Your Brain On

The U.S. is set to have its oldest President ever. Should we be worried, or are we thinking about aging the wrong way? The unprecedented age of the two United States presidential candidates, Biden and Trump, has sparked fiery debates over whether a leader can be ‘too old’ to effectively run a country. Our guest for this episode, neuroscientist Dr. Charan Ranganath, recently published a New York Times op-ed offering an alternative view: age itself may not be a useful metric for measuring how successfully a president might lead the nation. In this episode of ‘Your Brain On’, we discuss: • The different types of memory, and how they work • How our brains can remain more resilient than is often thought in older age • Historic figures who have made significant contributions to the world during their twilight years • The inspiring power of our cognitive reserve We’re also joined by longevity expert Dan Buettner, renowned for his work on ‘The Blue Zones’ — parts of the world with longer life expectancy — for a conversation about why having an older leader might not be an inherently bad thing. This is the SEASON ONE FINALE of Your Brain On. Thank you so much for listening! We return in May 2024 with ten more exhilarating stories about the world through a neuroscientific lens. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... Presidential Aging’ • SEASON 1 • EPISODE 10 Daniel Kahneman, the Nobel Prize-winning psychologist and celebrated author, who Dr. Charan Ranganath mentioned during our conversation, sadly passed away the week before we recorded this episode. We dedicate this episode to his memory, and his work. ——— LINKS Dr. Charan Ranganath His website: https://charanranganath.com/ His new book, ‘Why We Remember’: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705542/why-we-remember-by-charan-ranganath-phd/  At UC Davis: https://psychology.ucdavis.edu/people/charan   Dan Buettner His website: https://danbuettner.com/ Blue Zones: https://www.bluezones.com/  On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danbuettner  ——— FOLLOW US  Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

A healthier heart equals a healthier brain — no surprise there — but what’s the neuroscience behind the benefits of a cardio workout? Cardiovascular exercise, be it a brisk stroll, a light jog, or an intense interval training session, releases neurotransmitters that can improve your mood, reduce stress, enhance your memory, and strengthen immunity. In this episode of ‘Your Brain On’, we discuss: • How your brain and your body respond to increasingly challenging aerobic workouts • The neurochemistry of phenomena like ‘feeling the burn’ and ‘runner’s high’ • How the protein BDNF, triggered by exercise, can reverse the effects of aging and cognitive decline • Ways to integrate more cardio exercise into your life, no matter which hurdles each day brings We speak to Dr. John Ratey, author of ‘Spark’, widely celebrated as one of THE go-to books about how exercise benefits the brain. He shares the story that led him to write the book, about a school which favored fitness over sports skills in its PE classes and subsequently ranked amid the smartest schools in the world. We’re also joined by Dr. Art Kramer, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Cognitive & Brain Health at Northeastern University, who dismisses the idea that you can be ‘too old to exercise’. And we invite anti-influencer and social media personality Erin Azar, AKA Mrs. Space Cadet, to the show, to talk about how her videos, which show the less glamorous side of running and exercise, went viral and spawned a community of nearly one-million followers. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... Cardio • SEASON 1 • EPISODE 9 ——— LINKS Our ‘Mastering Memory’ training webinar: https://thebraindocs.com/memory/  Dr. John Ratey Website and books: https://www.johnratey.com/  Dr. Art Kramer At Northeastern University College of Science: https://cos.northeastern.edu/people/art-kramer/  Erin Azar, “Mrs. Space Cadet” Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immrsspacecadet TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrs.space.cadet  ——— FOLLOW US Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

