist. She treats insomnia in women during perimenopause and menopause and is the author of "The Women's Guide to Overcoming Insomnia." Website: drshelbyharris.com Follow Dr. Harris: @SleepDocShelby Hosted by Drs. Ayesha & Dean Sherzai Subscribe to The Synapse (free weekly newsletter): thebraindocs.com/newsletter Follow @TheBrainDocs on Instagram
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  Your Brain On... Microplastics 27.05.2026 31min

  Headlines warned us about microplastics in our brains. A chemist says the study may have been measuring brain fat instead. In 2025, a study claiming microplastics accumulate in human brain tissue dominated our feeds. We covered it. Then Dr. Michelle Wong, a chemical scientist and science communicator, flagged a problem with the methodology. So we went to the primary literature, read the critique, and brought in one of the first scientists to publicly challenge the findings: Dr. Oliver Jones, Professor of Analytical Chemistry at RMIT University in Melbourne. In this episode, we unpack what went wrong with the measurement method, what it means for the broader microplastics conversation, and why being willing to say "I was wrong" is so vital for good science. In this episode: How pyrolysis GC-MS works and why it can confuse plastic breakdown products with brain fat Why potassium hydroxide digestion creates soap, which also mimics plastic signatures The contamination problem: body bags, centrifuge tubes, plastic storage containers, and lab air Why 7 grams of microplastic per brain is more than what researchers find in raw sewage The Marfella study in The New England Journal of Medicine: microplastics in arterial plaques and why it also lacked blank controls How microplastics could enter the body: skin absorption, ingestion, and inhalation Why PM2.5 monitoring already captures the most relevant airborne microplastic exposure What the WHO, FDA, and European Food Safety Authority have concluded about microplastic harm What better microplastics research would actually look like Why the real lesson is about how we evaluate headlines, not just microplastics Dr. Oliver Jones is Professor of Analytical Chemistry and Associate Dean of Biosciences and Food Technology at RMIT University in Melbourne. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (FRACI), he holds degrees from Imperial College London and Cambridge. He is one of only 118 scientists worldwide named to the IUPAC Periodic Table of Outstanding Younger Chemists. His research focuses on developing methods to measure environmental contaminants, including microplastics, and he was among the first scientists to publicly challenge the methodology of the viral "microplastics in the brain" study. Follow Dr. Jones: @dr_oli_jones RMIT faculty page: rmit.edu.au/oliver-jones Dr. Michelle Wong (Lab Muffin Beauty Science) first flagged the methodological concerns to us. Hosted by Drs. Ayesha & Dean Sherzai Subscribe to The Synapse (free weekly newsletter): https://thebraindocs.com/newsletter  Follow @TheBrainDocs on Instagram
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  Your Brain On... Menopause Hormone Therapy 13.05.2026 1h 28min

