This week, we're going to do something a little different. Six of our experts reveal what most people are getting completely wrong about exercise. One: the minimum effective dose for resistance training is shockingly low, just 3 to 6 sets per muscle group per week. Two: the biohacking tools everyone is obsessing over, hyperbaric chambers, red light beds, and ice baths, are built for elite athletes, not the general public. Three: jumping three times a week for just ten minutes can reverse osteopenia entirely, no weights required. Four: the zone two obsession gripping the fitness world right now is a cultural movement, not based on science. Five: muscle is your most powerful glucose sink, and the type two fibers you start losing in your early 30s are exactly what drives insulin resistance as you age. Six: you only need to touch high intensity exercise a handful of times a week paired with two days of resistance training to meaningfully train for longevity.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:

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

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

_____

TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Intro

00:57 Alan Aragon - The Truth About Resistance Training

13:14 Ben Bruno - Why Biohacking Is Overhyped

27:22 Dr. Vonda Wright - How To Reverse Bone Loss

29:49 Dr. Kristi - Why Zone 2 Is Not Based On Science

44:58 Dr. Stephanie Estima - How Muscle Loss Drives Insulin Resistance

55:11 Dr. Inigo San Millan - How To Actually Train For Longevity

_______

Thank you to our sponsors

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

Js Health: https://jshealthvitamins.com or Use code NEURO for 20% off

Cellure: https://cellure.co/ or Use code NEURO for 20% Off

Warby Parker: https://WarbyParker.com/NEURO

KINSYN: https://kinsyn.com/neuro or Use code NEURO to Save 20% off your first subscription

_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

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

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

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

Colorectal cancer is now the No.1 cause of death for people under 50 in the United States. When it is caught early, nine out of ten people survive. When it is caught late, only two out of ten do. Yet most people are not screening, not eating enough fiber, and have no idea how rapidly the gut microbiome is collapsing in modern populations.

I sat down with Dr. Karan Rajan, NHS surgeon, gut health expert, and founder of Loam Science, to break down the real biology behind the gut microbiome and why it may be one of the most powerful levers we have for longterm health. We cover the rising colorectal cancer epidemic in young people, why fiber is the single most important thing you can do for your colon, and how the microbiome connects to your brain, heart, hormones, immune system, and even your skin.

Dr. Karan also explains how stress, poor sleep, NSAIDs, antibiotics, and proton pump inhibitors silently destroy the gut lining, why the carnivore diet starves your microbiome, the emerging link between gut health and endometriosis, and what the science actually says about microbiome testing, GLP-1 peptides, and supplement quality.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:

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

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

_____

TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Colorectal Cancer Is Now the #1 Killer Under 50

01:24 Why Early Screening Changes Everything

03:19 The Gut Microbiome Explained Simply

05:51 Why Fiber Is the Rent for Your Colon

11:32 The Hadza Tribe and What 100g of Fiber a Day Does

18:45 The Carnivore Diet and What It Does to Your Gut

24:10 Stress, the Vagus Nerve, and Gut Dysfunction

31:20 Sleep, Circadian Clocks, and Your Bowel Health

33:06 The Gut-Cancer Connection

34:12 Cholesterol, the Gut-Heart Axis, and LDL

38:50 Estrogen, Perimenopause, and the Microbiome

43:15 Endometriosis and the Microbiome Trial

48:30 Leaky Gut, NSAIDs, Antibiotics, and PPIs

53:25 GLP-1 Peptides, Semaglutide, and What the Research Says

55:38 Why Supplement Quality Is Mostly Unregulated

_______

Thank you to our sponsors

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

Timeline: http://timeline.com/NEURO

Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com/

Cheers Health: https://CheersHealth.com/NEURO Use code NEURO for 20% off

Jones Road Beauty: https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com Use code NEURO

BASED Bodyworks: https://basedbodyworks.com/ Use code NEURO for 20% off

_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

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

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

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

The moment a woman’s hormones begin to decline, the entire body starts aging faster. The brain, heart, bones, immune system, and metabolism are all affected by a single biological shift most doctors barely explain.

I sat down with Dr. Amy Killen, physician and leading expert in regenerative and longevity medicine, to explore the science of female aging and why ovarian health may be the true driver of how long women live. We break down the real biology behind menopause, why estrogen is far more than a reproductive hormone, and how hormone loss can accelerate cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, bone loss, and systemic inflammation.

