The Neuro Experience

Most people think breast cancer treatment ends when the tumor is gone. Science says that's where the real damage often begins, and the woman making that argument was diagnosed at 28, lost her mother to ovarian cancer the same year, and turned her own dismissal by the medical system into a specialization that now treats women nobody else will touch.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Corinne Menn Board Certified OBGYN, breast cancer survivor, and one of the few specialists in the world treating menopause in cancer survivors. We break down why 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no strong family history, why tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors quietly devastate brain, bone, and sexual health, and why telling a woman with severe vaginal atrophy to use coconut oil is not evidence-based medicine. Dr. Corinne also opens up about her own diagnosis, her premature menopause at 28, the truth about hormone replacement therapy after breast cancer, and the BRCA, ApoE4, and surgical menopause snowball nobody is putting together for patients. This conversation will completely change how you think about breast cancer, menopause, and the women's health crisis hiding in plain sight.

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 Nobody Is Coming to Save Breast Cancer Survivors

01:05 Karin's Origin Story: Diagnosed at 28, Losing Her Mom, and Premature Menopause

03:06 The 85% Cure Rate Lie: Why Survival Comes at a Brutal Cost

06:13 Breast Cancer Is Not One Disease: Why 80% Have No Family History

08:14 BRCA1, BRCA2, and the Genetic Mutations Most Women Never Get Tested For

13:14 Karin's Own Genetic Test Story and Why 23andMe Is Not Enough

15:07 BRCA1 vs BRCA2: Age of Onset and When to Remove Ovaries

17:30 The Biology of Estrogen: Why Estrogen Does Not Cause Breast Cancer

23:40 Birth Control, Breastfeeding, and the Real Risk Factors

26:17 Alcohol, Inflammation, and the Toxins Driving Cancer Rates

27:46 Tamoxifen Explained: What It Does to Your Brain, Bones, and Body

34:23 Aromatase Inhibitors: Putting Your Estrogen in the Basement

37:15 Where Women Go When No Doctor Will Help Them

41:17 Oophorectomy, Early Menopause, and the 6 to 12% of Women Affected

44:26 Why Black Women Face the Highest Risk and the Least Care

46:20 The ApoE4, BRCA, and Surgical Menopause Snowball

48:02 Coconut Oil Is Not Medicine: The Vaginal Estrogen Truth

50:35 HRT Denial and the Myths Keeping Women From Treatment

51:13 Who Owns the Breast Cancer Survivor After Treatment Ends

54:18 Why the System Fails: Reimbursement, Resources, and Survivorship Gaps

01:00:07 Can You Be on Tamoxifen and Hormone Replacement Therapy?

01:03:26 Three Neurologists, One Tau Test, and the Dementia Dismissal

01:06:26 Positive Stories: Women Who Took Back Their Health and Won

01:09:16 The One Wish: Valuing Ovarian Function Beyond Reproduction

_______

Thank you to our sponsors

KetoneIQ: https://ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFF

DailyBasis: https://www.dailybasislife.com/NEURO for 50% off first month

IQBARS: https://www.eatiqbar.com/

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_______

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 breast cancer treatment ends when the tumor is gone. Science says that's where the real damage often begins, and the woman making that argument was diagnosed at 28, lost her mother to ovarian cancer the same year, and turned her own dismissal by the medical system into a specialization that now treats women nobody else will touch.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Corinne Menn Board Certified OBGYN, breast cancer survivor, and one of the few specialists in the world treating menopause in cancer survivors. We break down why 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no strong family history, why tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors quietly devastate brain, bone, and sexual health, and why telling a woman with severe vaginal atrophy to use coconut oil is not evidence-based medicine. Dr. Corinne also opens up about her own diagnosis, her premature menopause at 28, the truth about hormone replacement therapy after breast cancer, and the BRCA, ApoE4, and surgical menopause snowball nobody is putting together for patients. This conversation will completely change how you think about breast cancer, menopause, and the women's health crisis hiding in plain sight.

*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*
(00:00:00) Intro: Why Nobody Is Coming to Save Breast Cancer Survivors (00:01:05) Karin's Origin Story: Diagnosed at 28, Losing Her Mom, and Premature Menopause (00:03:06) The 85% Cure Rate Lie: Why Survival Comes at a Brutal Cost (00:06:13) Breast Cancer Is Not One Disease: Why 80% Have No Family History (00:08:14) BRCA1, BRCA2, and the Genetic Mutations Most Women Never Get Tested For (00:13:14) Karin's Own Genetic Test Story and Why 23andMe Is Not Enough (00:15:07) BRCA1 vs BRCA2: Age of Onset and When to Remove Ovaries (00:17:30) The Biology of Estrogen: Why Estrogen Does Not Cause Breast Cancer (00:23:40) Birth Control, Breastfeeding, and the Real Risk Factors (00:26:17) Alcohol, Inflammation, and the Toxins Driving Cancer Rates (00:27:46) Tamoxifen Explained: What It Does to Your Brain, Bones, and Body (00:34:23) Aromatase Inhibitors: Putting Your Estrogen in the Basement (00:37:15) Where Women Go When No Doctor Will Help Them (00:41:17) Oophorectomy, Early Menopause, and the 6 to 12% of Women Affected (00:44:26) Why Black Women Face the Highest Risk and the Least Care (00:46:20) The ApoE4, BRCA, and Surgical Menopause Snowball (00:48:02) Coconut Oil Is Not Medicine: The Vaginal Estrogen Truth (00:50:35) HRT Denial and the Myths Keeping Women From Treatment (00:51:13) Who Owns the Breast Cancer Survivor After Treatment Ends (00:54:18) Why the System Fails: Reimbursement, Resources, and Survivorship Gaps (01:00:07) Can You Be on Tamoxifen and Hormone Replacement Therapy? (01:03:26) Three Neurologists, One Tau Test, and the Dementia Dismissal (01:06:26) Positive Stories: Women Who Took Back Their Health and Won (01:09:16) The One Wish: Valuing Ovarian Function Beyond Reproduction

_______

*Thank you to our sponsors*
KetoneIQ: https://ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFF
DailyBasis: https://www.dailybasislife.com/NEURO for 50% off first month
IQBARS: https://www.eatiqbar.com/
Biologica: https://biologica.com/NEURO Up to 32% off first subscription order
Cure Hydration: https://www.curehydration.com/ Use code NEURO gets 20% off
Honey Love: https://www.honeylove.com/NEURO Save 20% Off Honeylove #honeylovepod

_______

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...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:*
https://tinyurl.com/55c24w66

Most people think tracking your brain is science fiction. The truth is, the technology to measure your brainwaves, train your focus, and deepen your deep sleep already fits inside a sleek little headband and the woman who built it has been studying neuroplasticity since long before consumer neurotech existed.

In this episode, I sit down with Ariel Garten, neuroscientist, psychotherapist, and co-founder of Muse, the brain-sensing wearable backed by the world's largest consumer EEG data set. We break down what brainwaves actually are, why your individual alpha peak frequency is one of the most underrated markers of cognitive aging, and how just five minutes of focused attention meditation per day can make your brain look 7.5 years younger. Ariel walks me through sleep spindles as the single greatest predictor of brain age, how the glymphatic system clears amyloid beta during deep sleep, and why hemispheric specialization shows up so differently in male and female anxiety. We also get into

Muse's foundation brain model, novel biomarkers for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, the digital sleeping pill, and her mission to make sure no one is jailed by the prison of their own mind. This conversation will change how you think about your brain, your sleep, and what cognitive longevity actually requires.

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance.

_____

*TOPICS DISCUSSED*
(00:00:00) Intro: Inside the Brain Sensing Headband Changing Neuroscience (00:05:17) What an EEG Actually Measures and Your Brainwaves Explained (00:13:20) Alpha Waves, Flow State, and Why It's Easier to Reach Than You Think (00:23:11) Peak Alpha Frequency: The Refresh Rate of Your Brain (00:29:25) The Meditation Study That Made Brains Look 7.5 Years Younger (00:38:30) Sleep Spindles: The Single Greatest Predictor of Brain Age (00:43:30) Deep Sleep, Delta Waves, and the Glymphatic Power Wash (00:48:11) Muse's Digital Sleeping Pill and Deep Sleep Boost (01:01:21) fNIRS, Blood Flow Training, and the Athena Owl Experience (01:04:23) The Foundation Brain Model and Novel Biomarkers for Alzheimer's

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*Thank you to our sponsors*
Function Health: https://www.functionhealth.com/louisanicola
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Jones Road Beauty: https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com and use code NEURO
Lifeboost Coffee: https://lifeboostcoffee.com/ and use code NEURO for 10% off
Momentum: https://momentumshake.com/neuro Get Free Welcome Kit + Travel Collection — $70 value
IQBARS: https://www.eatiqbar.com/

_______

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 building a billion-dollar consumer brand requires a Stanford MBA, a celebrity co-sign, and a war chest of venture capital. The reality is messier. The person making that case mixed nootropics in his college dorm room, helped his paralyzed best friend find his edge again with the same compounds, and turned a piece of gum into one of the fastest-growing functional brands in America.

In this episode, I sit down with Kent Yoshimura, neuroscientist, martial artist, muralist, and co-founder of Neuro Gum. We break down why the founder's identity matters more than the ingredient list, why cold compression makes most creatine gummies a scam, and why nano-influencers will quietly outperform every Kardashian-tier post by 2027. Kent also opens up about the trademark lawsuit that nearly killed the company, the Daniel Lubetzky DM that ended a war of attrition in a single message, the 25,000-creator Discord running Neuro's TikTok flywheel, the $10 million raise that built the team, and what he would do with $10,000 if he had to start a brand over today. This conversation will completely change how you think about cognitive performance, founder credibility, and what it takes to build a brand people trust over an algorithm.