  Menopause hormone therapy and your brain: what the evidence says vs. what the algorithm is selling you. Two-thirds of Alzheimer's patients are women. That statistic has fueled a social media narrative that hormone therapy can prevent dementia, but the current evidence doesn't support that claim. In this episode, Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai sit down with OBGYN Dr. Jen Gunter and neuroscientist Dr. Sarah McKay to separate the science from the soundbites. Your Brain On... Menopause Hormone Therapy [Season 7, Episode 1] Get our FREE NEURO Plan Brain Health Playbook: https://thebraindocs.com/playbook In this episode: Why menopause hormone therapy is the gold standard for hot flashes and night sweats but not a proven tool for dementia prevention The Women's Health Initiative: what it actually found, how the press conference distorted the findings, and what we've learned since Why "bioidentical hormones" is a marketing term, not a medical one, and what that means for the products being sold to you How the hypothalamus drives vasomotor symptoms and why sleep disruption may explain much of the cognitive fog women experience at midlife The high placebo response rate with hormone therapy and why dose escalation can mask a missed diagnosis Why the simplistic narrative of "women get more Alzheimer's, so it must be menopause, so give hormones" falls apart under scrutiny How over-testing, unregulated lab panels, and wearable hormone data can create more anxiety than answers The case for perimenopause as a life stage, not a disease, and why medicalizing normal midlife stress upholds harmful structures What the aging brain actually gains: vocabulary, emotional processing, wisdom, complex problem-solving, and the capacity to hold nuance 7 evidence-based actions you can take this week for your brain health, no prescription required Why the FDA's removal of the black box warning on hormone therapy was released without context and what happened next on social media The new neurokinin receptor antagonists and why they could change how we study the relationship between hot flashes and brain health 00:00 Intro 01:09 Why the menopause hormone therapy conversation matters 07:10 Dr. Jen Gunter: the dangerous dichotomy around MHT 10:20 The Women's Health Initiative, revisited 16:25 Who is menopause hormone therapy actually for? 18:20 The placebo response nobody talks about 22:33 When does perimenopause actually start? 26:00 Does MHT actually prevent dementia? 29:11 "Bioidentical" is not a medical term 36:27 The problem with unregulated hormone testing 41:08 How to advocate for yourself at the doctor 44:36 New drugs that could change menopause research 47:17 The pTau217 study and what it means for women on MHT 52:20 Dr. Sarah McKay: what happens in your brain during menopause 59:34 The oversimplified estrogen-Alzheimer's story 1:04:13 When social media primes your symptoms 1:11:18 What the aging brain actually gains 1:21:35 Grandmothers rule the world! 1:25:43 What MHT is actually good for 1:26:28 7 things to do for your brain Dr. Jen Gunter is an OBGYN, pain medicine physician, New York Times columnist, and bestselling author of The Menopause Manifesto, The Vagina Bible, and Blood. She writes The Vajenda on Substack and is one of the most prominent voices challenging misinformation in women's health. Dr. Sarah McKay is a neuroscientist, science communicator, and author of The Women's Brain Book. She is the founder of The Neuroscience Academy and Think Brain training programs. References: North American Menopause Society 2022 Hormone Therapy Guidelines: menopause.org Australasian Menopause Society: menopause.org.au The Vajenda (Substack): jenssubstack.com Get our FREE NEURO Plan Brain Health Playbook: https://thebraindocs.com/playbook Hosted by Drs. Ayesha & Dean Sherzai. Subscribe to The Synapse (free weekly newsletter): thebraindocs.com/newsletter Follow @TheBrainDocs on Instagram
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  Your Brain On... Vascular Dementia 04.02.2026 1h 21min

  Most people think dementia starts with memory loss. But for millions, it actually begins decades earlier: in the blood vessels. Long before someone forgets a name or misses an appointment, the brain is being quietly damaged by high blood pressure, cholesterol imbalance, poor sleep, inflammation, and chronic stress, day after day, year after year. This kind of damage doesn't look dramatic. There's no big stroke, no clear warning sign. It happens slowly and silently, which is why it's so often missed until it's too late. But here's the good news: vascular dementia is one of the most preventable and manageable forms of cognitive decline. When caught early, lifestyle changes and medical interventions can help slow the onset and manage the effects. In this episode, we explore: What vascular dementia and vascular cognitive impairment are, and how they differ from Alzheimer's disease Why most dementia cases involve both vascular damage and neurodegenerative pathology (mixed dementia) How blood vessel damage begins in childhood and accumulates silently for decades The role of high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, sleep disorders, and chronic stress in damaging brain vasculature Why slowed thinking, movement, and processing speed are hallmark signs of vascular cognitive decline The critical importance of the endothelium: the thin lining of blood vessels that controls brain health How lifestyle factors like nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management protect and repair vascular health Why managing blood pressure early is one of the most powerful interventions for long-term brain health (and why everyone should have a blood pressure monitor at home!) How vascular damage can be slowed, even in midlife Practical steps for prevention across the lifespan, from childhood through older adulthood Our guest for this episode is DR. COLUMBUS BATISTE, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, an incredible science communicator, and author of 'Selfish: A Cardiologist's Guide to Healing a Broken Heart'. Dr. Batiste brings deep expertise on how cardiovascular health shapes brain health, and why protecting the endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels) is foundational to longevity. His work emphasizes that all roads to longevity are paved by the heart, and what's good for the heart is good for the brain! 'Your Brain On…' is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. SUPPORTED BY: NEURO World, a science-based brain health community designed to help you protect your brain long before problems begin. Learn more at https://neuro.world/  'Your Brain On… Vascular Dementia' • SEASON 6 • EPISODE 8 ——— LINKS Dr. Columbus Batiste: https://drbatiste.com/  Instagram: @HeartHealthyDoc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drbatiste  ——— FOLLOW US Join NEURO World: https://neuro.world/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraindocs   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebraindocs ——— REFERENCES Core Definitions & Diagnostic Framework • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) - American Psychiatric Publishing • Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia - https://doi.org/10.1161/STR.0b013e3182299496 • Classifying neurocognitive disorders: The DSM-5 approach - https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2014.181  Epidemiology & Public Health Burden • Neuropathological diagnosis of vascular cognitive impairment and vascular dementia with implications for Alzheimer's disease - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-016-1571-z • Vascular dementia - https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00463-8  • Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia: WHO guidelines - WHO Press Small Vessel Disease & Subcortical Vascular Dementia • Small vessel disease: Mechanisms and clinical implications - https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30079-1  • Cerebral small vessel disease: From pathogenesis and clinical characteristics to therapeutic challenges - https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(10)70104-6  • The clinical importance of white matter hyperintensities on brain magnetic resonance imaging - https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c3666  Mixed Dementia & Alzheimer–Vascular Overlap • Mixed brain pathologies account for most dementia cases in community-dwelling older persons - https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000271090.28148.24 • Early role of vascular dysregulation on late-onset Alzheimer's disease - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.04.009 • The pathobiology of vascular dementia - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2013.10.008  Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA) • Cerebral amyloid angiopathy and Alzheimer disease—one peptide, two pathways - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-019-0281-2 • Emerging concepts in sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy - https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awx047 Genetics, Inflammation, and Repair • Apolipoprotein E controls cerebrovascular integrity via cyclophilin A - https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11087 • TREM2—A key player in microglial biology and Alzheimer disease - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-018-0072-1  Prevention & Vascular Risk Factors • Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission - https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30367-6  • Lifestyle interventions to prevent cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer disease - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-018-0070-3  Further Reading • The role of vascular risk factors in Alzheimer's disease - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-021-00530-4
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  Your Brain On... Cold Plunges 21.01.2026 47min