Dr. Killen also explains the emerging science behind hormone replacement therapy, the misunderstood relationship between estrogen and breast cancer risk, and why many doctors still are not properly trained to treat menopause. We discuss stem cells, mitochondrial health, and the growing interest in therapies like hyperbaric oxygen, peptides, red light therapy, and plasma exchange, and what the evidence actually says.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:

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

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

_____

TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Why Ovarian Aging Impacts Lifespan

01:24 Why Dr. Amy Killen Focuses on Women’s Longevity

03:19 What Longevity Actually Means in Medicine

04:20 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Explained

05:51 How Stem Cells Help Repair and Communicate With Tissue

11:32 Hormones, Perimenopause, and Rapid Aging

18:45 Why the Ovaries Are the “Peacekeepers” of Aging

24:10 Hormone Replacement Therapy Explained

31:20 Vaginal Estrogen vs Systemic Estrogen

38:50 Testosterone Therapy in Women

43:15 Longevity Therapies and Mitochondrial Health

48:30 Red Light Therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen, and Recovery

50:54 Peptides and the Lack of Long-Term Safety Data

53:25 Therapeutic Plasma Exchange and Longevity Research

55:38 The Estrogen and Immune System Connection

_______

Thank you to our sponsors

Ketone-IQ: https://ketone.com/NEURO

Cellure: https://cellure.co/ Use code NEURO

Ka’Chava: https://kachava.com Use code NEURO for 15% off your first order

Just Thrive: https://justthrivehealth.com/NEURO

_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

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

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

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

Zone two has been sold to you as the gold standard for mitochondrial health, fat burning, and longevity. But what if it was built on culture, not science. In this episode, I sit down with Kristi Storoschuk, a PhD researcher whose work is challenging some of the biggest claims in the exercise world right now. We break down why zone two training lacks the scientific evidence everyone assumes it has, why higher intensity zones three and four are actually more potent for mitochondrial adaptation, and why the 80/20 training split from elite athletes was never designed for someone exercising four days a week. We also get into why fasting doesn't activate the same cellular pathways in humans as it does in rodents, why cortisol from exercise is not the same as chronic stress, the truth about fasted exercise for women, and what lactate actually tells us about our metabolic health. Kristi also shares her current research in collaboration with Dr. Andy Galpin and Dr. Tommy Wood on whether lactate threshold can serve as a non-invasive proxy for mitochondrial content. This conversation will completely change how you think about every cardio session you've ever done.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:

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

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

_____

TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Intro: Was Zone Two Built on Culture, Not Science?

03:19 The Three Exercise Intensity Domains (Not Five Zones)

08:00 Zone Two and Fat Burning: What the Research Actually Shows

12:00 Why Women Are Being Scared Away from Zone Three and Four

20:45 Fasting in Rodents vs. Humans: The Research That Changed Everything

24:00 Fasted Exercise and Cortisol: The Real Story for Women

29:00 What Lactate Actually Tells Us About Mitochondrial Health

37:00 VO2 Max, Mitochondria, and Longevity

43:30 Exercise as Your Daily Metabolic Reset

49:00 The Best Cardio Prescription for Healthspan

55:30 How a 73 Year Old Should Think About High Intensity

58:00 How to Know What Zone You're In Without a Monitor

01:02:00 Sex Differences in Exercise: What the Data Actually Says

_______

Thank you to our sponsors

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

Timeline: http://timeline.com/NEURO

Jones Road Beauty: https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com And Use code NEURO

Lifeboost coffee : https://lifeboostcoffee.com/ and Use code NEURO for 10% off

Just Thrive: https://justthrivehealth.com/NEURO

_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

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

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

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

The surgeon who spent 12 to14 hours a day in the operating room developed diabetes, uncontrolled high blood pressure, and an autoimmune disease that was eating away at his skull and it forced him to confront what medical school never taught him about actually staying healthy.

I sat down with Dr. Darshan Shah, board-certified surgeon, founder of Next Health (one of the largest longevity clinic networks in America), and a doctor who had to reverse his own chronic disease to understand the massive gap between Western medicine and the science of health. We explore why surgeons and physicians become some of the sickest people in healthcare, how functional medicine differs from what you learn in medical school, why biomarker testing matters more than your doctor's "you're fine" assessment, and what root cause medicine actually looks like in practice. Dr. Shah also breaks down the AI revolution happening in cardiovascular imaging with Cleerly scans, how his new AI health dashboard reads your bloodwork and medical records to give you proactive guidance, why Yamanaka factors could regenerate damaged nerves in the brain, and what the future of personalized, preventive medicine looks like when you combine AI with real biological data.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:

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

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

_____

TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Intro: The surgeon who developed the diseases he was treating