How does Alzheimer’s alter the brain, and how do we create a future without the disease? Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, threatens to single-handedly collapse our healthcare systems. But our knowledge of how to prevent it is stronger than ever. In this episode of ‘YOUR BRAIN ON’, we discuss: • The power of stories and the importance of community for finding comfort and confidence following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis • What we know about preventing cognitive decline through brain-healthy living • The neurochemistry of how Alzheimer’s physically changes the brain • Genetic predisposition to neurodegenerative diseases, and why women have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s • Why we should approach brain health in the same way we approach heart health We’re joined by Dr. Lisa Genova, neuroscientist and writer of ‘Still Alice’, a book which allows the reader to step into the shoes of a woman experiencing the onset of Alzheimer’s. ‘Still Alice’ was adapted into a feature film, for which Julianne Moore won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2015. Lisa talks to us about how stories can help us find a sense of hope and empathy in the face of ‘scary’ diagnoses. Dr. Charles DeCarli, Director of the the University of California Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center, explains a broad range of Alzheimer’s risk factors — from amyloid and tau proteins to cardiovascular diseases — and offers advice on thinking about brain health as part of the body’s wider functionality, not a standalone system. And Dr. Lisa Mosconi, neuroscientist, educator, and author of ‘The Menopause Brain’, highlights how the hormonal shifts caused by menopause contribute to a higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s in women, and unpacks the controversial history and potential future of hormone replacement therapy. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... ADHD • SEASON 1 • EPISODE 8 ——— LINKS Lisa Genova: Website and books: https://www.lisagenova.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlisagenova   Lisa Mosconi: Website: https://www.lisamosconi.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_mosconi Book, ‘The Menopause Brain’: https://www.amazon.com/Menopause-Brain-Transition-Knowledge-Confidence/dp/0593541243   Dr. Charles DeCarli at UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/medical-center/team/639/charles-decarli---neurology---dementia---alzheimer-s-disease-sacramento/ ——— FOLLOW US Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

Are there differences between the brains of women and men? In this episode of Your Brain On, we explore the unique aspects of the female brain, and how the male-biased history of medical science has left us with enormous gaps in our knowledge of women’s distinctive neurology. We discuss: • The striking uniformity in the structure of the female and male brain • The possible physiological and sociological reasons why women have a higher risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s • The recent progress that’s been made in making neuroscientific studies more inclusive • What current research says about Hormone Replacement Therapy, a common treatment for postmenopausal drops in neuroprotective hormones We’re joined by Dr. Margaret McCarthy, James & Carolyn Frenkil Endowed Dean's Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where she is also Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology, renowned for her research into the neuroscience of sex differences, and Dr. Lise Eliot, Professor of Neuroscience at the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists and public health advocates, Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... Being A Woman • SEASON 1 • EPISODE 7 ——— LINKS Dr. Margaret McCarthy’s website: https://www.mccarthylab.com/ Dr. Lise Eliot at Rosalind Franklin University: https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/academics/faculty/lise-eliot/  ——— FOLLOW US Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

What actually is ADHD? What caused the sharp increase in cases? How does diagnosis work? ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. 60 years ago, it wasn’t mentioned at all in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Now, it’s one of the most broadly-discussed disorders in the world.  In this episode of ‘Your Brain On’, we discuss:  • What’s distinct about the brains of people with ADHD • The past, present, and future of ADHD diagnosis • How social media has simultaneously crushed mental health stigmas AND contributed to a dangerous trend of misguided self-diagnosis Clinical psychologist Dr. Nicole Barile, who's known on social media for debunking trending neuroscience mistruths, joins us to discuss how online misinformation and cultural disparities have caused a paradoxical overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of ADHD. Nicole also explains ADHD’s overlap with other disorders, and how such comorbidities can make diagnosis challenging. Dr. Margaret Sibley elaborates on the diagnosis disparity between various communities and demographics, unpacks what we know about how genetics and environment affect the prevalence of ADHD, and further ponders the relationship between social media discourse and the rising pervasiveness of ADHD. Margaret is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital. She also details the current interventions for ADHD, and shares what she’s excited about for the future of the disorder’s treatment. And we speak to Ari Tuckman, a clinical psychologist specializing in diagnosing and treating people with ADHD, about the disorder’s subtypes, how ADHD affects children and adults differently, and why management can be just as important as treatment.  ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... ADHD’ • SEASON 1 • EPISODE 6 ——— LINKS Nicole’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feedyourmental  Nicole’s website: https://www.feedyourmental.com/ Margaret’s website: https://www.margaretsibley.com/  Ari’s website: https://tuckmanpsych.com/ Ari’s book, Success Strategies for Adults with ADHD: https://adultadhdbook.com/  ——— FOLLOW US Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