  Cold plunges are everywhere, and the way people talk about them, you'd think they're a miracle cure for your brain, body, and soul. But in an age of algorithm-fueled evangelism, when a ritual becomes this ubiquitous and loud, we have to ask: how much of the buzz is backed by science… and how much is just marketing? In this episode, we explore the neuroscience of cold exposure: what's real, what's overstated, and why this "discomfort" has become a billion-dollar industry. We discuss: Why cold plunges went viral, and how wellness movements often devolve into identity-driven cultures The difference between cold exposure itself and the monetized "cold plunge movement" What constitutes a "cult" (and how pseudoscience forms around partial truths) The real physiological cold shock response Why the mental "high" after a plunge doesn't automatically equal long-term brain benefit The cardiovascular risks that rarely get discussed, especially for people with underlying heart disease What the research suggests about soreness, pain reduction, and muscle growth (including why cold immersion can blunt hypertrophy) The real story behind brown fat Who should avoid cold plunges altogether (asthma, arrhythmias, coronary disease, vascular conditions) Joining us for this conversation is investigative journalist and bestselling author Scott Carney (What Doesn't Kill Us, The Wedge), who has spent years inside the cold exposure world, first as a skeptic, then as a believer, and eventually as a critic of the culture that formed around it. His work reveals what happens when discomfort becomes identity, and when unfounded "social media science" outruns real science. Your Brain On... is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. SUPPORTED BY: the 2026 NEURO World Retreat. A 5-day journey through science, nature, and community, on the California coastline: neuroworldretreat.com Your Brain On... Cold Plunges • SEASON 6 • EPISODE 7 REFERENCES Cold Water Immersion, Muscle Adaptation, and Recovery Roberts, L. A., Raastad, T., Markworth, J. F., Figueiredo, V. C., Egner, I. M., Shield, A., Cameron-Smith, D., Coombes, J. S., & Peake, J. M. (2015). Post-exercise cold water immersion attenuates acute anabolic signalling and long-term adaptations in muscle to strength training. Journal of Physiology, 593(18), 4285–4301. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP270570 Bleakley, C. M., McDonough, S. M., & MacAuley, D. C. (2004). The use of ice in the treatment of acute soft-tissue injury: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 32(1), 251–261. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546503260757 Leeder, J., Gissane, C., van Someren, K., Gregson, W., & Howatson, G. (2012). Cold water immersion and recovery from strenuous exercise: A meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(4), 233–240. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2011-090061 White, G. E., & Wells, G. D. (2013). Cold-water immersion and other forms of cryotherapy: Physiological changes potentially affecting recovery from high-intensity exercise. Sports Medicine, 43(8), 695–706. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-013-0055-8 Kellmann, M., Bertollo, M., Bosquet, L., Brink, M., Coutts, A. J., Duffield, R., Erlacher, D., Halson, S. L., Hecksteden, A., Heidari, J., Kölling, S., Meyer, T., Mujika, I., Robazza, C., Skorski, S., Venter, R., & Beckmann, J. (2018). Recovery and performance in sport: Consensus statement. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 13(2), 240–245. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2017-0759 Inflammation, Pain, and Perceived Recovery Hohenauer, E., Taeymans, J., Baeyens, J. P., Clarys, P., & Clijsen, R. (2015). The effect of post-exercise cryotherapy on recovery characteristics: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 10(9), e0139028. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139028 Costello, J. T., Culligan, K., Selfe, J., & Donnelly, A. E. (2012). Muscle, skin and core temperature after –110°C cold air and 8°C water treatment. PLoS ONE, 7(11), e48190. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048190 Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) – Human Imaging & Metabolism van Marken Lichtenbelt, W. D., Vanhommerig, J. W., Smulders, N. M., Drossaerts, J. M., Kemerink, G. J., Bouvy, N. D., Schrauwen, P., & Teule, G. J. (2009). Cold-activated brown adipose tissue in healthy men. New England Journal of Medicine, 360(15), 1500–1508. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0808718 Virtanen, K. A., Lidell, M. E., Orava, J., Heglind, M., Westergren, R., Niemi, T., Taittonen, M., Laine, J., Savisto, N. J., Enerbäck, S., & Nuutila, P. (2009). Functional brown adipose tissue in healthy adults. New England Journal of Medicine, 360(15), 1518–1525. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0808949 Betz, M. J., & Enerbäck, S. (2015). Human brown adipose tissue: What we have learned so far. Diabetes, 64(7), 2352–2360. https://doi.org/10.2337/db15-0146 Autonomic Nervous System, HRV, and Cold Exposure Mourot, L., Bouhaddi, M., Regnard, J., Tordi, N., & Rouillon, J. D. (2008). Cardiac autonomic control during short-term exposure to cold water in humans. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 104(3), 541–547. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0810-3 Janský, L., Pospíšilová, D., Honzová, S., Uličný, B., Šrámek, P., Zeman, V., & Kamínková, J. (1996). Immune system of cold-exposed and cold-adapted humans. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 72(5–6), 445–450. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00242276 Cardiovascular Stress and Cold Shock Tipton, M. J., Collier, N., Massey, H., Corbett, J., & Harper, M. (2017). Cold water immersion: Kill or cure? Experimental Physiology, 102(11), 1335–1355. https://doi.org/10.1113/EP086283 Tipton, M. J., & Bradford, C. (2014). Cold water immersion and cold shock response. Extreme Physiology & Medicine, 3(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-7648-3-7 Whole-Body Cryotherapy (Distinct From Cold Plunges) Costello, J. T., Baker, P. R., Minett, G. M., Bieuzen, F., Stewart, I. B., & Bleakley, C. (2015). Whole-body cryotherapy (extreme cold air exposure) for preventing and treating muscle soreness after exercise in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015(9), CD010789. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010789.pub2 LINKS Scott Carney's website: https://www.scottcarney.com/ FOLLOW US Join NEURO World: https://neuro.world/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraindocs YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebraindocs More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast
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  Your Brain On... Cheese 14.01.2026 43min