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: Mixing Supplements in a Dorm Room and the Birth of Neuro Gum

04:27 Martial Arts, Triathlon, and What Elite Sport Teaches You About Business

14:08 Ryan's Snowboarding Accident and the Accessibility Mission

24:03 Cold Compression, Why Creatine Gummies Are a Scam, and the Melatonin Myth

30:23 The 2020 Inflection Point: CVS, Shark Tank, and Joe Rogan

31:23 The TikTok Playbook: Posting Every Day for a Year With No Agency

42:19 The 25,000-Creator Community and Paying Out a Quarter Million a Month

46:27 The $300 Million Lawsuit and the Daniel Lubetzky DM That Saved Neuro Gum

53:11 Why Red Bull's Dietrich Mateschitz Is Kent's Hero

1:00:17 AI, One-Person Billionaires, and Why Humanity Is the New Commodity

1:03:44 First Principles for Anyone Starting a Brand Today

1:08:40 The End of Mega-Influencers and the Rise of Nano Trust

1:09:49 What He Would Do With 10,000 Dollars to Start a Brand Today

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Thank you to our sponsors

Pulsetto: https://pulsetto.tech/pages/NEURO or use Code NEURO for some off your order

Huel: https://www.huel.com/neuro use promo code NEURO for 15% OFF (New Customers, Min. $75 purchase)

KetoneIQ: https://ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFF

DailyBasis: https://www.dailybasislife.com/NEURO for 50% off first month

_______

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 their kitchen is the safest place in their home. The truth is the opposite. The cookware you use every day, the cutting boards you trust, the utensils you stir with, even the coffee maker on your counter, may be quietly leaching forever chemicals, microplastics, and heavy metals into your food and into your brain. In this episode, I sit down with Jordan Nathan, founder and CEO of Caraway, the brand redefining what nontoxic actually means in the modern home. Jordan walks me through the night he called poison control after overheating a Teflon pan, the 2-year journey to launch a cookware line free of PFAS, and why six U.S. states have now banned forever chemicals in cookware. We unpack what PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE actually are, why they accumulate in fat tissue and cross the blood brain barrier, and why scratched pans, plastic cutting boards, and black nylon utensils are some of the most dangerous things in your kitchen.

Then we go deep on the science. I break down the Nature Medicine 2025 study showing microplastics in human brain tissue at higher concentrations than the liver or kidney, with the highest accumulation found in dementia brains. We cover the rise of autoimmune disease, the credit card's worth of plastic the average person consumes every week, Caraway's third party testing for over 600 PFAS chemicals, and a full kitchen audit on a $1,000 budget covering induction vs gas, dishwasher dangers, and what's coming next as Caraway expands into the broader nontoxic home. This conversation will completely change how you think about what is in your kitchen, what is in your body, and what you can actually do about it.

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: Plastic Is Hiding in Plain Sight in Your Kitchen

01:36 The Night Jordan Called Poison Control Over a Teflon Pan

05:06 PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE: What Forever Chemicals Actually Are

09:35 Why PFAS Accumulate in Fat Tissue and Cross the Blood Brain Barrier

13:31 The Birth of Caraway and What the Name Actually Means

17:50 Why 6 States Have Banned PFAS in Cookware

19:22 Third Party Testing: How Caraway Tests for 600+ PFAS Chemicals

23:10 The Steve Jobs Mentality: Industry Standards Aren't Our Standards

29:31 Scratched Pans, Plastic Cutting Boards, and the Hidden Risks

33:18 Microplastics Found in Human Brain Tissue: The 2025 Study

37:28 Caraway's Bestsellers and the Expansion Into the Whole Home

40:20 Cast Iron, Stainless Steel, and How to Choose Cookware

41:29 Why You Should Never Put Cookware in the Dishwasher

43:02 Gas vs Induction Stoves: Which One Is Actually Safer

44:30 The Full $1,000 Kitchen Audit: Where to Start

49:21 Black Plastic, Nylon Utensils, and the Truth About Takeout Containers

51:00 One Thing Jordan Wishes He Knew About the Average Kitchen

_______

Thank you to our sponsors

DailyBasis: https://www.dailybasislife.com/NEURO for 50% off first month

JSHealth: https://jshealthvitamins.com and use code NEURO for 20% off

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_______

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

Elon Musk is widely regarded as the benchmark of elite human performance. From a neuroscience perspective, he is something else entirely: by his own self-documentation across interviews and social media, he has become the most thoroughly traceable case of elite cognitive deterioration ever observed in real time. The same biology eroding his decision-making carries categorically different, and far more dangerous, consequences for a specific hormonal architecture, with a 15 year delay on the damage. In this solo episode, I conduct a forensic neuroscience breakdown of what chronic, extreme output actually does to the brain. I examine why the 100 hour workweek punishes rather than rewards the prefrontal cortex, how the glymphatic system clears neurotoxic byproducts like amyloid beta only during deep sleep, and what chronic cortisol does to the hippocampus, including measurable volumetric reduction visible on MRI.

I walk through the 2025 Framingham Heart Study showing that elevated midlife cortisol predicted increased amyloid deposition 15 years later, but only in postmenopausal women, then break down the biomarker blueprint for sustained cognition (morning cortisol, HRV, fasting insulin), the three inputs that build a real cortisol buffer, and the first principles operating system that lets Musk run six companies without the context switching cost that would break most executives.

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 Most Documented Case of Cognitive Deterioration in Real Time

07:18 The Prefrontal Cortex: How High Performing Brains Hit a Biological Ceiling

14:06 The Amygdala Handoff: When Your Threat System Takes Over

15:16 The Glymphatic System: Why Your Brain Only Cleans Itself in Deep Sleep

21:49 Cortisol: The Molecule That Makes or Breaks the 100 Hour Workweek

24:00 What Chronic Cortisol Actually Does to the Hippocampus

29:09 The Framingham Data: Cortisol Predicts Alzheimer's in Women 15 Years Later

37:01 The Biomarker Blueprint: Morning Cortisol, HRV, and Fasting Insulin

43:59 Sleep Architecture: Why Duration Alone Will Not Save You

49:27 The Cortisol Buffer: VO2 Max, Resistance Training, and Morning Light

54:13 The Dopamine Architecture of Obsession and the Science of Flow

59:01 The Longitudinal Verdict: Greatness Without Biological Debt

01:01:49 The Three Non-Negotiables for Operating at Your A Phase

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Thank you to our sponsors

Function Health: https://www.functionhealth.com/louisanicola

Timeline: http://timeline.com/NEURO

AirDoctor: https://www.AirDoctorPro.com use promo code NEURO for up to $300 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

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

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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

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_______

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

_______

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_______

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

_______

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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

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_______

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

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_______

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

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_______

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

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Fenix: https://www.fenixhealthscience.com/

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_______

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

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_______

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

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_______

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*

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_______

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.

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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

Most people assume they’re healthy until something breaks. The problem is that dysfunction shows up in your biology years before symptoms appear.

I sat down with Dr. Paul Turek to break down what modern biomarkers actually reveal about your health, performance, and long term disease risk.

We explore why “normal” lab ranges can be misleading, why guessing based on symptoms fails, and how early signs of metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and nutrient deficiencies quietly shape how you feel, train, and age. 

This conversation is about testing and not guessing. We spoke about how to understand what’s happening inside your body before problems become diagnosed. And about taking ownership of your health data at any age, not reacting once it’s too late.

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

01:18 Why most people miss early signs of dysfunction

03:42 Why symptoms appear years after biological dysfunction

06:15 What modern blood biomarkers actually reveal about health

09:48 Metabolic dysfunction and early insulin resistance

13:12 Inflammation markers and long-term disease risk

16:30 Why “normal” lab ranges can be misleading

19:55 Nutrient deficiencies that quietly impact energy and cognition

24:05 How biomarkers influence training, recovery, and performance

28:10 Male and female differences in interpreting lab data

32:20 Hormones, aging, and proactive health monitoring

36:05 Why guessing based on symptoms fails

39:45 Taking ownership of your health data at any age

44:05 Longevity, prevention, and performance through testing

48:20 When to test, how often, and what actually matters

52:10 The future of personalized medicine and early intervention

56:00 Final takeaways on testing vs reacting

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Function: Visit https://functionhealth.com/louisa or use gift code NEURO100 at sign-up to own your health.

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Kion: Support strength, recovery, and muscle as you age with essential amino acids. Get 20% off at https://getkion.com/neuro

I’m Louisa Nicola, clinical neurophysiologist, Alzheimer’s prevention specialist, and 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/theneuroexperience_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@louisanicola_

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Neuro Experience, I sit down with Mike Feldstein to explain how indoor air quality affects the brain and nervous system. They break down why indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air and how modern buildings trap particles and chemicals. The conversation also covers airflow, off-gassing from everyday materials, and the realities of mould and environmental testing.

Discover:

• Why indoor air can be 10x more polluted than outdoor air

• How airflow and building design influence air quality

• What VOCs, metals, and mold particles actually mean biologically

• Why air and mold testing is often misleading

• How detox culture can increase nervous system stress

📺 Watch the full episode here - https://youtu.be/932rUIBP4SM?si=TyggvjFr1hFG3SP5

Follow The Neuro ExperienceInstagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/theneuroexperience_/⁠TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@louisanicola

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people fail at their goals not because they lack discipline but because they are working against their own neurobiology.

After spending over a decade studying the brain I have learned this. Your brain does not change based on what you want. It changes based on the conditions you create for it.

This episode is not about motivation. It is about understanding how your brain actually learns adapts and transforms at a structural level so you can make 2025 the year things permanently shift.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s with my science backed protocol for women 30 plus.

https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. Each episode delivers evidence based insights you can apply to your own health journey.

Topics discussed

00:00 Intro

02:38 Why Most People Fail at Personal Development

03:21 Your Prefrontal Cortex and the Brain Architecture Problem

04:56 What Is Neuroplasticity and How Your Brain Changes

05:40 Sponsor Rho Nutrition

06:55 Principle One Identity Over Goals and Your Brain’s Reality Filter

09:40 Principle Two The 48 Hour Window of Neuroplasticity

13:05 Principle Three Decision Fatigue and Why Willpower Is Finite

15:28 Principle Four Lower Your Activation Threshold for Success

19:16 Principle Five Emotion Encodes Memory Ten Times Stronger Than Logic

21:42 Principle Six Stop Fighting Your Environment and Redesign It

24:11 Principle Seven Your Brain Changes While Resting Not Working

26:24 Recap Seven Neuroscience Backed Principles for 2026

Sponsors

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode.

