The Model Health Show

Your brain is a powerful force that regulates so many functions and processes in your body. Everything from memory and emotion to temperature and metabolism are controlled by this complex and dynamic organ. Because of the expansive nature of the human brain, the field of neuroscience is vast and ever-evolving. 

Dr. Lisa Mosconi is a world-renowned neuroscientist who is ranked amongst the top 1% of scientists in the past 20 years. Dr. Mosconi studies the fascinating and growing intersection of neuroscience and nutrition, including how what we eat impacts our brain health and can ultimately determine our susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases. She is the director of the Women’s Brain Initiative and the associate director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine, an adjunct faculty member at the NYU Department of Psychiatry, and the author of two incredible bestselling books, Brain Food and The XX Brain. 

On today’s show, you’re going to hear two powerful excerpts from previous interviews with Dr. Lisa Mosconi. She’s sharing the science on a wide variety of topics under the umbrella of brain health—including how Alzheimer’s disease develops over time, what your brain is made of and what nutrients it needs to survive, how men and women’s brains differ, and so much more. We can all learn more about how to nourish and protect our brain health, and I hope this episode empowers you to do just that. Enjoy! 

In this episode you’ll discover:

  • What the HPA axis is, and how it works.
  • The relationship between your hypothalamus and your metabolic rate.
  • What nuclear medicine is. 
  • The surprising connection between Alzheimer’s disease and genetics.
  • What neuronutrition is, and how the blood-brain barrier works. 
  • A major differentiating factor between brain cells and other cells in the body. 
  • How many nutrients the brain has access to. 
  • Why your brain itself cannot feel pain. 
  • What a brain reserve is. 
  • An important distinction between dietary cholesterol and cholesterol in the brain. 
  • What compounds your brain is made of. 
  • Specific nutrients your brain needs for optimal health. 
  • Why long-chain polyunsaturated fats are critical for brain function. 
  • The link between menopause and Alzheimer’s disease. 
  • Why you should avoid xenoestrogens.
  • How women have been systematically excluded from research.
  • Why the XX chromosomes are related to brain function. 
  • What estradiol is. 
  • How Alzheimer’s disease develops over time. 
  • The role estrogen has in the brain. 
  • What the number one cause of early menopause is. 
  • Why hormone replacement therapy needs to be individualized. 
  • The power of protecting your brain with antioxidants. 
  • Which vitamins are most important for combating oxidative stress.
  • Why your brain needs carbohydrates. 

Items mentioned in this episode include:

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