  Around the start of 2026, a study sparked viral headlines claiming that cheese could reduce dementia risk. But... nutrition science almost never works like this. One study can't "prove" a food is protective or harmful, and viral health claims often miss the most important details of research: how the data was gathered, what was actually measured, what variables were controlled for, and what it means in real life. In this episode, we unpack what the 'viral cheese study' (PMID: 41406402) actually found, what it DOESN'T mean, and why critical thinking around nutrition headlines matters more than ever. We discuss: • Why viral food headlines are so persuasive (and so often misleading) • What the cheese study REALLY reported • The difference between correlation and causation in nutrition research • Why long-term dietary recall data can be unreliable • How bias (including our personal food preferences) shapes interpretation of research • What "show me the data" really means in a world of clickbait science • How to interpret food and brain health studies without falling into extremes We also speak to Emily Sonestedt, research group leader and associate professor at Lund University, and one of the authors of the viral study. "Your Brain On..." is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. SUPPORTED BY: the 2026 NEURO World Retreat. A 5-day journey through science, nature, and community, on the California coastline: https://www.neuroworldretreat.com/  'Your Brain On... Cheese' • SEASON 6 • EPISODE 6 ——— LINKS The study, 'High- and Low-Fat Dairy Consumption and Long-Term Risk of Dementia: Evidence From a 25-Year Prospective Cohort Study': https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41406402/  ——— FOLLOW US Join NEURO World: https://neuro.world/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraindocs YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebraindocs More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast
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  Your Brain On... Chemotherapy 04.12.2025 42min