From trepanning to Neuralink, we’ve always been curious about operating on our brains — for better or worse. Tens of thousands of people were lobotomized before the practice began to decline in the 1950s. The era of lobotomies is one of the darkest chapters in medical history. Many of the period’s missteps can guide how we think about healthcare ethics today, and in the future. In this episode of Your Brain On, we discuss: • The origins of lobotomies, and how they became so prevalent in spite of their tragic consequences • How evolving medical knowledge and technology led to their obsolescence • Whether we’re about to make the same mistakes, as brain-machine interfaces like Neuralink promise a new generation of cognitive enhancement We speak to Dr. Warren Boling about the historic context of lobotomies, how the procedure scored one of the most controversial Nobel Prize awards of all time, and what’s coming next for neurosurgical technology. Warren is a renowned neurosurgeon and director of the dept. of neurosurgery at Loma Linda University. He specializes in epilepsy surgery. We’re also joined by ethicist Dr. Arthur Caplan, for a fascinating talk about the past, present, and future of medical ethics. Arthur is the founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Department of Population Health in New York City. ‘Your Brain On... Lobotomies’ • SEASON 1 • EPISODE 5 LINKS Dr. Warren Boling at Loma Linda: https://lluh.org/provider/boling-warren Dr. Arthur Caplan at NYU: https://med.nyu.edu/faculty/arthur-l-caplan Dr. Arthur Caplan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArthurCaplan  FOLLOW US Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

Why do we dream? Is lucid dreaming real? How can dreams be used for therapy? Does cheese really give us nightmares? In this episode, we discuss the neuroscience and psychology of: • REM sleep, and how it puts our brain in the ideal state for creating dreams • Why dreams might be a way for our brains to stop non-visual senses taking over our brains when we sleep • The links between recurring dreams and trauma, and how external stimuli influence the things we dream about We speak with renowned author, dreamworker, and poet Rodger Kamenetz about why, even if lucid dreaming is real, we might not want to interrupt the problem-solving, memory-consolidating work our brains undertake when we dream. And we talk to teacher and psychotherapist Dr. Leslie Ellis about how she incorporates dreams into therapeutic practices, and discuss why dreaming is so difficult to study. Plus: we take a trip through time, exploring all the world-changing inventions, discoveries, and works of art that were inspired by dreams. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... Dreams’ • SEASON 1 • EPISODE 4   LINKS Rodger Kamenetz’s website: https://kamenetz.com/ Rodger’s book:  The Jew in the Lotus: A Poet's Rediscovery of Jewish Identity in Buddhist India Dr. Leslie Ellis’ website: https://drleslieellis.com/ Leslie’s Instagram: @dreamsdemystified Leslie’s book:  A Clinician’s Guide to Dream Therapy   FOLLOW US  Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

When wins and losses shape the mood of entire cities, what’s happening in the brains of football fans? In this episode, we discuss the neuroscience and psychology of: • Football fandom, and bonding with others over shared love of a team • The chemicals that make wins feel so joyous, and losses so painful • How our empathy systems transport us into the shoes of the players We explore the evolutionary significance of sports, from honing our motor skills as hunter-gatherers to finding connection and purpose through the global tournaments of today, and share our own stories growing up as football fans. And, we speak to Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, neuroscientist, psychologist, and author,  about the physiological effects of watching sports with others — synchronized breathing, matching heart rates, and mirrored movements. Plus! Our son Alexander Noor Sherzai, a newly accepted graduate student at UCLA in the field of computational medicine/AI and a lifelong fanatical Pittsburgh Steelers fan, joins us for a conversation about the cultural and psychological intersection of football fandom: being a fan from a young age, engaging in online discourse, and concerns around the growing epidemic of sports betting. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... Football’ • SEASON 1 • EPISODE 2 CONTEST To celebrate the launch of our new podcast, ‘Your Brain On’, we’re giving away prizes to its earliest listeners — like you! Prizes include memberships to our thriving NEURO Academy community, and bundles, like our Better Brain Cooking Box, Books Bundle, and Better Brain Favorites Box. To enter, all you’ll need to do is subscribe to Your Brain On, leave an honest review of the show on Apple Podcasts, and then sign up for the contest at thebraindocs.com/podcast. LINKS Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast GUEST LINKS Lisa’s books: • Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain (book): https://amzn.to/2Sp5ar9 • How Emotions Are Made (book): https://amzn.to/2GwAFg6 Lisa’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/LFeldmanBarrett Lisa’s Website: https://lisafeldmanbarrett.com/  