Cure Hydration

Get twenty percent off your first order at

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Rewild your nutrition at

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Rho Nutrition

Your brain can only perform at the level your biology allows.

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Ketone IQ

Get thirty percent off your subscription and a free gift with your second shipment at

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Or find Ketone IQ at Target stores nationwide.

About Louisa

I am Louisa Nicola clinical neurophysiologist Alzheimer’s prevention specialist and 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 are committed to optimizing your brain reducing Alzheimer’s risk and staying mentally sharp for life you are in the right place.

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

What if 70% of cognitive decline is optional — and you've been told the wrong story about aging?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tommy Wood — neuroscientist, performance researcher, and author of The Stimulated Mind — to dismantle the myth that brain decline is inevitable. Dr. Wood reveals why most people are treating their brains like trucks when they should be treating them like Formula One cars — and how that mindset shift changes everything.

We unpack the truth about cognitive function: it doesn't have to decline. Studies show that for most people, brain performance can stay stable from your 50s into your 80s and beyond. But here's what no one is saying: the average decline we see is driven by a minority of people who experience severe deterioration — not the majority. That means the trajectory you're on is largely within your control.

Dr. Wood breaks down his 3S Model for Brain Health — Stimulus, Supply, and Support — a framework that simplifies the overwhelming noise around brain optimization. We discuss why retirement accelerates cognitive decline by 40%, how resistance training protects white matter and executive function, why being unkind to yourself creates chronic inflammation that accelerates dementia risk, and the shocking role of allostatic load in brain aging.

This conversation will change how you think about your brain. It's not about doing 40 things perfectly. It's about understanding the core mechanisms — and making strategic changes that shift the entire system in your favor.

About the guest:

Dr. Tommy Wood is a neuroscientist, performance researcher, and author of The Stimulated Mind. He holds a PhD in physiology and neuroscience from the University of Cambridge and an MD from the University of Oslo. Dr. Wood has worked with Formula One drivers, elite athletes, and high performers across industries to optimize brain health and cognitive longevity. His work focuses on translating cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for peak performance and dementia prevention.

***

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/brain-code-yt

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

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_

Topics discussed:
00:00:00 Introduction: The Cognitive Decline Choice 00:08:38 The Supplement Myth: Why 500 Dollars a Month Wo

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if thousands of steps of gentle walking aren’t giving you the brain protection you think they are?

In this solo episode, I break down one of the most important exercise studies published in Nature Communications and what it means for your brain, longevity, and Alzheimer’s risk.

Tracking over 73,000 people for eight years using wearables, the findings are shocking: one minute of vigorous exercise is worth up to 10 minutes of moderate activity — not the outdated 2-to-1 rule. For diabetes prevention, it’s nearly 10-to-1. For cardiovascular mortality, it’s 8-to-1. And here’s what no one is saying: every outcome measured — heart disease, diabetes, metabolic dysfunction — is an independent risk factor for Alzheimer’s and dementia.

I explain why vigorous exercise is so powerful for your brain: shear stress that strengthens blood vessels, lactate that triggers BDNF, muscle fiber recruitment that protects against falls and cognitive decline, and glucose regulation that defends against insulin resistance — a driver of neurodegeneration.

Think vigorous exercise is out of reach? Good news: the study defines it as brisk stairs, carrying groceries, or playing actively with your kids. No gym required — just effort. Just 3–4 minutes of vigorous bursts per day can reduce all-cause mortality by 40% and cardiovascular events by nearly 50%.

For women over 40, this is critical. Two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases are women, and perimenopause is a vulnerability window for the brain. Vigorous exercise can partially compensate for declining estrogen by improving glucose regulation, reducing inflammation, and protecting the brain in ways gentle movement cannot.

***

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/brain-code-yt

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Rho Nutrition
You can get 20% off with the code NEURO at https://rhonutrition.com

Function Health
Visit https://functionhealth.com/louisa or use gift code NEURO100 at sign-up to own your health.

AquaTru
Go to https://AquaTru.com now for 20% off using promo code NEURO.

Timeline
Head to https://www.timeline.com/neuro to get 20% off.

Cure Hydration
Get 20% off your first order at https://curehydration.com/neuro with 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_

Topics discussed:
00:00:00 Introduction: The Exercise Intensity Revolution 00:01:02 The Study That Changes Everything 00:04:50 The Flawed Foundation: Why Guidelines Were Wrong 00:06:50 The Real Numbers: 4 to 10 Times More Powerful 00:08:53 The Brain Connection No One Is Talking About 00:15:32 Mechanism 1: Shear Stress and Cerebral Blood Flow 00:17:38 Mechanism 2: Lactate and BDNF Production 00:19:25 Mechanism 3: Type 2 Muscle Fibers and Myokines 00:24:30 Mechanism 4: Glucose Regulation and Mitochondrial Health 00:28:18 VILPA: The 3-Minute Daily Game Changer 00:32:16 Women and Menopause: The Critical Window 00:35:19 Practical Protocols: What to Do Starting Today

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if thousands of men are losing their sexual function treating a cancer that was never going to kill them?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Shawn Zimberg — board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director at Advanced Radiation Centers of New York — to unpack the truth about prostate cancer screening, overtreatment, and what every man over 40 needs to know.

Dr. Zimberg reveals that the prostate cancer industry has an overtreatment problem — and genomic testing is exposing which tumors need aggressive treatment and which don’t. We break down why PSA is broken, why Gleason scores don’t tell the full story, and how cadaver studies show men from their 20s to 80s harbor prostate cancer cells that never become clinically significant.

We also dive into the science behind radiation therapy, the BioProtect balloon spacer (Dr. Zimberg has performed nearly 2,000 — more than anyone in the world), and the cutting-edge radioligand therapy changing outcomes for stage 4 prostate cancer.

If you’re a man, love a man, or work with men in health or performance, this is essential listening.

About the guest:
Dr. Shawn Zimberg is a board-certified radiation oncologist, medical director at Advanced Radiation Centers of New York, and director of radiation oncology at Bronx Care Hospital. He trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering and has pioneered the use of rectal spacer technology in prostate cancer treatment, having performed nearly 2,000 PioProtect balloon procedures — more than any other physician in the world.

***

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/brain-code-yt

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Troscriptions — Get 10% off your first order at https://troscriptions.com/neuro or enter code NEURO at checkout.

***

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_

***

Topics discussed:
00:00:00 Introduction: The Prostate Cancer Overtreatment Crisis 00:02:11 Understanding the Prostate: Anatomy and Function 00:04:43 The Cancer Paradox: Size Does Not Equal Risk 00:07:43 Radiation Oncology: The Specialty Explained 00:11:08 Lifetime Risk and Genetic Factors 00:15:32 PSA Testing: The Gold Standard Screening Tool 00:20:36 The Diagnostic Journey: MRI and Biopsy Techniques 00:25:27 The Ejaculation Study: Myth or Reality? 00:33:15 Gleason Scores Decoded: Understanding Aggressiveness 00:37:03 Molecular Profiling: Looking Under the Hood 00:39:27 Treatment Pathways: Surveillance, Surgery, or Radiation 00:41:02 Active Surveillance: When Watching is Appropriate 00:43:31 Stage 4 and Radio Ligand Therapy: The New Frontier 00:48:21 Testosterone and Prostate Cancer: The Complex Relationship 00:52:38 Radiation Therapy Explained: DNA Damage and Healing 00:55:28 The Bioprotect Balloon: Revolutionary Rectal Protection 00:56:07 The Therapeutic Ratio: Maximizing Cure, Minimizing Damage 00:46:39 Robotic Prostatectomy and Surgical Options 01:06:36 Prevention and Early Detection: What Men Need to Know 01:08:28 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Dr. Zimberg

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I used to think fertility was pure luck — until conversations like this changed everything. I’ve watched women do everything right and still struggle… while others who ignored all the “rules” conceived effortlessly. It’s confusing, emotional, and at times, deeply unfair. But today’s guest, Dr. Natalie Crawford, explains exactly why this happens — and what women actually can control.

In this episode, we break down the science of fertility in a way every woman deserves to understand — whether you're 25, 35, or 45.

Most importantly, Dr. Crawford reveals the 5 fertility non-negotiables — the foundational biological factors every woman should understand long before she ever tries to conceive.

This is one of the most empowering episodes we’ve created — because fertility shouldn’t be a mystery, and women deserve better answers.

***

"The Fertility Formula" — Dr. Natalie Crawford’s upcoming book (available now for preorder).

About the guest: Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD, is a board-certified OB-GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility specialist. Known for her evidence-based, compassionate approach, she helps women understand their hormones, fertility, and metabolic health while guiding thousands through IVF, cycle optimization, and reproductive longevity. She is the author of the upcoming book The Fertility Formula. 

***

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/brain-code-yt

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Cure Hydration

You can get 20% off your first order at ⁠https://curehydration.com/neuro⁠ with code NEURO.

Huel

Get Huel today with this exclusive offer for New Customers of 15% OFF with code neuro at ⁠https://huel.com/⁠neuro (Minimum $75 purchase).

Timeline

My friends at Timeline are offering 20% off, just for my listeners. Head to ⁠https://timeline.com/neuro⁠ to get started.

Hollow Socks

For a limited time, Hollow Socks is having a Buy 3, Get 3 Free Sale. Head to ⁠https://Hollowsocks.com⁠ today to check it out. That’s ⁠https://HollowSocks.com⁠ for up to 50% off your order.

Jones Road Beauty

For a limited time our listeners are getting a free Cool Gloss on their first purchase when they use code NEURO at checkout. Just head to ⁠https://Jonesroadbeauty.com⁠

***

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_

***

Topics discussed:

00:00 – Intro

01:26 – Fertility: Not Luck—It’s Health

03:55 – Inflammation: The Hidden Driver of Infertility

07:36 – AMH Explained: Egg Quantity vs. Quality

08:13 – How Eggs Work: The “Vault” & Aging

09:42 – How Inflammation Damages Eggs & Hormones

19:06 – Why No One Teaches Women to Track Cycles

20:14 – Overtraining, Stress & Losing Your Period

23:53 – IVF Explained: What Really Happens

26:55 – Frozen vs. Fresh Embryos & Success Rates

35:06 – Sperm Quality: The Missing Half of Fertility

49:42 – What Every Woman Should Do at 28 or 38

53:06 – Sleep, Stress & Hormones: The Fertility Non-Negotiables

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if I told you that the moment you break your femur, you have a 30% chance of dying — and a 50% chance of never going home again?