  Chemotherapy saves lives. But for millions, it also comes with side effects of cognitive fog, memory lapses, slowed thinking, and emotional flattening. In the past, 'chemo brain' has sometimes been dismissed as anecdotal. But, as science has evolved, we've come to understand the very real shifts in attention, memory, processing speed, and emotional regulation underpinning the impairment. In this episode, we break down what's happening in the brain during treatment, why these changes arise, and how healthier lifestyle choices can support our recovery. In this episode, we explore: • What 'chemo brain' really is (and why chemotherapy itself isn't the only thing contributing to it) • How inflammation, hormonal shifts, anesthesia, sleep disruption, and chronic stress impact cognition during cancer • The latest research on structural and functional brain changes during treatment • Why many cognitive effects are temporary (and how neuroplasticity supports recovery) • How cognitive fog intersects with identity loss and grief • The role of nutrition in supporting clarity, energy, memory, and mood during chemotherapy • How to navigate food fears, misinformation, and "miracle cancer diets" • The importance of gentle movement, sleep consistency, and stress management • How patients can advocate for themselves (including tips on what to discuss with their care team) Bringing their perspectives and expertise to this episode are two wonderful guests: • DR. LIZ O'RIORDAN: retired breast surgeon, author, and three-time breast cancer survivor, whose personal and clinical experience offers a rare, deeply human insight into cancer-related cognitive change. • NICHOLE ANDREWS, RDN: oncology dietitian, educator, and advocate for evidence-based, fear-free nutrition during and after cancer treatment. "Your Brain On..." is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. SUPPORTED BY: the 2026 NEURO World Retreat. A 5-day journey through science, nature, and community, on the California coastline: https://www.neuroworldretreat.com/  'Your Brain On... Parkinson's' • SEASON 6 • EPISODE 5 ——— LINKS Dr. Liz O'Riordan: Website: https://liz.oriordan.co.uk/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oriordanliz/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_t0jGeR8M4vCPSb68itjRQ  Nichole Andrews, RDN: Website: https://theoncologydietitian.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oncology.nutrition.rd/  ——— FOLLOW US Join NEURO World: https://neuro.world/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraindocs  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebraindocs  More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast 
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  Your Brain On... Parkinson's (2025) 26.11.2025 1h 16min