01:17 From trauma surgeon to longevity doctor: Dr. Shah's journey

04:18 Autoimmune disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure in a surgeon

10:30 Western medicine vs. the science of health

18:45 Why doctors don't learn prevention in medical school

35:20 Next Health clinics and democratizing longevity medicine

52:40 Biomarker testing and why "your labs are normal" is dangerous

01:03:52 AI health dashboard: uploading bloodwork and getting proactive guidance

01:06:45 Cleerly scans and reversing cardiovascular disease with AI imaging

01:10:08 Yamanaka factors, nerve regeneration, and the future of brain health

_______

Thank you to our sponsors

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

Timeline Mitopure: http://timeline.com/NEURO

Ka'Chava: https://kachava.com and use code NEURO for 15% off your first order

Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com/

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

Arey: https://arey.com/ and use code NEURO

_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

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

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

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

80% of all autoimmune diseases occur in women, and no one can explain why. Cancer cells are always present in your body, but it's only when your T cells go into energy deficit that cancer starts overtaking the system. And here's what almost no one is talking about: the mitochondria in your immune cells are the reason MS, chronic fatigue, neurodegeneration, and even cancer progression happen when they happen.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Anurag Singh, MD, PhD immunologist and Chief Medical Officer of Timeline who spent 20 years studying mitochondria and screened 4000 compounds from pomegranates to discover one molecule that changes cellular aging. We break down immunometabolism, the emerging field linking immune health and metabolism, why your T regulatory cells are the CEOs of your immune system, how mitochondrial dysfunction in immune cells triggers autoimmune conditions, and why rejuvenating mitochondria can get your immune system in check to defeat cancer. We also cover NAD+ (and why NMN and NR supplements don't work the way people think), the creatine sweet spot for muscle quality (500mg-1g, not the 5g everyone's taking), why Parkinson's is linked to paraquat, a mitochondrial toxin used in fertilizers and dry cleaning and how AI is fast-tracking the discovery of next-generation molecules for neurodegeneration. This conversation completely shifted how I think about immune health, brain protection, and what's actually driving the diseases we fear most.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:

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

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

_____

TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Intro: Why 80% of Autoimmune Diseases Occur in Women

01:24 Why Dr. Anurag Became an Immunologist

03:19 Immunometabolism: The Link Between Immune Health and Metabolism

04:20 T Cells, B Cells, and the Thymus Gland

05:51 MS and Autoimmune Disease: The T Regulatory Cell Problem

11:32 Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Immune Exhaustion

18:45 Cancer Cells and T Cell Energy Deficit

24:10 Urolithin A: Screening 4000 Pomegranate Compounds

31:20 Mitophagy and Autophagy: Cellular Housekeeping

38:50 NAD+ vs NMN and NR Supplements: What Actually Works

43:15 Creatine Dosing: The 500mg-1g Sweet Spot for Muscle Quality

48:30 Gut-Brain Connection and Neurodegeneration

50:54 Parkinson's Disease and Paraquat: The Mitochondrial Toxin

53:25 AI in Drug Discovery and Next-Generation Molecules

55:38 Skincare and Mitochondrial Health: Collagen Synthesis

_______

Thank you to our sponsors

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

Caraway: Carawayhome.com/neuro10

Jones Road Beauty: https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com - Use code NEURO

_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

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

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

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

Most people fear cancer, but they're never given a clear explanation of what it actually is, how it progresses, or why metastasis, not the initial tumor, is what kills 90% of people with solid tumors. And here's what almost no one talks about…30 minutes of exercise per day can down-regulate 13 types of cancers.

I break down the biology of cancer and metastasis in plain language, then walk you through the evidence linking exercise to cancer outcomes across prevention, treatment, and survivorship. I explain how cancer cells have to physically enter circulation and survive a hostile journey to metastasize, and here's the part that changed how I think about high-intensity exercise: as shear stress increases during vigorous exercise (zone 5, 90%+ max heart rate), survival of circulating tumor cells decreases. I also cover immune surveillance, metabolic signaling, and why this is deeply personal for me.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:

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

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

Topics Discussed

00:00 Intro: Why Cancer Is What Scares Me Most

01:37 Why We're Having This Conversation

03:33 What This Episode Covers: The Three-Part Framework

06:21 What Cancer Actually Is: When Cells Break the Rules

07:25 Metastasis: The Part of the Story No One Explains

27:57 Shear Stress and Circulating Tumor Cells: The Zone 5 Effect

30:16 Immune Surveillance: How Exercise Mobilizes Killer Cells

30:51 Metabolic Signaling: Insulin, IGF-1, and Inflammation

32:16 Limitations: What the Evidence Can and Can't Tell Us

34:37 Practical Framework: Prevention, Treatment, and Survivorship

36:04 Closing: Exercise as Repeated Physiological Stress

Thank you to our sponsors

Ketone-IQ: https://ketone.com/NEURO

IQ BARS: Text NEURO to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products

