#18 – Richard Isaacson, M.D.: Alzheimer’s prevention

Summary

The Peter Atia Drive podcast features an interview with neurologist Richard Isaacson, who specializes in Alzheimer's disease prevention. Isaacson is the director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Cornell in New York City and has developed a website called ALZU.org, which is a valuable resource for those with Alzheimer's disease and their families. The podcast covers the etiology, incidence, and prevalence of Alzheimer's disease, as well as risk reduction and prevention strategies. Isaacson also discusses the ApoE gene and other genes that may predispose individuals to Alzheimer's disease. The podcast emphasizes the importance of funding research in Alzheimer's prevention and provides a weekly email and detailed show notes for listeners.

The conversation also touches on the speaker's personal experience with Alzheimer's disease and their unique medical education experience. The speaker discusses the challenges of cognitive testing and Alzheimer's prevention, as well as the importance of research in developing effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The speaker emphasizes the importance of preventing cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death and more preventable than neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

The podcast also covers various topics related to brain health and supplements, including the importance of precision medicine and not using a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to supplements like curcumin. The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning about brain health and recommends a website for further information. Additionally, they mention a specific brand of supplements, J rose, that they trust and have seen positive results from.

The podcast discusses the importance of exercise for brain health and reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease, as well as the need to know one's numbers, including body fat, muscle mass, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. The speaker suggests that high-intensity interval training is important but should be done carefully to avoid injury. While alcohol consumption may have some protective benefits, it is not considered a top priority for brain health. The context highlights the need for education and personalized approaches to brain health.

Overall, the podcast emphasizes the importance of personalized medicine and the need to consider multiple factors in creating treatment plans. The speaker acknowledges that the increase in prevalence of Alzheimer's disease may be due to a combination of environmental factors and increased awareness and diagnostic acumen.