  From 18th century London to the promise of a global cure: the 200-year history of Parkinson's disease. To mark the release of our 'Ask the MD' conversation with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, and to welcome a new influx of listeners, we're sharing one of our very first episodes, first aired in August 2024. Watch our full 'Ask the MD' interview, focused on lifestyle strategies for boosting brain health, on the foundation's website: https://www.michaeljfox.org/news/lifestyle-strategies-boost-brain-health-ask-md-video  Parkinson's, a neurodegenerative disorder most commonly characterized by tremors and other motor symptoms, is so complex, many medical professionals are starting to classify it as a group of diseases, rather than a single disease. In this episode, we explain those complexities, including: • The motor symptoms (e.g. cogwheel rigidity, bradykinesia) and non-motor symptoms (e.g. depression, sleep disorders) • How the industrial revolution may have brought about environmental factors which contribute to Parkinson's • The differences and similarities between Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's • How Parkinson's manifests in our brains • Why one nurse was able to detect Parkinson's through smell • The neurogenetics of Parkinson's, and the ethical quandaries of evolving genetic technology • Why lifestyle — nutrition, exercise, etc. — is so key to preventing and managing Parkinson's Joining us for this extensive conversation are three incredible guests: • Dr. Rachel Dolhun, Senior Vice President of Medical Communications at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research • Dr. Michael Okun, evolutionary biologist, movement disorders specialist, and Director of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases • Dr. Matthew Farrer, neurogenetics expert and Professor Of Neurology at the University of Florida 'Your Brain On' is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. SUPPORTED BY: the 2026 NEURO World Retreat. A 5-day journey through science, nature, and community, on the California coastline: https://www.neuroworldretreat.com/  'Your Brain On... Parkinson's' • SEASON 6 • EPISODE 4 (SEASON 3 REUPLOAD) ————— LINKS Dr. Rachel Dolhun: At the Michael J. Fox Foundation: https://www.michaeljfox.org/bio/rachel-dolhun-md-dipablm  'Ask the MD' series: https://www.michaeljfox.org/ask-md  The Michael J. Fox Foundation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaeljfoxfoundation/videos  Dr. Michael Okun: At the University of Florida: https://neurology.ufl.edu/profile/okun-michael/  The book 'Ending Parkinson's Disease': https://endingpd.org/  The Norman Fixel Institute: https://fixel.ufhealth.org/ Dr. Matthew Farrer: At the University of Florida: https://neurology.ufl.edu/profile/farrer-matthew/ ————— References: Bloem, B. R., Okun, M. S., & Klein, C. (2021). Parkinson's disease. The Lancet, 397(10291), 2284-2303. Morris, H. R., Spillantini, M. G., Sue, C. M., & Williams-Gray, C. H. (2024). The pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The Lancet, 403(10423), 293-304. Dorsey, E., Sherer, T., Okun, M. S., & Bloem, B. R. (2018). The emerging evidence of the Parkinson pandemic. Journal of Parkinson's disease, 8(s1), S3-S8. Dorsey, E. R., Okun, M. S., & Tanner, C. M. (2021). Bad Air and Parkinson Disease—The Fog May Be Lifting. JAMA neurology, 78(7), 793-795. Tsalenchuk, M., Gentleman, S. M., & Marzi, S. J. (2023). Linking environmental risk factors with epigenetic mechanisms in Parkinson's disease. npj Parkinson's Disease, 9(1), 123. Reynoso, A., Torricelli, R., Jacobs, B. M., Shi, J., Aslibekyan, S., Norcliffe‐Kaufmann, L., ... & Heilbron, K. (2024). Gene–Environment Interactions for Parkinson's Disease. Annals of Neurology, 95(4), 677-687. Golsorkhi, M., Sherzai, A., & Dashtipour, K. The Influence of Lifestyle on Parkinson's Disease Management. In Lifestyle Medicine, Fourth Edition (pp. 919-924). CRC Press. Sherzai, A. Z., Tagliati, M., Park, K., Pezeshkian, S., & Sherzai, D. (2016). Micronutrients and risk of Parkinson's disease: a systematic review. Gerontology and geriatric medicine, 2, 2333721416644286. ————— FOLLOW US  Join NEURO  Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast
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  Your Brain On... Eating Meat 05.11.2025 1h 58min

  Carnivorous diets have been woven into our history for millennia, but, with nutrition science advancing at an unprecedented pace over the past century... do we really still need to be eating meat? We live in a time of rising chronic disease, new longevity research, and a growing awareness of how our food choices shape our brain and our planet. We're also constantly exposed to 'nutrition tribalism': social media communicators and influencers building identities (and livelihoods) around polarizing dietary debates. It's a lot to navigate. So, we're cutting straight to the data in this episode. Plus: we're pulling on the work and research we've done in many different communities to explore how going plant-based can be as much a cultural or logistical hurdle as a health-driven or ethics-based choice. In this episode, we discuss: Whether protein deficiency is a realistic concern Protein myths: plant vs. animal What the actual protein science says (and why most Americans already get more than enough) The role of saturated fat, fiber, and the microbiome Processed vs. unprocessed meat — what matters most How identity, culture, and family can make going plant-based challenging How cooking method changes risk (yes, barbecue lovers… we go there) Meat alternatives: healthful option or "ultra-processed trap"? Practical, non-judgmental guidance for plant-forward or omnivorous eaters  To give this divisive matter the nuance it deserves, we welcome three of the most authoritative voices in this space: DR. CHRISTOPHER GARDNER: the Stanford nutrition scientist behind landmark diet trials (including DIETFITS). DR. ADRIAN CHAVEZ: a nutrition researcher, educator, and consultant, who previously joined us for 'Your Brain On... Supplements'. DR. MATTHEW NAGRA: a nutritionist and science communicator, who you might remember from 'Your Brain On... Protein'. This is... Your Brain On Eating Meat. SUPPORTED BY: the 2026 NEURO World Retreat. A 5-day journey through science, nature, and community, on the California coastline: https://www.neuroworldretreat.com/   'Your Brain On' is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. 'Your Brain On... Eating Meat' • SEASON 6 • EPISODE 3 LINKS Dr. Christopher Gardner Dr. Christopher Gardner at Stanford: https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/christopher-gardner   Dr. Christopher Gardner on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cgardnerphd  Dr. Adrian Chavez  Dr. Adrian Chavez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.adrian.chavez  Dr. Adrian Chavez's website: https://www.dradrianchavez.com/   Dr. Adrian Chavez's Podcast: https://www.thenutritionsciencepodcast.com/  Dr. Matt Nagra Dr. Matt Nagra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.matthewnagra  Dr. Matt Nagra's website: https://drmatthewnagra.com/ 
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  Your Brain On... Nutrition (with Dr. Walter Willett) 29.10.2025 41min