Cure Hydration: http://curehydration.com/NEURO

Cellure: https://cellure.co/ and use code NEURO

Arrey: https://arey.com/ and use code NEURO

_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

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

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

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

The peptide industry just hit $328 million in imports from China in nine months, and the fastest-growing buyers aren't bodybuilders. They're women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who were told their labs look "fine" when they know something is deeply wrong.In this episode, I break down why peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500 are being aggressively marketed to women in perimenopause, why there isn't a single randomized controlled trial proving they're safe or effective in humans, and what the actual evidence says about brain fog, muscle loss, joint pain, and metabolic decline.

I explore why the "your bloods are normal" dismissal has destroyed women's health, how hormone replacement therapy actually protects your brain when timed correctly, why GLP-1s work when peptides don't, and what protein, sleep, and resistance training do that no research chemical can replicate, because the foundations of brain health will never trend on TikTok, but they're the only things backed by decades of rigorous science.

*Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: *

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

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

*TOPICS DISCUSSED*

00:00 Intro: Why women are the fastest-growing peptide buyers

07:01 Perimenopause reality: why "your labs look fine" is destroying women's health

15:20 What peptides actually are and the missing human evidence

31:00 Quality control disasters and documented side effects

39:50 What actually works: resistance training, protein, and muscle preservation

44:30 Hormone replacement therapy and brain protection

51:14 GLP-1 receptor agonists: evidence-based use vs. gray market risks

*Thank you to our sponsors*

Caraway: https://carawayhome.com/neuro10

Timeline Mitopure: http://timeline.com/NEURO

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

_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

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

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

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

It’s one of the most uncomfortable truths in modern medicine: women’s hearts have been misunderstood, under-researched, and misdiagnosed for decades.

I sat down with Dr Jayne Morgan, cardiologist, heart health expert, and one of the leading voices calling out gender bias in cardiovascular medicine, to uncover why women’s heart attacks are still being missed - and what every woman needs to know to protect her brain and heart long before symptoms appear.

We explore why women experience heart disease differently than men, how inflammation quietly damages blood vessels, the hidden heart attack signs doctors overlook, and why mammograms, pregnancy history, and menopause all hold critical cardiovascular clues. Dr Morgan explains why “gender-neutral” research has harmed women, how common medications can affect women differently, and why prevention needs to start earlier, not after the first cardiac event.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:

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

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

______

TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Intro: Why women’s heart disease is still misunderstood

02:18 How gender bias shaped modern cardiology

05:04 Why women’s heart attacks look different than men’s

08:12 The dangerous myth of “gender-neutral” medicine

11:30 Inflammation, blood vessels, and silent cardiovascular damage

15:02 Hidden heart attack signs on mammograms

18:45 Pregnancy history and long-term heart risk

22:10 Menopause, estrogen loss, and cardiovascular decline

26:40 Why standard heart medications can harm women

30:05 Beta blockers, blood pressure, and female physiology

33:50 The heart-brain connection and dementia risk

38:20 Viruses, shingles, and cardiovascular inflammation

42:05 Why women are dismissed in clinical settings

46:10 Prevention vs reaction in modern healthcare

49:30 What women should demand from their doctors

______

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

IQBAR- Fuel your brain and body with IQBAR’s protein bars, hydration mixes, and mushroom coffees.

Text NEURO to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products plus free shipping.

Cure Hydration - Clean, plant-based electrolytes with no added sugar, hydration that actually works.

Get 20% off your first order at curehydration.com/NEURO with code NEURO.

Jones Road Beauty- Effortless, skin-first makeup created by Bobbi Brown. Use code NEURO at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a free Cool Gloss with your first purchase.

RHO Nutrition- Science-backed supplements designed to support cognitive performance and metabolic health. Visit rhonutrition.com and use code NEURO for exclusive savings.

______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain - reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

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

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

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

I sat down with Dr. Kelly Casperson, urologist, women’s health advocate, and a leading voice fighting for equality in healthcare, to explore what’s really happening to women’s bodies and brains during perimenopause and menopause.

We discuss why UTIs spike after menopause, how vaginal estrogen actually works (and why the FDA finally removed the black box warning), the truth about HRT and dementia prevention, and why estrogen receptors in your brain matter more than you think.