In this minisode, I share the most shocking moments from my conversation with orthopedic surgeon and longevity expert Dr. Vonda Wright, and why bone health is one of the biggest blind spots in women’s health.

Dr. Wright reveals that “the minute you fall and break this bone… you have a 30% chance of dying from the complications” — pneumonia, UTIs, bedsores — and “a 50% chance of not returning to the home where you came from.”

We also break down her viral MRI comparison: the thigh of a sedentary 74-year-old vs. a 40-year-old vs. a 74-year-old triathlete — and how the active 74-year-old looks nearly identical to the 40-year-old. Aging is not the enemy; inaction is.

If you’re in your 30s, 40s, or beyond, this is your wake-up call:
You can change the trajectory of your health if you start early enough.

This episode features highlights from our full conversation, which premiered September 2nd, 2025. Watch the full episode here → https://youtu.be/pUb1z_LJp3g

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

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_

Topics discussed:
00:00:00 Introduction: The Deadly Truth About Hip Fractures 00:01:08 The Cost of Inaction: Financial and Personal Impact 00:01:28 Building Better Bones: It's Never Too Late 00:02:16 The Power of Resistance Training at Any Age 00:03:00 Starting Early: Lessons for the Next Generation 00:03:22 The Viral MRI: 40-Year-Old vs 74-Year-Old Athletes 00:03:54 Anatomy of Aging: What the MRI Really Shows 00:04:41 Bone as an Endocrine Organ: The Master Communicator 00:05:28 The Silent Crisis: Why We Don't Hear Our Bones 00:06:16 The Menopause Catastrophe: When Estrogen Walks Out

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Millions of women in their 30s–50s are being told they’re “depressed” when their brains and hormones are simply changing.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz to unpack the truth about midlife mood shifts, rage, and the hormonal fluctuations that mimic depression but aren’t the same. We break down the science of perimenopause, why women are so often misdiagnosed, and how decades of excluding women from research left major gaps in understanding how estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone shape the brain. Dr. Gilberg-Lenz reveals how hormonal changes—starting up to ten years before menopause—can transform mood, cognition, and stress, and how modern science is finally catching up to just how powerfully hormones influence the mind.

About the guest:

Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz is a board-certified OB/GYN and integrative women’s health expert who blends conventional medicine with Ayurvedic training. A USC-trained physician with a residency at Cedars-Sinai, she supports women from adolescence through menopause and is the author of Menopause Bootcamp (Harper Wave, 2022). Her work focuses on demystifying midlife, challenging ageism in healthcare, and empowering women with science-based guidance.

• Instagram: @askdrsuzanne 
  
  

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Function Health

Visit https://functionhealth.com/louisa or use gift code NEURO100 at sign-up to own your health. 

Thrive Market

Go to https://ThriveMarket.com/neuro to get 30% off your first order, and a free $60 gift

Branch Basics

Take 15% off your order at https://branchbasics.com/NEURO with promo code NEURO.  

Bubs Natural

For a limited time only, our listeners are getting 20% OFF at https://bubsnaturals.com   by using code LOUISA at checkout

Vuori
Get 20% off your first purchase at https://vuori.com/neuro 

Rho Nutrition

You can get 20% off with the code NEURO at https://rhonutrition.com

***

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_

Topics discussed:

00:00 – Intro

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If you’re heading into the holidays feeling drained or unfocused, this episode is your reset button.

Before the year ends, I’m sharing my personal health gift guide—the real tools and rituals I use to support my brain, boost my energy, and improve my sleep.

I walk you through the five pillars I rely on:

• mitochondrial support
• circadian rhythm, environment and light hygiene
• lymphatic drainage for clearer thinking
• sleep optimization
• blood work
  

From red light therapy and blue-light–blocking tools to electrolytes, creatine, nontoxic cookware, and the blood work I swear by—these are the science-backed wellness picks I’m gifting to myself and the people I love.

Let’s head into the new year feeling stronger, clearer, and truly supported.

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Boncharge:

Red Light Face Mask for 25% off sitewide - no code needed. Head to https://boncharge.com/products/red-light-face-mask?rfsn=8835559.ace3e64

Time-line:

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***

Products mentioned:

Brain Code:

https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/brain-code

Urolithin a:

https://www.timeline.com/partners/neuro-athletics

Happy Light:

https://a.co/d/ePBIExx

Boncharge light bulbs:

https://boncharge.com/products/full-spectrum-light-bulb

Boncharge blue light blocking glasses:

Boncharge Blue Light Blocking glasses

Boncharge red light panel:

https://boncharge.com/products/demi-red-light-device

EightSleep:

https://www.eightsleep.com/product/pod-cover/

Supplements:

• Myo-inositol

• L-theanine

• GABA

• Magnesium L-threonate

Vibration plate:

https://a.co/d/gBsVZ0Z

Hyperice Normatec Boots:

https://hyperice.com/products/normatec-3-legs/

Creatine:

https://puori.com/neuro

Cookware:

https://Carawayhome.com/neuro

Blood work:

https://functionhealth.com/louisa

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_

Topics discussed:

00:00 – Holiday Message & Why Brain Span Matters

01:44 – The Five Pillars of My Wellness Rituals

03:23 – Mitochondrial Health 101 (Foundational Tools)

05:09 – Urolithin A & How I Support Mitochondria

07:44 – Light, Circadian Rhythm & Brain Performance

09:34 – My Night Ritual: Melatonin & Blue Light Blocking

13:25 – Why I Use Red Light & Infrared Therapy Daily

15:41 – Sleep Rituals for Deep Recovery

17:52 – Lymphatic Drainage for Brain Fog & Alzheimer’s Risk

19:45 – Creatine for Energy & Sleep Deprivation Support

20:47 – Micro Habits: Hydration, Breathwork & Training

22:52 – Non-Toxic Cooking: Why I Switched to Caraway

23:35 – Bloodwork Every Four Months (My #1 Health Gift)

24:07 – Final Thoughts & Holiday Wishes

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A single overlooked bacteria in your mouth can alter hormones, disrupt implantation, and delay pregnancy — and most doctors never test for it.

That’s what I discovered reading a study showing that women with periodontal disease take two months longer to conceive, and that the gingivitis pathogen P. gingivalis has been found in the placentas of women who miscarried.

In this minisode, I sit down with biological dentist Dr. Staci Whitman to uncover how oral pathogens, inflammatory cytokines, and “leaky gums” impact reproductive health for both women and men. We discuss saliva, diet, mouth breathing, and why oral microbiome testing may be one of the most powerful—and overlooked—tools in fertility care.

This episode features highlights from our full conversation, which premiered August 26th, 2025. Watch the full episode here → https://youtu.be/vqcNFx4CRfk

If you care about hormones, fertility, pregnancy, or inflammation, this is a must-listen.

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

AquaTru

Go to https://AquaTru.com now for 20% off using promo code NEURO.

Honeylove

Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.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_

Topics discussed:
00:00:00 Introduction: The Oral Health-Fertility Connection 00:00:49 The Science Behind Periodontal Disease and Conception 00:01:23 Leaky Gums: The Gateway to Systemic Inflammation 00:04:25 The Complete Map of Oral Health 00:05:07 Nutrition: The Foundation of Oral Health 00:06:48 The Carnivore Paradox: Why Diet Matters More Than Brushing 00:09:55 The pH Factor: Acidity and Oral Disease 00:11:42 Eating Frequency and the Oral Microbiome 00:15:23 Saliva: Your Mouth's Golden Elixir 00:16:43 Testing Your Oral Microbiome

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What if your mouth could reveal your hormonal health, fertility status, and even your brain’s risk for Alzheimer’s?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Leedia Riman, a biological and integrative dentist redefining how we care for our teeth. She reveals the science behind estrogen receptors in the mouth, jawbone, and salivary glands—and how they link oral health to menopause, fertility, and brain aging.

We explore the oral microbiome and how an imbalance can spark inflammation that spreads to the brain, gut, and even the placenta. Dr. Leedia explains how testing your oral microbiome can flag disease risks early, and why every woman over 35 should understand what’s happening inside her mouth.

This episode isn’t just for women—oral inflammation also impacts male fertility, bone density, and long-term health. From dry mouth to dementia, pregnancy gingivitis to biofilm mapping, this is one of the most eye-opening conversations we’ve had on The Neuro Experience.

***

About Dr. Riman:

Dr. Leedia Riman is a Beverly Hills biological and integrative dentist who connects oral health with whole-body wellness. She specializes in conservative, biomimetic cosmetic dentistry, gum and bone health, and a root-cause approach—with a focus on how hormonal shifts, especially in women, affect the mouth and jaw. Dr. Leedia coined “Responsible Cosmetic Dentistry” to describe her philosophy of long-term, minimally invasive, personalized care.

Instagram: @drleedia

Website: https://www.drleedia.com

Elev8 Dentistry: https://elev8care.com

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Function Health:
Visit https://functionhealth.com/louisa or use code NEURO100 at sign-up to own your health. 

Caraway:
Visit https://www.carawayhome.com/neuro to take advantage of this limited-time offer for up to 20% off your purchase.

Huel:

Try both products today with 15% off your purchase for new customers with my exclusive code neuro at https://www.huel.com/neuro.