  Everyone eats. It's the one thing we all have in common. And yet, nutrition has become one of the most confusing, divisive, and misunderstood sciences in modern life. Low-fat. High-fat. Keto. Vegan. Paleo. Superfoods. For every study, there's a headline that seems to say the opposite. In this episode, we turn to one of the most trusted voices in nutrition research to cut through the noise: Dr. Walter Willett, MD, DrPH. Dr. Willett, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has spent more than four decades studying how what we eat affects our health, longevity, and brain function. His work has helped reshape dietary guidelines around the world, replacing fear and fads with clarity and evidence. Together, we unpack what the science really says about diet and the brain: how food choices shape inflammation, cognition, and long-term disease risk, and what practical lessons decades of data can teach us about eating for life and longevity. In this conversation, we discuss: • How nutrition became so confusing (and what the data actually shows) • Why the quality of fat matters more than the amount • How refined carbohydrates fuel inflammation, insulin resistance, and brain fog • The power of fiber and the microbiome for mood and memory • Why plant-based proteins come out ahead for health and sustainability • How global dietary guidelines are changing (and what's still misunderstood) • The intersection of nutrition, planetary health, and human wellbeing Dr. Walter Willett has authored over 2,000 scientific papers and several landmark books, including 'Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy'. This is... Your Brain On Nutrition. SUPPORTED BY: the 2026 NEURO World Retreat. A 5-day journey through science, nature, and community, on the California coastline: https://www.neuroworldretreat.com/  'Your Brain On' is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. 'Your Brain On... Nutrition' • SEASON 6 • EPISODE 2 LINKS Dr. Walter Willett at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: https://hsph.harvard.edu/profile/walter-c-willett/   Dr. Willett's book, 'Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy': https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5579.Eat_Drink_and_Be_Healthy  FOLLOW US Join NEURO World: https://neuro.world/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraindocs  YouTube: https://youtube.com/thebraindocs  Website: https://thebraindocs.com/ 
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  Your Brain On... Autism 22.10.2025 1h 52min

