In this episode of the 'Let's Talk Brain Health' podcast, Dr. Jennifer Fraser discusses her book 'The Bullied Brain', exploring the neurological effects of bullying and how it physically alters the brain.  She details her interdisciplinary approach, blending neuroscience with social and psychological perspectives to address bullying. She shares case studies and research findings on the brain areas affected by abusive behaviors, emphasizing the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, corpus callosum, and amygdala.  Jennifer explains that bullying, even verbal or online, causes visible damage ..read more

This episode of 'Let's Talk Brain Health' features an inspiring conversation with Johnny Crowder, a certified recovery peer specialist, mental health advocate, and the founder of Cope Notes. Crowder shares his personal journey from struggling with severe mental health conditions and surviving abuse to becoming a mental health advocate. He explains how art, music, and peer support played significant roles in his recovery, and how studying psychology and neuroscience helped him realize the potential for change in brain health. Crowder discusses the inception of Cope Notes, a text-based platform ..read more

In this episode of the Let's Talk Brain Health podcast, we welcome Dr. Carolyn Clevenger, DNP, a distinguished gerontology nurse practitioner and professor at Emory University, to discuss the groundbreaking Integrated Memory Care (IMC) program.  Carolyn outlines the IMC's unique, nurse-led approach to dementia care, offering comprehensive services for both people living with dementia and their caregivers under one roof.  She details the challenges traditional care models present, the formation of the Integrated Memory Care Clinic based on caregiver feedback, and the multidisciplinary ..read more

Dr. Kaveh Vejdani, Co-founder and Chief Medical and Technology Officer at Darmiyan, discusses BrainSee, the first FDA-approved AI medical software designed to evaluate cognitive prognosis in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).  With a background in nuclear medicine and expertise in medical image processing and machine learning, Dr. Vejdani's work reflects his commitment to innovation in healthcare. BrainSee aims to solve the global crisis of dementia through early detection and accurate prognosis of MCI, potentially improving patients' brain health journeys and treatment outcom ..read more

In this episode of the 'Let's Talk Brain Health' podcast, guest Brenda Davis RD, a distinguished expert in plant-based nutrition, discusses the profound benefits of adopting a plant-based diet for brain health. Brenda, recognized for her extensive work and publications on vegan and vegetarian nutrition, shares her personal journey to plant-based eating and insights from her research and clinical trials in the Marshall Islands and Lithuania. She emphasizes the connection between diet and cognitive well-being, highlighting studies that support the positive impact of plant-based diets on reducing ..read more

This episode of the 'Let's Talk Brain Health' podcast features Dr. Kyra Bobinet, a physician, public health leader, and behavioral science innovator, who discusses her extensive journey and insights into behavior change. Dr. Bobinet, with an MD from UCSF School of Medicine and a Master's in Public Health from Harvard University, shares her discoveries in the neuroscience of habit formation, particularly the role of the habenula in regulating motivation and behavior change. She introduces the concept of the 'no do gap' that challenges individuals to execute their know-how into practice, emphasi ..read more

In this episode of 'Let's Talk Brain Health,' Robert 'Rob' Liebreich, President and CEO of Goodwin Living, discusses the Stronger Memory program, an initiative focused on enhancing brain health in senior living communities. Rob shares personal stories that fueled his passion for memory care, including his experience with his mother.   The Stronger Memory program consists of three key activities: reading aloud, handwriting, and tackling simple math problems, all designed to engage the prefrontal cortex and mitigate cognitive decline.   Initially inspired by methods used in Japan, the ..read more

This episode explores the important work of the Brain Exercise Initiative with Essene GumustekinIn this episode of 'Let's Talk Brain Health', Essene Gumustekin, an MDJD candidate at UCLA Medical School and Harvard Law School, founder of the Brain Exercise Initiative discusses her inspiration and commitment to improving brain health. The Brain Exercise Initiative is a non-profit organization that conducts brain exercise sessions for seniors across the US and Canada. The program, based on the work of Japanese neuroscientist Dr. Ruta Kawashima, involves seniors performing simple math and reading ..read more

In this episode of 'Let's Talk Brain Health', guest Dr. Jacqueline Thies, an accomplished neuro optometrist, discusses the intricate connections between eye health, neurology, and overall health. She advises regular eye exams for early detection of health problems, as the eyes can often reveal signs of systemic or neurological diseases. Dr. Thies emphasizes the value of optometric evaluations beyond just prescribing glasses or contacts, and advocates for a multidisciplinary approach, including telemedicine, to reach isolated or homebound patients. She also introduces her work at a startup comp ..read more

In this episode of Let's Talk Brain Health, expert and culinary-trained dietician Maggie Moon shares her insights into the role of nutrition in supporting brain health. Maggie, who is also an author and a strategic consultant for health-centered brands, emphasizes the power of the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet in bolstering brain health across all life stages. She discusses the research behind the MIND diet's potential to cut Alzheimer's risk and its impact on cognitive decline.  Maggie believes in the integration of cultural food traditions ..read more