Calm:
Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at https://www.calm.com/louisa 

Cure Hydration:
Get 20% off your first order at https://curehydration.com/neuro with code NEURO

Vuori:
Get 20% off your first purchase at https://www.vuori.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_


***

Topics discussed:

Use 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:09 What is Biological Dentistry? 00:03:44 Estrogen Decline and Your Mouth 00:06:45 The Oral Microbiome Crisis 00:10:51 The Pregnancy-Oral Health Connection 00:13:41 Biofilm Mapping: A Revolutionary Diagnostic Tool 00:16:55 Fertility, Sperm Health, and Oral Inflammation 00:24:27 Warning Signs: Burning Mouth and Gum Disease 00:28:57 Hormone Replacement Therapy and Oral Health 00:29:31 The Saudi Arabia Discovery 00:20:41 Pregnancy's Impact on Oral Health 00:33:31 Essential Dental Care Protocol 00:42:11 Bone Loss and Osteoporosis in the Jaw 00:46:15 Daily Oral Care Routine for Menopausal Women 00:52:32 The Vitamin D and K2 Connection 00:49:43 Mouth Taping and Saliva Preservation 00:54:45 Action Plan: Treating the 52-Year-Old Woman to include chapters.

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What if the most powerful predictor of your lifespan has nothing to do with your genetics, diet, workouts, or supplements?

In this groundbreaking episode, neuroscientist Louisa Nicola sits down with bestselling author Shawn Stevenson to reveal the real missing piece in the longevity equation. Drawing from a massive 148-study meta-analysis of 300,000+ people and Harvard’s 80-year longitudinal study, Shawn explains why the quality of your social relationships is the strongest determinant of how long you’ll live — outperforming exercise, nutrition, and even quitting smoking.

This episode features highlights from our full conversation, which premiered July 7th, 2025. Watch the full episode here → https://youtu.be/FXWvyU21ILs

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

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_

***

Topics discussed: 

00:00 – Intro
00:20 – Why Food, Exercise & Sleep Aren’t Enough
00:50 – Relationships Cut Mortality by 50%
01:41 – Harvard’s 80-Year Longevity Study Findings
02:49 – Why “Warm Social Bonds” Outperform Diet & Exercise
03:26 – How Relationships Improve Stress Metabolism
04:40 – The Real Impact of Chronic Stress on Disease
06:09 – 80% of Doctor Visits Are Stress-Related
07:25 – Why We Aren’t Taught How to Build Healthy Relationships
08:52 – How Your Environment Shapes Your Health Behaviors
10:38 – Social Isolation, Aging & Cognitive Decline
11:16 – Why Loneliness Accelerates Alzheimer’s and Disease Progression

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if everything you’ve been told about menopause is wrong?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mary Claire Haver — board-certified OB/GYN and leading menopause expert — to unpack the science reshaping women’s health. We break down the FDA’s recent removal of the 22-year black box warning on hormone therapy, why only 4% of women use HRT today, and how fear and misinformation have shaped decades of care.

Dr. Haver also dives into the rise of menopause “biohacks,” from NAD and PRP to the fundamentals that truly move the needle: sleep, strength training, and metabolic health. Her message is simple: Menopause isn’t a disease — it’s a transition, and you deserve informed, evidence-based support.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed or confused during midlife changes, this conversation will give you clarity, confidence, and the science to advocate for yourself.

Follow Dr. Haver:
Instagram: @drmaryclaire
TikTok: @drmaryclaire
Website: The Pause Life
Pre-order The New Perimenopause, set to release on April 7, 2026: https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book
Listen to Dr. Haver's podcast, unPAUSED, here: https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-unpaused-podcast

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Troscriptions
Give it a try at https://www.troscriptions.com/NEURO or enter NEURO at checkout for 10% off your first order. 

Timeline
Head to https://www.timeline.com/neuro to get started.

Branch Basics
Head to https://www.branchbasics.com and use code NEURO for 15% off.

Hollow Socks
For a limited time Hollow Socks is having a Buy 3, Get 3 Free Sale. Head to https://www.ollowsocks.com today to check it out.

Jones Road Beauty
Use code NEURO at https://www.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_


***


Topics discussed:

00:00 – Intro

01:55 – The FDA removed the “black box” warning for HRT

05:16 – The Social Media Effect on Menopause Education

07:54 – How Doctors Historically Dismiss Women’s Symptoms

11:12 – Why So Many Women Get Antidepressants Instead of HRT

14:07 – Life Stress vs Hormone-Driven Symptoms

16:48 – The Timing Hypothesis / Critical Window Explained

19:06 – Why Modern RCTs Aren’t Happening

20:10 – Proven Benefits: Bone Health & Osteoporosis Prevention

21:35 – HRT, Dementia, and Brain Health: What the Data Actually Shows

23:16 – Environmental Toxins, Brain Health & Midlife Risk Factors

25:24 – How the Internet Distorts Menopause Education

27:10 – The “Brain Eating Itself” Debate: The Real Science

30:09 – What Brain Fog Really Is During Perimenopause

32:24 – Why High-Functioning Women Struggle the Most

34:03 – Breast Cancer Risk: What the WHI Actually Found

35:00 – Why Sleep Is the First Line of Treatment

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Every decade after 30, women lose up to 8% of their muscle mass—and by 50, many can’t even carry groceries upstairs. In this minisode, I sit down with  celebrity fitness trainer Ben Bruno to cut through the noise and talk about what really keeps you strong, mobile, and confident for life. From full-body training to bone-density myths, we unpack the truth about longevity, fitness, and how to stay powerful well into your 50s and beyond.

This episode features highlights from our full conversation, which premiered August 19th, 2025. Watch the full episode here → https://youtu.be/BeDB8pAfpLs?si=Lfg-ISGmVxYB0SLq

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

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_

***

Topics discussed:

00:00 – Intro: The Shocking Truth About Muscle Loss After 30
00:53 – Why Full-Body Strength Training Beats Every Trend
04:22 – Online Fitness vs. Real-World Results
07:24 – Biohacking, Red Light Therapy & Longevity Myths
10:19 – How to Train for Life, Not Just Looks
11:35 – Exercise Is Medicine: Finding the Right Dose

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, we’ve been told Alzheimer’s strikes in our 70s or 80s — but that’s not the full story. The truth is, it begins silently, building for years—sometimes decades—before symptoms ever appear. And by the time you notice it, the damage has already been done.

In this solo episode, I break down what I’ve learned after a decade studying brain health — especially the unique risks women face in midlife. Two out of three cases of Alzheimer’s are female. Why? It’s not just about age — it’s about hormones, metabolism, and lifestyle choices that start changing in our 30s, 40s, and 50s.

I’ll also share why I created Brain Code™ — my new digital course for women 40+ who want a science-backed plan to lower their risk of cognitive decline and live sharper, longer, and stronger lives. This isn’t optional self-care — it’s your cognitive Olympics.

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Function Health

Visit https://functionhealth.com/louisa or use gift code NEURO100 at sign-up to own your health.

Calm

Go to https://www.calm.com/LOUISA for 40% off unlimited access to Calm’s entire library. 

Timeline
My friends at Timeline are offering 20% off, just for my listeners. Head to https://www.timeline.com/neuro to get started. 

Vuori
Go to https://www.vuori.com/NEURO and receive 20% off your first purchase. Additionally, enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns.

Jones Road Beauty

For a limited time our listeners are getting a free Cool Gloss on their first purchase when they use code NEURO at checkout. Just head to https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com and use code NEURO at checkout.  

Branch Basics

Take 15% off your new Branch Basics Premium Starter Kit at https://www.BranchBasics.com with promo 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_
Topics discussed:

00:00:00 The Alzheimer's Crisis: Why This Disease Matters 00:04:50 Why Women Face Double the Risk 00:09:48 The Menopause-Brain Connection 00:16:38 Hormone Replacement Therapy: The Truth 00:18:32 Sleep: Your Brain's Detox System 00:21:07 Muscle as a Cognitive Organ 00:24:47 Sprint Training: The Forgotten Brain Weapon 00:28:23 Food as Brain Code 00:29:49 The Power of Quality Relationships 00:30:50 Brain Code: Your Action Plan to include chapters.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I used to assume conception began at the first sign of pregnancy — until I learned about Trimester Zero. The 100-day window before conception may be the most powerful period in shaping your baby’s lifelong health — and your own.

In this minisode, I sit down with Vida Delrahim and Ronit Menashe, co-founders of WeNatal, to unpack what science now calls the pre-pregnancy trimester. We talk about how both women and men can dramatically influence fertility and genetics before conception through nutrition, lifestyle, and the health of one mighty organelle — the mitochondria.

This episode features highlights from our full conversation, which premiered August 12th, 2025. Watch the full episode here → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gztCFH603g

About the guests:
After experiencing miscarriages just a week apart, best friends Vida and Ronit were devastated — and confused. Both were healthy, both on prenatal vitamins, and yet doctors dismissed their losses as “random” or “age-related.” They partnered with leading experts, pored over research, and created a science-backed prenatal system for both women and men. What began as a personal mission has grown into WeNatal — a movement giving couples the knowledge, tools, and products to support conception, pregnancy, and the lifelong health of future generations.

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsor for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Honeylove
Save 20% Off Honeylove at https://www.honeylove.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

You think you’re living healthy—organic food, filtered water, supplements—but what about the air you breathe? In this episode, I sit down with disaster-recovery expert and Jaspr founder Mike Feldstein to expose the hidden dangers of indoor air and how it may be silently sabotaging your health, sleep, and longevity.