We also unpack why blood work interpretation matters more than ever, how compounding pharmacies work, the shingles vaccine and dementia connection, and why women need to stop waiting for permission to take control of their health.

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

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

_______

TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Intro: Why women’s hormone health is misunderstood

02:10 Who Dr. Kelly Casperson is and why women’s sexual health became her focus

05:10 Hormone Replacement Therapy explained (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone)

08:30 Vaginal estrogen, UTIs, and restoring tissue health

12:40 Vaginal estrogen vs systemic estrogen and the FDA warning myth

15:20 Estrogen receptors, skin aging, and visible signs of hormonal decline

18:30 Estrogen, the brain, and Alzheimer’s risk in women

22:10 Why hormone research is conflicting and often fails women

26:00 Sleep, hot flashes, inflammation, and brain health

30:00 Testosterone in women: beyond libido and muscle

33:40 Compounding pharmacies and personalized medicine

38:00 Inflammation, viruses, vaccines, and dementia risk

43:00 The breakdown of modern healthcare and why women feel dismissed

47:30 Blood testing, data ownership, and the future of women’s health

_______

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

Timeline Mitopure Gummies: Don't let another year go by feeling less than your best. Grab 35% off your one month subscription of Mitopure Gummies at Timeline.com/neuro35. That's Timeline.com/neuro35 while the offer lasts.

Function Health: Own your health for $365 a year. Learn more and join using my link. Visit www.functionhealth.com/louisa and use gift code LOUISA for a $25 credit toward your membership.

Ka'Chava: Rewild your nutrition at kachava.com and use code NEURO. New customers get twenty dollars off an order of two bags or more!

Wayfair: Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Every style. Every home.

_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain - reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

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

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

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

It's a controversial topic, fasting, especially for women. Dr. Mindy Pelz was teaching women to fast primarily because they wanted to lose weight, but what she was witnessing was women saying things like, "I lost weight, but my hair's falling out. I don't have a period anymore.

I sat down with Dr. Mindy Pelz, New York Times bestselling author of Age Like a Girl, hormone expert, and the voice redefining fasting for women - because doing it wrong can wreck your health. We explore why fasting affects women differently, how ketones can restore brain function during menopause, and why understanding your hormonal cycle is critical for metabolic health, cognitive performance, and longevity.

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

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

_____

TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Intro

01:50 What put Dr. Mindy Pelz on the map

03:14 The truth about fasting vs intermittent fasting

05:13 How the brain uses glucose vs ketones

07:25 Why the brain "eats itself" during menopause

10:14 What is mitophagy and cellular autophagy

13:11 Why autophagy is the body's repair system

15:24 The 12-hour vs 17-hour vs 72-hour fast

17:23 Why women's cycles are disrupted by fasting

19:59 The fasting cycle for women

21:05 Lactate as a fuel source for the brain

23:01 Hemoglobin A1C and insulin resistance

27:36 Understanding CGM data correctly

30:13 Where women should start at 48

32:01 HRT: personal decision or necessity?

34:15 The nervous system shift during perimenopause

38:48 The grandmother hypothesis and evolutionary sensitivity

41:09 The "menopause divorce" phenomenon

44:18 Dementia, Alzheimer's, and women46:17 Dopamine, novelty, and neuroplasticity47:23 Cold water immersion and trauma rewiring51:19 Cold water and cortisol for women53:51 Exercise, BDNF, and brain health55:21 Serotonin, light exposure, and sleep58:00 Glycine, bone broth, and longevity01:02:26 Preparing for perimenopause and menopause

01:04:24 Acetylcholine, storytelling, and memory

01:08:38 Why eggs and cholesterol matter for the brain

_______

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

Ketone-IQ: Mental clarity that lasts - without the crash. Visit https://ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFF your subscription order - PLUS receive a free gift with your second shipment or find Ketone-IQ at Target stores nationwide and get your first shot free!

IQBAR: The New Year gives us all a chance to reset. Maximize your brain and body's potential with IQBAR's protein bars, hydration mixes, and mushroom coffees. Text NEURO to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping.

Caraway: Visit Carawayhome.com/neuro10 or use code neuro10 at checkout to take an additional 10% off your next purchase. Caraway. Non-Toxic cookware made modern.

Cure Hydration: For The Neuro Experience listeners, you can get 20% off your first order at curehydration.com/NEURO with code NEURO. Cure is FSA/HSA approved, so you can use your FSA or HSA funds to stay hydrated the smart way.

Jones Road Beauty: Use code NEURO at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Cool Gloss with your first purchase!
_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

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