  Autism isn't new, but our understanding of it has changed dramatically. It's now recognized as a broad neurodevelopmental spectrum that shapes how millions of people perceive, process, and interact with the world. In this episode, we explore what autism is AND isn't, from its earliest signs in infancy to its deep genetic roots, and why misinformation about it continues to spread. We speak with three remarkable experts leading the field in early detection, genetics, and public education: DR. AMI KLIN, PhD, Director of the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University and a pioneer in early autism research, whose work shows autism can be identified in babies as young as two months old. DR. JOSEPH BUXBAUM, PhD, Director of the Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai and a global leader in autism genetics, uncovering hundreds of genes linked to the condition. DR. ANDREA LOVE, immunologist, microbiologist, and founder of ImmunoLogic, known for her clear, evidence-based communication about vaccines, immunity, and autism myths. Together, we discuss: • What autism really is, and how the definitions have evolved • How it develops in infancy (and why early diagnosis can be so critical) • The powerful genetic evidence behind autism • The persistence of vaccine myths, and how misinformation spreads • How technology like eye-tracking can detect autism early • The rise of "profound autism" and what it means for families • The future of genetics-based treatments and therapy Whether you're autistic yourself, a parent navigating a new diagnosis, or simply seeking understanding, we're thrilled to share this extensive, in-depth episode with you. This is... Your Brain On Autism. SUPPORTED BY: the 2026 NEURO World Retreat. A 5-day journey through science, nature, and community, on the California coastline: https://www.neuroworldretreat.com/ 'Your Brain On' is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. 'Your Brain On... Autism' • SEASON 6 • EPISODE 1 LINKS Dr. Ami Klin at Emory University: https://ctsn.emory.edu/faculty/klin-ami.html Dr. Ami Klin at Marcus Autism Center: https://www.marcus.org/about-marcus-autism-center/meet-our-leadership/ami-klin  Dr. Joseph Buxbaum at Mount Sinai: https://profiles.icahn.mssm.edu/joseph-d-buxbaum  Dr. Andrea Love's website: https://www.immunologic.org/ Dr. Andrea Love on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrealove  REFERENCES Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review. JAMA, 2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2800182  Is There a Bias Towards Males in the Diagnosis of Autism? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11065-023-09630-2  Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children's Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38592388/  Eye-Tracking–Based Measurement of Social Visual Engagement Compared With Expert Clinical Diagnosis of Autism. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2808996  Rare coding variation provides insight into the genetic architecture and phenotypic context of autism. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-022-01104-0  Rare coding variation illuminates the allelic architecture, risk genes, cellular expression patterns, and phenotypic context of autism. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.20.21267194v1  Andrew Wakefield and the fabricated history of the alleged vaccine-autism link. https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2024/04/29/andrew-wakefield-and-the-fabricated-history-of-the-alleged-vaccine-autism-link/ VACCINES & AUTISM 1. Major Cohort Studies Hviid et al., 2019 – Annals of Internal Medicine A nationwide study of 657,461 Danish children found no increased risk of autism in vaccinated children compared to unvaccinated peers — even among those with risk factors such as a sibling with autism. Ann Intern Med. 2019;170(8):513–520 Madsen et al., 2002 – New England Journal of Medicine In 537,303 Danish children, researchers found no difference in autism rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, and no relationship with age, timing, or date of vaccination. NEJM. 2002;347:1477–1482 Jain et al., 2015 – Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) A U.S. cohort of 95,727 children — including those with siblings with autism — showed no link between MMR vaccination and autism risk, even in genetically predisposed children. JAMA. 2015;313(15):1534–1540 Madsen et al., 2003 – JAMA A study of 467,450 Danish children found no relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism. JAMA. 2003;290(13):1763–1766 DeStefano et al., 2022 – Vaccine A retrospective cohort of over 500,000 U.S. children with ASD found no increase in adverse events or worsening of autism-related symptoms following vaccination. Vaccine. 2022;40(16):2391–2398 2. Population-Level Epidemiologic Evidence Taylor et al., 1999 – The Lancet One of the earliest large epidemiological studies found autism prevalence was the same in vaccinated and unvaccinated children, and the age of onset was unrelated to the timing of MMR vaccination. Read: Lancet. 1999;353(9169):2026–2029 Institute of Medicine (U.S.) Immunization Safety Review, 2011 A global review of studies from the U.S., Denmark, Sweden, and the U.K. concluded there is no causal relationship between vaccination status and autism, and no plausible biological mechanism linking vaccines (including thimerosal) to ASD. Read: National Academies Press / PubMed 20669467 3. Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Taylor et al., 2014 – Vaccine A comprehensive meta-analysis of 10 studies including over 1.2 million children found no association between vaccination and autism or ASD. Vaccine. 2014;32(29):3623–3629 Maglione et al., 2014 – Pediatrics Review of 67 high-quality studies covering the full U.S. immunization schedule concluded that vaccines are safe, adverse events are rare, and there is no link to autism, type 1 diabetes, or other chronic conditions. Pediatrics. 2014;134(2):325–337 Parker et al., 2004 – Pediatrics Systematic review of 10 primary studies examining thimerosal exposure found no relationship between vaccines and ASD. Authors noted that studies showing an association were methodologically flawed or biased, while robust studies consistently showed safety. Pediatrics. 2004;113(6):1904–1910 Offit & Hackett, 2003 – Clinical Infectious Diseases Review of immunology and epidemiology concluded that claims that vaccines "overwhelm" or "damage" the immune system are not biologically plausible based on how the immune system actually functions. Clin Infect Dis. 2003;46(9):1450–1456
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  Your Brain On... Diabetes 23.07.2025 1h 53min

  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/
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  Your Brain On... Alzheimer's (Mythbusting Special) 09.07.2025 50min

  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/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraindocs TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebraindocs
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  Your Brain On... Purpose (Sherzai Family Special) 25.06.2025 34min

  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!
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  Your Brain On... Creatine 18.06.2025 49min

  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.
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  Your Brain On... Stress 12.06.2025 57min

  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