After years rebuilding homes post-disaster, Mike discovered that people were getting sicker—not from what they ate, but from what they breathed. His solution: Jaspr, a sleek air-scrubbing system that removes 99.9% of ultra-fine particles. We break down how poor air quality impacts your biology and why cleaning the air could be the missing link to better performance and longer life. Follow Jaspr: Instagram: @jaspr.co Website: https://www.jaspr.co ***

SPECIAL OFFER For the month of November, get $400 off your Jaspr Air Scrubber when you use code NEURO at checkout. After Black Friday, you’ll still save $200 off—and this code never expires. Shop now at https://www.jaspr.co and start breathing cleaner air today. *** Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey. *** A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts: Huel Huel has launched their Black Edition Ready To Drink + their Daily Greens Ready To Drink! Try both products today with 15% off your purchase for New Customers with my exclusive code NEURO at https://www.huel.com/neuro. Use my code and fill out the post checkout survey to help support the show. Ketone IQ 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! Caraway The holidays are closer than ever, so get their gift (or yours) in time! Visit https://www.carawayhome.com/neuro to take advantage of this limited-time offer for up to 20% off your next purchase. Timeline My friends at Timeline are offering 20% off, just for my listeners. Head to https://www.timeline.com/neuro to get started. BUBS Head to https://www.bubsnaturals.com and use code LOUISA 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_ Topics discussed:

00:00 – Intro

03:09 – The Birth of Jaspr: Making Clean Air Beautiful

07:10 – What Is Toxic Air and How It Makes You Sick

09:05 – Mold, Mycotoxins, and the Hidden Health Connection

16:23 – PM 2.5: The Microscopic Particles That Can’t Escape Your Lungs

18:01 – Air Pollution, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Risk

21:43 – Why Hotel Air Is Making You Sick

24:52 – Cooking, Hair Dryers, and Hidden Air Pollution in Your Home

27:45 – Where the Toxins Go: Your Couch, Carpet, and Clothes

31:00 – Why “Zero” Air Quality Is Impossible

32:24 – The Difference Between an Air Purifier and an Air Scrubber

33:29 – Real-World Air Testing: Hotels, Dentists, and Dangerous Jobs

40:46 – Clean Air and Relationships: Stopping Snoring and “Sleep Divorce”

43:40 – What to Look for in an Air Purifier

46:34 – When and How to Replace Filters

47:31 – How to Prevent Mold and Moisture Buildup in Bathrooms

48:49 – Pets, Shoes, and the Hidden Dangers of “Fur Pollution”

51:11 – The Gym Air Problem: Rubber Floors and Toxins

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I used to think of fiber as just “good for digestion,” but it turns out this single nutrient can lower cholesterol as powerfully as a statin—and do so much more for your brain, gut, and longevity.

In this minisode of The Neuro Experience, I sit down with Dr. Rupy Aujla — NHS doctor, author, and founder of The Doctor’s Kitchen — to break down the science behind fiber and why it’s one of the most underrated tools for preventing heart disease and inflammation. This episode features highlights from our full conversation, which premiered August 5th, 2025. Watch the full episode here → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jay-Sg2sg6s Connect with Dr. Rupy Aujla: Website: The Doctor’s Kitchen Instagram: @doctors_kitchen Books: The Doctor’s Kitchen & Eat to Beat Illness *** Topics discussed: 00:18 – The TikTok “fiber maxxing” trend explained 00:42 – How to transition from low-fiber to high-fiber safely 01:02 – How fiber binds cholesterol and removes it from the body 01:26 – Feeding your gut microbes: the real reason fiber matters 02:10 – What short-chain fatty acids do for inflammation and longevity 03:00 – How fiber increases LDL receptor activity in the liver 03:42 – How 60 days of high-fiber eating lowers ApoB and LDL 04:03 – The “Portfolio Diet” that rivals statins 05:08 – The best fiber-rich foods: oats, barley, soy, nuts, seeds 06:14 – What to know about oats, glyphosate, and processing 07:16 – The perfect high-fiber breakfast recipe 07:53 – How food can match statin effects (and go beyond) 09:10 – The one daily change to reduce heart attack and stroke risk 09:26 – Dr. Rupy’s B.B.G.S. formula for everyday health 10:13 – How fiber diversity transforms cholesterol and gut health *** 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

In your 30s, everything changes, and your fitness plan should too.

In this episode of The Neuro Experience, I sit down with Sam Christine, mom of two, marathoner, macro coach, and creator of the EMPWR app, to unpack what actually works for women when fat loss stalls, hormones crash, and burnout creeps in.

After pushing her body too far during marathon training, Sam lost her period for 13 months. The cause? Undereating, overstressing, and overtraining, all while juggling career, motherhood, and a crumbling marriage. Now, she’s helping thousands of women rebuild their health from the inside out.

About Sam:

Samantha Christine is a nutritionist, certified trainer, and founder of EMPWR by Sam—a fitness app helping women train smarter, fuel better, and build lasting strength. As a mom of two, she makes fitness realistic and sustainable through workouts, recipes, and mindset shifts that empower women to feel strong and confident.

Where to find Sam:

Instagram: @samcfit

The EMPWR Podcast

EMPWR by Sam Fitness App 

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Function Health:

Visit https://functionhealth.com/louisa or use gift code NEURO100 at sign-up to own your health.

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***

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_

Topics discussed: 

00:00 – Intro

02:17 – How Sam turned her life around

04:00 – The Critical Decade for Women’s Health

06:20 – Under-Fueling, Hormones & Recovery

13:50 – From Rock Bottom to EMPWR

17:30 – Reinvention: Friendship, Clean Living & Divorce

23:20 – How to Build Muscle & Lose Fat (The Right Way)

28:30 – Nutrition Myths & Mindset Shifts

35:30 – Women’s Health, Fertility & Family

38:00 – Navigating Hormonal Shifts & Reinvention

43:00 – Exercise as Brain Medicine

51:30 – Biohacking, Bloodwork & Longevity Tools

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every 80 seconds, a woman dies from heart disease — yet most still think cancer is the bigger threat.

In this minisode, I sit down with Dr. Jeremy London, board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, to unpack why women’s cardiovascular risk skyrockets after menopause and how hormones, inflammation, and lifestyle choices all connect. This episode features highlights from our full conversation, which premiered July 24th, 2025.

Watch the full episode here → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jbvQRZgb3w

Dr. London explains how declining estrogen drives visceral fat, raises cholesterol, and fuels chronic inflammation — creating a “perfect storm” for heart attacks, strokes, and even Alzheimer’s.

From estrogen and inflammation to cholesterol, exercise, and sleep — this conversation exposes the real science behind heart and brain health. If you’ve ever wondered how to protect yourself from the #1 killer of women, this episode will change how you think about prevention, hormones, and longevity.

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

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_

Topics discussed:

00:00 – Why Women’s Heart Risk Triples After Menopause

00:55 – Estrogen’s Role: Anti-Inflammatory and Protective

01:45 – Weight Gain, Visceral Fat, and Inflammation

02:09 – Cholesterol, LDL, and Rising Risks Post-Menopause

02:38 – The “Perfect Storm” of Metabolic Decline

03:13 – How the Women’s Health Initiative Misled Women on Hormones

03:36 – Estrogen, Brain Health, and Alzheimer’s Connection

04:45 – The #1 Global Killer: Cardiovascular Disease

05:26 – What “Heart Disease” Really Means

06:00 – Cholesterol Explained: HDL, LDL, and Triglycerides

07:37 – Why ApoB Is a More Accurate Marker

09:18 – Plaque Formation and Early Intervention

10:11 – The Study That Reversed Heart Aging by 20 Years

11:24 – VO₂ Max, Zone-5 Training, and Longevity

12:16 – Resistance Training and “Muscle as the Organ of Longevity”

13:09 – Why Consistency Beats Intensity

13:57 – The Sitting Disease and Daily Movement

14:22 – The Power of Nutrition: “Your Body Is the Soil”

15:02 – Whole Foods, Processed Diets, and Alcohol

16:24 – Can Plaque Be Reversed? The Truth

17:11 – Alzheimer’s and Lifestyle: Prevention Starts in Your 30s

18:19 – The Final Pillar: Sleep and Recovery

19:28 – Why Sleep Fuels Brain and Heart Health

20:12 – Which Health Pillar Matters Most for You

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful episode, board-certified urologist Dr. Kelly Casperson exposes the gender bias in medicine and reveals why testosterone may be the missing link in women’s mood, motivation, and longevity.

One of the few female urologists in the U.S., Dr. Kelly is rewriting the narrative on hormones—explaining why testosterone isn’t “just for men” and why, after 90 years, the FDA still hasn’t approved it for women.

Her message is clear: women are not broken. Whether you’re in your 30s, perimenopause, or beyond, this episode will change how you see your biology—and your power.

About Dr. Casperson

Dr. Kelly Casperson is a urologist, author, speaker, and educator transforming the way women understand their bodies. She empowers women of all ages to embrace sexual health, hormone balance, and intimacy with confidence and curiosity. With humor and candor, she dismantles shame-based myths and teaches one powerful truth: You Are Not Broken.

Follow Dr. Kelly Casperson:

• Instagram: @kellycaspersonmd

• Podcast: You Are Not Broken

• Website: https://kellycaspersonmd.com/

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Troscriptions:

Go to https://www.troscriptions.com/neuro | Code: NEURO for 10% your first order
Ketone IQ:

Go to https://www.ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFF your subscription order

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Head to https://timeline.com/neuro to get 20% off

Manukora:

Head to https://www.manukora.com/neuro to save up to 31% plus $25 worth of free gifts with the Starter Kit.

Brickhouse Nutrition:

Check out the university study and get 20% off when you use promo code NEURO at https://brickhousenutrition.com.

Jones Road Beauty: 

Head to https://Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code NEURO at checkout.

***

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_

Topics discussed:

00:00 – Intro

03:14 – From Sex Ed to Menopause

05:15 – FDA Bias & Hormone Approval

07:26 – Redefining HRT as PET (Progesterone, Estrogen, Testosterone)

07:51 – Hormones 101 & Testosterone Misconceptions

10:13 – Perimenopause vs. Stress

11:51 – The “Bricks of the House” Analogy

13:57 – Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women

15:15 – Lab Values vs. Reality

17:14 – DHEA & Supplementation

20:10 – Emotions on Testosterone

21:23 – Testosterone & Mental Health

22:33 – Vitamin D & Hormone Synergy

23:07 – Debunking Testosterone Myths

26:35 – The “Married-Only” Paradox

27:14 – Perimenopause Misdiagnosis

28:19 – Myth #2 – Masculinization Fear

29:15 – Fertility & Testosterone

30:07 – Pregnancy & Safety

31:01 – Blood Tests Explained

32:41 – Dr. Casperson’s Book & Treatment Guidance

33:24 – Contraindications & Safety

34:06 – Breast-Cancer Data

35:12 – The Menopause Divorce Rate

36:47 – Untreated Menopause & Relationships

39:25 – Testifying at the FDA

41:35 – The Estrogen Box Warning

43:35 – Why the FDA Still Hasn’t Acted

45:59 – Risk Tolerance Gap

46:17 – Systemic Discrimination in Medicine

47:28 – Neurological Protection of Testosterone

48:11 – Alzheimer’s & Hormone Decline

50:11 – Prevention vs. Treatment

52:04 – Brain Receptors & Protection

55:14 – The Brain Literally Eats Itself

57:18 – FDA Hearing Reflection 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro actually do more than help you lose weight? This minisode features highlights from our full conversation, which premiered October 7th, 2025. Watch the full episode here → https://youtu.be/AcVIiy201H4?si=nlaFL3JnoZHxQVFh

Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen and I explore the difference between GLP-1, GIP, and triple-agonist drugs — and what’s next in obesity medicine, how estrogen changes after 40 drive midsection weight gain and inflammation, why GLP-1s reduce cancer and Alzheimer’s risk through anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects and how obesity and insulin resistance impact fertility and PCOS — and how GLP-1s can help.If you’ve ever wondered whether GLP-1s are just “weight loss shots” or a real step forward in metabolic and brain health — this “minisode” is a must-listen.

***

Follow Dr. Salas-Whalen:

• Instagram: @drsalaswhalen

• TikTok: @drsalaswhalen

• @strengthmd

• @thedryrevolution

***

I’m Louisa Nicola — clinical neuroscientist — 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_

Topics discussed:

00:00 – Intro

00:04  – The Probiotic GLP-1 Myth

00:19 – The “iPhone Evolution” of GLP-1 Drugs

00:52 – GLP-1 vs GIP vs Triple Agonists Explained

01:24 – Phase 3 Results & Massive Weight Loss Outcomes

01:38 – The Role of Glucagon in Weight Loss

01:56 – Menopause, Estrogen & Midlife Weight Gain0

3:06 – The “Fat Shift” After 40

04:01 – Can You Combine HRT and GLP-1s?

06:17 – “Willpower” vs Biology in Obesity

07:49 – The Genetic and Hereditary Roots of Obesity

08:57 – Breaking the Transgenerational Cycle

09:30 – Thyroid Cancer Myths and GLP-1 Safety

10:49 – GLP-1s and Breast Cancer Prevention

12:06 – Inflammation as the Root of Disease

12:28 – Neuroprotection and Alzheimer’s Prevention

13:17 – GLP-1s, PCOS & Fertility Benefits

13:53 – The Positive Ripple Effect on Mental Health

14:21 – GLP-1s Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk by 33%

14:58 – The Future of Metabolic Health

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can strength training, sprinting, and nutrition truly transform women’s hormones, metabolism, and longevity?

In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Estima — chiropractor, women’s health expert, and founder of The Estima Method — breaks down the science of female physiology, muscle, and midlife health.

We cover why walking isn’t enough, how hormones shape muscle and bone, and why protein and strength training are essential “medicine” for women over 35. Expect myth-busting, practical tools, and empowering insights to help you train and live in sync with your biology.

About Dr. Stephanie Estima:

Dr. Estima began her career in chiropractic care, where she developed a deep interest in neuroscience, biomechanics, and the body’s connection between movement and the brain. After noticing how differently men and women respond to the same health strategies, she became passionate about helping women navigate hormones, metabolism, and midlife health.

Where to find Dr. Estima:

Instagram: @dr.stephanie.estima

Website: https://drstephanieestima.com

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Function Health:

Visit https://functionhealth.com/louisa or use gift code NEURO100 at sign-up to own your health.

Ketone IQ:

Go to https://www.ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFF your subscription order

PUORI:

Go to https://puori.com/NEURO and use the code NEURO at checkout for 20% off.

AquaTru:

Go to https://AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code NEURO. AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee.

Caraway:

Visit https://Carawayhome.com/neuro and take an additional 10% off your next purchase.

Jones Road Beauty: 

Head to https://Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code NEURO at checkout.

***

I’m Louisa Nicola — clinical neuroscientist — 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_

Topics discussed:

00:00 – Intro

03:14 – Reassessing Hormone Therapy in 2025

04:24 – The Rise of HRT & Social Media Awareness

05:37 – Balancing the Conversation: HRT Pros & Cons

06:42 – Lifestyle Levers That Matter More

08:05 – Why Walking Isn’t Enough Exercise

10:59 – Muscle Quality & Metabolism Explained

12:29 – Type 1 vs. Type 2 Muscle Fibers

16:25 – Glucose, Muscle, and Longevity18:07 – Bone Health & Estrogen

20:33 – The Power of Impact Training

22:28 – How to Build a “Prescription for Health”

24:06 – The Zone 2 Misconception

26:29 – Progressive Overload & The “Weighted Vest” Myth

27:45 – Sample Lower-Body Workout Blueprint

34:03 – Learning Proper Squat Mechanics

35:28 – The Power of Deadlifts & Hip Hinge Movements

36:46 – Glute Bridges & Unilateral Training

38:35 – Nutrition & Midlife Metabolism

39:47 – How Hormones Change Body Composition

42:06 – Sleep, Insulin, and the Estrogen Cascade

43:59 – Strength Training as Hormone Therapy

45:06 – LDL & Visceral Fat Connection

46:04 – Fasting & Female Metabolism

47:17 – Why Aggressive Fasting Backfires for Women

50:53 – The Dark Side of Fasting Culture

53:22 – Practical Guidelines for Eating Windows

54:03 – Under-Fueling & Protein Deficiency in Women

55:09 – Appetite, GLP-1 Drugs & Metabolic Health

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can obesity, menopause, and even Alzheimer’s risk be transformed with one class of medications? Triple board-certified endocrinologist Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen joins The Neuro Experience to unpack the science behind GLP-1 therapies, sustainable weight loss, and hormone health.

One of the earliest physicians to adopt GLP-1 treatments, Dr. Salas-Whalen has redefined how obesity and midlife health are managed—showing why weight gain isn’t about “willpower” but biology, inflammation, and longevity.

A leader in obesity and hormone medicine, Dr. Salas-Whalen founded StrengthMD and The Dry Revolution, sharing evidence-based wellness insights worldwide. Her upcoming book, Weightless: A Doctor’s Guide to GLP-1 Medications, Sustainable Weight Loss, and the Health You Deserve, launches Dec 30, 2025 (U.S./Canada) and early 2026 worldwide.

Follow Dr. Salas-Whalen:

• Instagram: @drsalaswhalen

• TikTok: @drsalaswhalen

• @strengthmd

• @thedryrevolution
  

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Puori

Go to https://puori.com/NEURO and use the code NEURO at checkout for 20% off.

Wildgrain

For a limited time, Wildgrain is offering our listeners $30 off the first box - PLUS free Croissants in every box - when you go to https://Wildgrain.com/NEURO to start your subscription. 

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Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code NEURO at https://OSEAMalibu.com. You’ll get free samples with every order, and free shipping on orders over $50.

Honeylove

Save 20% Off Honeylove at https://honeylove.com/NEURO.

Brickhouse Nutrition

Check out the university study and get 20% off when you use promo code NEURO at https://brickhousenutrition.com.

Eko Health

Get $50 off, plus a FREE custom chest piece cover ($25 value) when you go to https://ekohealth.com/NEURO 

***

I’m Louisa Nicola — clinical neuroscientist — 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_

Topics discussed:

00:00 – Intro

01:44 – Dr. Rocio’s Journey into Endocrinology

02:38 – Discovering the First GLP-1 Drug

03:29 – Early Results & FDA Approval

05:00 – GLP-1 101: What It Is + How It Works

06:28 – Natural vs Synthetic GLP-1s

07:09 – GLP-1s & Alzheimer’s Link

08:20 – GLP-1s vs Bariatric Surgery

09:32 – Rewiring Cravings in the Brain

11:24 – Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of GLP-1s

11:24 – Ad

15:19 – Ozempic, Mounjaro & Next-Gen GLP-1s

17:02 – GLP-1s & Women’s Hormones

19:26 – Will You Be on GLP-1 Forever?

21:35 – The Myth of Willpower

23:22 – Breaking Generational Obesity Cycles

24:43 – GLP-1 & Thyroid Cancer Myth

25:55 – Ad27:55 – GLP-1s Reduce Cancer Risk

29:12 – Inflammation & GLP-1s

30:00 – GLP-1s & Fertility (PCOS)

31:27 – GLP-1 Meds Cut Dementia Risk by 33%

32:04 – Muscle Loss on GLP-1s?

33:14 – Muscle: Your Body’s Anti-Inflammatory Organ

34:01 – How to Eat Enough Protein on GLP-1s

35:19 – Tracking Your Body Composition

36:57 – Build Muscle While Losing Weight

37:25 – GLP-1 Side Effects & How to Avoid Them

38:24 – The GPS Method (GLP-1 + Protein + Strength)

38:24 – Ad

41:15 – Exposing “GLP-1 Gummies” & Celeb Hype

41:34 – Microdosing & Maintenance Explained

45:01 – The Emotional Shift in Patients

46:07 – The Future of GLP-1s

48:04 – Ending Chronic Disease

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Neuro Experience, I sit down with Dr. Kellyann Niotis—one of the first fellowship-trained preventive neurologists—to reveal how you can protect your brain long before symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia appear. With Alzheimer’s cases expected to triple by 2050, Dr. Niotis explains the difference between dementia types, the real role of genes like ApoE4, and why lifestyle choices may be more powerful than genetics.

If you want actionable tools to lower your risk, strengthen your memory, and understand the future of preventive neurology, this conversation delivers science-backed strategies you can start applying today.

About Dr. Kellyann Niotis:

Dr. Kellyann Niotis is the first fellowship-trained preventive neurologist focused on reducing risk for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Lewy Body Dementia. She launched the nation’s first Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell and now leads early-detection and brain health research at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases Florida. Her work appears in leading medical journals and has been featured by CNN.

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode:

Timeline:

Head to⁠ http://timeline.com/neuro⁠ to get started.

Beam:

Visit ⁠http://shopbeam.com/TNE⁠ and use code TNE at checkout.

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Head to ⁠http://Jonesroadbeauty.com⁠ and use code NEURO at checkout. After you purchase, they will ask you where you heard about them. PLEASE support our show and tell them our show sent you.

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Head to ⁠http://learn.nocd.com/NEURO⁠ and book a free 15 minute call to get started.

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Go to ⁠http:/ekohealth.com/NEURO ⁠ for up to $50 off, plus a free chest piece cover. 

***

I’m Louisa Nicola — clinical neuroscientist — 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_

***

Topics discussed:

00:00 – Introduction

01:25 – Preventative neurology

02:23 – Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s & Other Types of Dementia

04:08 – What Is Alzheimer’s?

05:26 – Clinical Diagnosis: Imaging & Symptoms

07:07 – How Amyloid Disrupts Neural Communication

09:48 – Genetics vs. Lifestyle: Public Misunderstanding

12:02 – Role of Family History & Genetic Risk

14:04 – The ApoE4 Gene Explained15:07 – ApoE Variants

17:08 – ApoE4 and Lipid Transport in the Brain

18:35 – Immune Response & Infection Susceptibility

20:05 – Hormones: Key Role in Brain Health

21:08 – Genotypes & Risk Multipliers

23:01 – ApoE4 Not Always Deterministic: Population Studies

24:15 – Other Genetic Factors Beyond ApoE

25:13 – Biomarkers: Current Use & Limitations

27:13 – Risks of Self-Testing Biomarkers

28:45 – Why Two-Thirds of Patients Are Women

29:46 – Estrogen, Menopause & Neuroprotection

32:07 – Testosterone & Dementia Risk

35:01 – LDL, ApoB & Brain Health Debate

37:01 – Statins & Dementia: Myths vs. Evidence

39:08 – Fear & Misconceptions Around Cholesterol

41:09 – Lipoprotein(a) & Vascular Dementia Risk

44:39 – Brain Vasculature & Hypertension

49:15 – New Alzheimer’s Drugs & Risks

55:32 – Why Rates Keep Rising (Lifestyle & Stress)

58:11 – Early Signs

01:00:23 – Tau Protein, Tangles & Neuronal Damage

01:05:49 – Keto vs. Mediterranean

01:07:14 – Personalization & Preference for Mediterranean Diet

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Parkinson’s disease is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world—and according to Dr. Ray Dorsey, it doesn’t have to be this way. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Dorsey, a leading neurologist, Parkinson’s researcher, and tireless advocate for rethinking chronic illness. Together, we unpack why the rates of Parkinson’s have doubled in the last 25 years and explore a bold claim: Parkinson’s is largely a manmade and preventable disease.Dr. Dorsey’s message is urgent yet hopeful: prevention is possible, but it requires awareness, advocacy, and collective action.

Dr. Ray Dorsey is a neurologist and one of the world’s foremost voices in Parkinson’s disease research and care. With deep clinical expertise and a passion for health care innovation, he is reshaping how we understand and address chronic illness. His parents were both psychiatrists, and he knew from first grade that he wanted to become a doctor. Today, he combines that lifelong love of learning with a mission to prevent Parkinson’s and improve the lives of millions worldwide.

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Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey. 

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A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Troscriptions:

Go to www.troscription.com/neuro | Code: NEURO for 10% your first order

Ketone IQ: 

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I’m Louisa Nicola — clinical neuroscientist — 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_

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Learn more about Dr. Ray Dorsey’s work: Ending Parkinson’s DiseaseExplore Parkinson’s 25 recommendations in his book The Parkinson’s Plan to reduce your risk.

Topics discussed:

00:00:00:00 —  Intro 

00:01:45:16 — Rising rates of Parkinson’s & preventability
00:03:59:20 — How it starts & prodrome (decades-long progression).
00:05:27:22 — TCE & contaminated water/sites (Camp Lejeune, Woburn, Brooklyn, Silicon Valley).

00:10:36:02 — Dry cleaning exposure (perc), apartments above cleaners.

00:12:31:08 — Pathophysiology I: mitochondria, substantia nigra, alpha-synuclein.

00:17:06:16 — Pathophysiology II: body-first vs brain-first; REM sleep behavior disorder.
00:23:52:16 — Diagnosis: clinical features, imaging/biomarkers.

00:25:44:09 — Genetics (12.5%) & environmental susceptibility; TCE history/regulation.

00:29:12:23 — Pesticides: chlorpyrifos, paraquat; golf-course & agricultural exposure.

00:34:14:00 — Consumer guidance: wash produce; prioritize organic meat/dairy; contamination case studies.

00:37:58:11 — Sex differences & exposure sociology; possible estrogen protection.

00:39:37:03 — Management mindset: no cure; reduce exposures; 25 recommendations; occupational risks.
00:41:05:15 — Air pollution & purifiers: PM2.5, blood–brain barrier bypass, home monitoring.
00:46:53:17 — Water purification: filters vs RO; well-water testing & regulation gaps.

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Menopause is finally in the spotlight — but most women still don’t understand what’s happening to their bodies in their late 30s, 40s, and beyond. Even worse, many doctors misdiagnose or dismiss symptoms like brain fog, night sweats, weight gain, and mood swings as “just stress.”

About Dr. Alicia Robbins:

Dr. Alicia Robbins is a board-certified Gynecologist and Lifestyle Medicine physician, founder of The Elm, and creator of The Robbins Method. She is recognized as a leading voice in perimenopause and midlife health, dedicated to providing compassionate, proactive care and rewriting the narrative on women’s midlife.

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Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Function Health

Visit https://www.functionhealth.com/louisanicola and use code NEURO100 or use gift code NEURO100 at sign-up to own your health. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. 

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Honeylove

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Go to https://www.AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code NEURO. AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee. 

Brickhouse Nutrition

Get 20% off when you enter NEURO at https://www.takelean.com.

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I’m Louisa Nicola — clinical neuroscientist — 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_

Follow Dr. Alicia Robbins

The Elm: https://theelmgreenwich.com/

Instagram: @aliciarobbinsmd

Topics discussed:

• 00:00:00 — Intro

• 00:01:32:10 — Menopause is “in the spotlight”; what’s actually happening with women’s hormones ~35+

• 00:02:43:11 — Ovaries as the primary source of estrogen/progesterone/testosterone

• 00:11:32:08 — Estrogen’s role in the brain

• 00:13:15:05 — With estrogen loss, chronic low-grade brain inflammation

• 00:15:12:17 — What replaced HRT: rise in sleep aids, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines.

• 00:32:55:20 — Women’s testosterone: low “total T” numbers, variable symptoms/benefit; brain fog and fatigue are multifactorial.

• 00:33:38:00 — Practical regimen notes: layering hormones; balance affected by stress/cortisol

• 00:44:14 — Longevity hype vs reality: trendy biohacks vs basics like walking, resistance training, and consistent diet

• 00:44:34 — Cultural/societal neglect of women’s midlife health; undervaluing cognitive preservation in women

• 00:45:10 — Lack of specialty in menopause medicine; OB/GYN training gaps; bias toward fertility/pregnancy funding

• 00:47:20 — Emerging shift: younger physicians and social media spreading awareness

• 00:48:15 — Longevity basics reaffirmed: lifestyle interventions are more impactful than costly interventions

• 00:49:00 — Empowering women to advocate for care

• 00:50:12 — Future outlook: preventative care, lifestyle foundations, and individualized hormone therapy for healthy aging
  
• 00:54:53: Increase in divorce rate because of hormones?

• 00:55:53: HRT and risk of breast cancer

• 00:58:11: What doctor should a woman in her late 30s/early 40s go see?

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Most of us think protein is just about building muscle—but what if we’ve been getting it wrong all along? In this eye-opening episode, host Louisa sits down with Angelo Keely, co-founder and CEO of Kion, to uncover the real science behind protein, amino acids, and muscle health.

Angelo explains why essential amino acids—not just protein—are the critical drivers of muscle maintenance, recovery, and even longevity. He breaks down the shocking truth about how different protein sources actually compare, why aging adults need more than the RDA suggests, and how supplements like amino acids can prevent muscle loss—even without exercise. 

Whether you’re a midlife woman trying to protect bone density, an athlete looking for an edge, or simply someone who wants to age stronger—this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.

About the guest:

Angelo is the co-founder and CEO of Kion, a lifestyle and supplement company built around optimizing health and energy through essential nutrients. With a lifelong passion for nutrition and performance, he’s on a mission to educate people about the powerful science of amino acids and help them live stronger, healthier, and longer lives. 

Discover Kion:

Instagram: @kion

Visit getkion.com/neuro for 20% off.

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Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

OSEA 

Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code NEURO at OSEAMalibu.com. You’ll get free samples with every order, and free shipping on orders over $50. 

Ketone IQ

Go to www.ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFF your subscription order + receive a free gift with your second shipment.

Wildgrain

For a limited time, Wildgrain is offering my listeners $30 off the first box - PLUS free Croissants in every box - when you go to Wildgrain.com/NEURO to start your subscription. 

Cozy Earth

Head to cozyearth.com and use my code NEURO for 40% off!

Cowboy Colostrum

For a limited time, our listeners get 25% off their entire order. Head to CowboyColostrum.com and use code NEURO at checkout. 

Puori

Go to puori.com/NEURO and use the code NEURO at checkout for 20% off

***

I’m Louisa Nicola — clinical neuroscientist — 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_

Topics discussed:
00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:33 - confusion around protein, fat loss

00:02:36 - Carbs/fat = fuel vs protein = structure; macronutrient primer 

00:04:29 - Protein turnover & amino acids (house remodel analogy) 

00:08:29 - Protein beyond muscle00:11:02 - Energy storage vs “amino reservoir”; why low protein costs muscle 

00:13:25 - Nuance in intake advice; social/media oversimplification00:17:18 - “Protein isn’t equal”

00:18:27 - What EAAs are; “essential” vs “non-essential”; leucine as trigger 

00:21:15 - Comparing foods: plant vs dairy/eggs vs. meat

00:25:05 - Protein potency ladder

00:27:15 - Louisa’s protein plan; bioavailability clarification; why EAAs hit faster

00:30:28 - Aging & leucine-enriched EAAs

00:35:22 - Steak “not very anabolic” alone; training vs nutrition 

00:36:11 - NASA bed-rest studies

00:38:09 - Building muscles with amino acids and no exercise controversy 

00:40:46 - Angelo’s backstory & founding Kion

00:43:31 - Practical playbook (midlife female)

00:50:08 - GLP-1 weight-loss caveat

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