Sugar often carries a blanket negative health connotation. But our brains need carbohydrates for everyday energy. The term “sugar” is often used in a broad and imprecise manner, often encompassing a wide range of carbohydrates — without distinction. This oversimplification overlooks the nuanced roles and effects of different types of carbohydrates on our health. In this episode, we aim to dissect and clarify these complexities, focusing on: • What sugar actually is, and how it affects our brains in different ways depending on how we consume it • The critical role of carbohydrates for our health, and the differences between various forms and their impacts • Whether sugar is really as addictive as drugs We explore the history of sugar, and discuss how it ended up in almost everything we see on supermarket shelves. Plus, we speak to Dr Alan Flanagan, an esteemed nutrition scientist and founder of Alinea Nutrition. His insights shed light on the current scientific understanding of sugar and carbohydrates, providing a deeper analysis of their implications for our well-being. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... Sugar’ • SEASON 1 • EPISODE 3 CONTEST To celebrate the launch of our new podcast, ‘Your Brain On’, we’re giving away prizes to its earliest listeners — like you! Prizes include memberships to our thriving NEURO Academy community, and bundles, like our Better Brain Cooking Box, Books Bundle, and Better Brain Favorites Box. To enter, all you’ll need to do is subscribe to Your Brain On, leave an honest review of the show on Apple Podcasts, and then sign up for the contest at thebraindocs.com/podcast. LINKS Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast GUEST LINKS Alan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenutritionaladvocate Alinea Nutrition: https://www.alineanutrition.com/

Neurochemically, what is love? How can neuroscience help us maintain long-term relationships? Is heartbreak real? In this episode, we discuss the neuroscience and psychology of: • Why falling in love can feel so stressful • How being infatuated activates the same neurotransmitters as having OCD • What happens to your brain when exciting new romances settle into comfortable decades-long unions We speak to Dr. Anna Machin, renowned author and evolutionary anthropologist at the Department of Experimental Psychology at Oxford University, England, and author of ‘Why We Love’, about oxytocin, dopamine, and lesser-discussed hormones like beta-endorphins, whether genetics can heighten our predisposition to desire relationships, and why love (in all forms, not just romantic) is a fundamental human need.  Cardiologist Columbus Batiste, MD joins us for a conversation around love’s impact on both the heart and the brain, and what the medical term for heartbreak has to do with octopi! We speak with psychologist Dr. Arthur Aron, esteemed professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, best known for his work on intimacy in interpersonal relationships, and development of the self-expansion model of motivation in close relationships, about the differences between passionate and companionate love, and what his self-expansion model says about why we’re motivated to seek out relationships. Dr. Richard S. Schwartz, MD, renowned psychiatrist, author and associate professor at Harvard Medical School and on the faculty of the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute and the Psychodynamic Couple and Family Institute of New England, discusses the neuroscience of distinguishing love from obsession. His work and research focuses on social connection and lasting marriage. With his wife, Jacqueline Olds, MD, he has co-authored three books on these subjects. Plus: we share our own love story — meeting while working on healthcare systems in war-torn Afghanistan — and explore how love can be found in the midst of shared challenges. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... Love’ • SEASON 1 • EPISODE 1 CONTEST To celebrate the launch of our new podcast, ‘Your Brain On’, we’re giving away prizes to its earliest listeners — like you! Prizes include memberships to our thriving NEURO Academy community, and bundles, like our Better Brain Cooking Box, Books Bundle, and Better Brain Favorites Box. To enter, all you’ll need to do is subscribe to Your Brain On, leave an honest review of the show on Apple Podcasts, and then sign up for the contest at thebraindocs.com/podcast. LINKS Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

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. CONTEST To celebrate the launch of our new podcast, ‘Your Brain On’, we’re giving away prizes to its earliest listeners — like you! Prizes include memberships to our thriving NEURO Academy community, and bundles, like our Better Brain Cooking Box, Books Bundle, and Better Brain Favorites Box. To enter, all you’ll need to do is subscribe to Your Brain On, leave an honest review of the show on Apple Podcasts, and then sign up for the contest at thebraindocs.com/podcast. LINKS Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

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. CONTEST To celebrate the launch of our new podcast, ‘Your Brain On’, we’re giving away prizes to its earliest listeners — like you! Prizes include memberships to our thriving NEURO Academy community, and bundles, like our Better Brain Cooking Box, Books Bundle, and Better Brain Favorites Box. To enter, all you’ll need to do is subscribe to Your Brain On, leave an honest review of the show on Apple Podcasts, and then sign up for the contest at thebraindocs.com/podcast. LINKS Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast