Our brand new show, Your Brain On, is now live! Your Brain On is a podcast about the neuroscience of everything.

Each episode will look at an aspect of life through a neuroscientific lens, with science-based stories, interviews, anecdotes, advice, and immersive sounds.

We’ll be exploring how every facet of our reality — both good and bad — affects our minds, from the broader picture right down to the cellular intricacies.

We’ve started with five brand new episodes:

• Your Brain On New Year’s Resolutions • Your Brain On Dry January • Your Brain On Love • Your Brain On Football • Your Brain On Sugar

Plus, to celebrate the launch of our new show, we’re giving away some very exciting prizes, including memberships to our NEURO Academy community!

Search ‘Your Brain On’ via your favourite podcast app to find and subscribe to the new show, or visit https://thebraindocs.com/podcast for more info, on both the show and the launch giveaway.

Thank you! We hope you enjoy the new show.

What happens to your brain when you stop drinking? Is doing Dry January the best way to quit?

In this second preview episode of Your Brain On, we discuss the neuroscience and psychology of:

• How alcohol affects your brain, at a cellular level • Why a gradual detoxification might be better than the hard stop encouraged by Dry January • The fascinating history of alcohol’s role in culture, from ancient civilizations to the Prohibition era

We also speak to Dr. Howard Rankin, an incredible psychologist who has done remarkable work in the realm of addiction and behavior.

Dr. Rankin talks to us about the challenges of overcoming alcohol dependence, the differences between avoiding and confronting temptations, and the importance of focusing on progress over perfection.

‘Your Brain On’ is a brand new podcast from hosts Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. We’re excited to preview this second episode here on Brain Health Revolution. Your Brain On launches February 14th. Search ‘Your Brain On’ via your favorite podcast app, or check our social media for more information.

On New Year’s Eve, we experience feelings of joy, sadness, thankfulness, regret, and nostalgia, as our brains recall episodic moments from the past 12 months. Surges of dopamine mix with our aspirations, forming resolutions. As we count down to the new year, we’re full of excitement and hope.

But most of us don’t manage to stick to our new year’s resolutions beyond January.

In this episode of Your Brain On, we discuss the neuroscience and psychology of:

• Why new year’s resolutions so often fail

• How we can keep our new year’s resolutions, with science-backed techniques

• Whether new years are good starting points for forming new habits

We’re joined by Dr. Phillippa Lally, a Senior Lecturer of Psychology at the University of Surrey in the UK, and our friend Howard Jacobson, an expert in the mechanics of behavior change.

‘Your Brain On’ is a brand new podcast from hosts Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. We’re excited to preview this first episode here on Brain Health Revolution. We’ll share more about our new upcoming show soon.

In this episode, we’re joined by science writer and author of ‘The Irrational Ape — Why We Fall for Disinformation, Conspiracy Theories, and Propaganda’, David Robert Grimes, for a discussion about science communication and the unrelenting rise of misinformation on social media.

We talk about:

• The dangers and mechanics of online disinformation • Why, in spite of rampant mistruths, social media remains one of the most powerful tools in history for science communication • How to navigate online information by better understanding and trusting scientific method • The tactics of bad-faith influencers and conspiracy theorists • How online debates and discussions can become more productive • The beauty and importance of being wrong

Visit David’s website: https://www.davidrobertgrimes.com/

David’s books: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Thinking-Flawed-Logic-Critical/dp/1615197931/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=good+thinking+grimes

Support for the Brain Health Revolution Podcast comes from NEURO Academy, an online community of individuals working together towards optimum long-term brain health, through science-backed on-demand courses, live coaching, nutrition guidance, and more.

Find out more at: thebraindocs.com/neuro-academy

Follow doctors Ayesha and Dean on:

• Instagram: @TheBrainDocs

• TikTok: @TheBrainDocs

More information on neuroscience:

• Our blog: thebraindocs.com/blog/

• Our brain-healthy recipes: thebraindocs.com/recipes/

The Brain Health Revolution Podcast is hosted by Doctors Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

In this episode, we’re joined by renowned psychologist Dr. David Spiegel — co-founder and chief scientific officer of science-backed hypnosis app Reveri — for a discussion about the use of hypnosis and hypnotherapy in clinical settings.

We talk about:

• The research-supported neuroscience of hypnosis • How hypnosis can help focus your attention and hone self-control, rather than causing you to lose control, as is often misconstrued by the spectacle of theatrical stage shows • The ways hypnosis is used to manage pain, reduce stress, and address issues like phobias and sleep problems • How hypnosis may be used during medical procedures to alleviate pain and reduce dependence on opioids • How the Reveri app is helping to make hypnotherapy more accessible

Find out more about the Reveri app at: reveri.com

CONTENT WARNING: dear listeners, please note that the discussion in this episode touches on some sensitive topics, including trauma, sexual assault, and recovery.

Support for the Brain Health Revolution Podcast comes from NEURO Academy, an online community of individuals working together towards optimum long-term brain health, through science-backed on-demand courses, live coaching, nutrition guidance, and more.

Find out more at: thebraindocs.com/neuro-academy

Follow doctors Ayesha and Dean on:

• Instagram: @TheBrainDocs

• TikTok: @TheBrainDocs

More information on neuroscience:

• Our blog: thebraindocs.com/blog/

• Our brain-healthy recipes: thebraindocs.com/recipes/

The Brain Health Revolution Podcast is hosted by Doctors Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

In this episode, we discuss the often-overlooked importance of addressing behavior change for improving brain health and overall wellbeing, and how we need to involve our communities at every step of change towards such optimizations.

We talk about:

• The neuroscience and circumstantial influences of behavior change • The importance of meeting people where they are and adjusting behavior change strategies accordingly • How to strategize self-improvement without it feeling cold, rigid, unnatural, and, ultimately, ineffective • Why the past can teach us a lot about modern behavior change at a community level

This is part one of a conversation about behavior, the systems that make it possible, and how we can achieve long-term change in the midst of a healthcare landscape that can sometimes feel hopeless.

Support for the Brain Health Revolution Podcast comes from NEURO Academy, an online community of individuals working together towards optimum long-term brain health, through science-backed on-demand courses, live coaching, nutrition guidance, and more.

Find out more at: thebraindocs.com/neuro-academy

Follow doctors Ayesha and Dean on:

• Instagram: @TheBrainDocs

• TikTok: @TheBrainDocs

More information on neuroscience:

• Our blog: thebraindocs.com/blog/

• Our brain-healthy recipes: thebraindocs.com/recipes/

The Brain Health Revolution Podcast is hosted by Doctors Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

In this episode, Ayesha and Dean discuss ‘neuroplasticity’, a term that was once echoed only within the walls of neuroscience labs, but which has now become an increasingly well-known word for describing how our brains evolve and adapt.

We talk about:

• How modern technology has enabled our understanding of neuroplasticity

• What science previously got wrong about neuroplasticity

• How neuroplasticity actually works

• The Hebbian and homeostatic theories of neuroplasticity

• How we can all improve our neuroplasticity through improved lifestlyes

• Neuroplasticity through the lens of our NEURO concept: Nutrition, Exercise, Unwind, Restore, and Optimize

Support for the Brain Health Revolution Podcast comes from NEURO Academy, an online community of individuals working together towards optimum long-term brain health, through science-backed on-demand courses, live coaching, nutrition guidance, and more.

Find out more at: thebraindocs.com/neuro-academy

Follow doctors Ayesha and Dean on:

• Instagram: @TheBrainDocs

• TikTok: @TheBrainDocs

More information on neuroscience:

• Our blog: thebraindocs.com/blog/

• Our brain-healthy recipes: thebraindocs.com/recipes/

This episode was a live presentation for our members in the NEURO Academy online community. We presented a summary of the pivotal role that lifestyle changes play in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease and answered questions at the end. 

The research presented was on the following:

• Dietary patterns and risk of Alzheimer's
• Relationship of serum cholesterol and Alzheimer's 
• Supplements and brain health
• DHA/EPA and Alzheimer's risk
• Exercise
• Unwind or stress management and the latest data and risk for Alzheimer's
• Sleep disorders and slee hygiene 
• Building cognitive reserve 

NEURO Academy is a membership based online community with over 500 active members, with resources to achieve optimal brain health, better cognition and prevent cognitive decline. The platform provides the opportunity to connect with us and an empowering community, and participate in weekly live Q&A sessions, education on evidence based nutrition and other lifestyle factors, live cooking demonstration , live podcasts and Q&A with remarkable health leaders, interest groups, book clubs, science club discussions, access to on-demand courses on prevention of neurological diseases,  evidence-based nutrition and cooking, behavioral sciences and many others on various topics related to brain health. Members can receive CE or CME credits and certification after taking the course. Join us by visiting NEUROacademy.com.

Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com

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Instagram: The Brain Docs @thebraindocs

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Website: TheBrainDocs.com

In this episode, we spoke with Nicole Vignola, who is a cognitive neuroscientist, author and speaker committed to making neuroscience tangible for the masses. With 12 years of coaching experience, Nicole has a BSc in Neuroscience from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Organisational Psychology with a research focus in cognitive neuroscience. She works with organisations and individuals to teach them how to better understand their unique physiology, providing them with practical tools and science-backed methods to improve their mental health, optimise reflexes and reach peak mental performance, enhancing their daily lives and careers. Through creating healthy habits, Nicole helps people best support their mental health, manage their stressors and make better decisions. 

Her first book ‘Rewire: Your Neurotoolkit for Everyday Life' is coming out in May 2024.

Follow Nicole on Instagram: @nicoleneuroscience

Follow us:

Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: The Brain Docs @thebraindocs

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Website: TheBrainDocs.com

In this episode In this illuminating episode, we dive deep into the world of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), commonly prescribed medications for heartburn and acid reflux. While these drugs have brought relief to millions worldwide, recent studies have begun to uncover potential links between PPI use and an increased risk of dementia. We explore the mechanisms that might underlie this association, the clinical implications for patients, and the broader question of how seemingly unrelated conditions might be connected at a molecular level. Whether you're a healthcare professional, a patient on PPIs, or simply someone curious about the intricate web of human health, this episode promises to offer fresh insights into a hotly debated area of medicine.

References:

Main papers disucssed in this episode:

- Northuis, Carin, et al. "Cumulative Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors and Risk of Dementia: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study." Neurology (2023).

https://n.neurology.org/content/early/2023/08/09/WNL.0000000000207747?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=organic

- Gomm, Willy, et al. "Association of proton pump inhibitors with risk of dementia: a pharmacoepidemiological claims data analysis." JAMA neurology 73.4 (2016): 410-416.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2487379

- Li, Min, et al. "Proton pump inhibitor use and risk of dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis." Medicine 98.7 (2019).

- Ortiz-Guerrero, Gloria, et al. "Proton pump inhibitors and dementia: physiopathological mechanisms and clinical consequences." Neural plasticity 2018 (2018).

- Wijarnpreecha, Karn, et al. "Proton pump inhibitors and risk of dementia." Annals of translational medicine 4.12 (2016).

- Haenisch, Britta, et al. "Risk of dementia in elderly patients with the use of proton pump inhibitors." European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience 265 (2015): 419-428.

- Batchelor, Riley, et al. "Dementia, cognitive impairment and proton pump inhibitor therapy: a systematic review." Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology 32.8 (2017): 1426-1435.

- Gray, Shelly L., et al. "Proton pump inhibitor use and dementia risk: Prospective population‐based study." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 66.2 (2018): 247-253.

- Ahn, Nayeon, et al. "Do proton pump inhibitors increase the risk of dementia? A systematic review, meta‐analysis and bias analysis." British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 89.2 (2023): 602-616.

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Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com

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Instagram: The Brain Docs @thebraindocs

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Website: TheBrainDocs.com

In this episode, we dive deep into the recent, much anticipated randomized controlled trial on the MIND diet. The headlines were ablaze with the dissapointing, less-than-stellar results of the study, but was it truly the diet that didn't work as well as it should have, or was the methodology flawed? 

We discussed the background of the findings on the MIND diet in previous studies and its effect on cognitive health, the detailed methodology of the current randomized controlled trial, its outcomes  and how it impacts our understanding of nutrition and brain health. 

Citations: Barnes, Lisa L., et al. "Trial of the MIND Diet for Prevention of Cognitive Decline in Older Persons." New England Journal of Medicine (2023).

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Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com

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Website: TheBrainDocs.com