Revolutionizing Brain Health: Genetics, Lipid Science, and Cutting-Edge Dementia Prevention

[@jorgesanabria6484]

Massive episode been looking forward to it! We spoke a few weeks ago about my HBP at 133/85 as a 27 year old and I am already down to 125/75 by eating more fibre and cutting salt drastically.

[@earthmamma85]

I love the personal approach rather than just a blanket therapy that most doctors use. I have dementia and Alzheimer’s on both sides of my family. I’ve never done any tests but I do try my best to live a life that reduce the risks. Every person that developed the disease lived a very hard life, treated their body horribly. I hope by living the complete opposite way that I have decreased my risks drastically. Fingers crossed 🤞

[@iwnunn7999]

Dr dayspring is impressive. Highly engaging speaker.

[@SimonHealthAction]

Fantastic podcast. I'm E3/E4 and the information shared was extremely informative. Thank you Simon, and to both of your excellent guests!

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

Our pleasure!

[@denisebarker6442]

Just found out I’m E3/E4 before this podcast aired. I’ve listened to it 3 times now . I found the discussion so helpful and it helped me to feel hopeful and empowered that my destiny is in my hands . That there IS something I can do to prevent an inevitable outcome. Thank you !

[@C__P13]

@@denisebarker6442 I have the E3/E4 genotype too. :) There are some good podcasts with Peter Attia and Richard Isaacson discussing other potential actions for risk reduction. Exercise, keeping your ldl low and eating a lot of veggies and fibre are the key takeaways! All the best.

[@gloriacavanagh1672]

Super!! I always follow The Proof!! Thankyou.

[@janesmith516]

I really love your interim summaries. Really clear. Thank you.

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

You're very welcome!

[@HalfLapJoint]

+1

[@billvicenzino8555]

Thanks Simon for bringing Tom and Kellyann to the podcast. As someone with familial history of FH and AD, this episode brought together a number of areas of research in helping me understand the biology. A challenge I have when risks are presented in relative terms (eg 7% inc risk) without the baseline or background level of risk - is that I am unable to bring into context the meaningfulness of the data/figures. How does one ascertain this background risk level, and then how can it be a relevant one to the individual? Two books by Tom Chivers (everything is predictable, and how to read numbers) does a great job at explaining what I am raising here.

[@whitGGG]

APOE4/4 here. I told my primary care doctor I tested positive for both genes and he had no idea what I was talking about. He also specializes in diabetes.

[@MarthaHenson-zp1kw]

Not surprising, I told my GP I wanted to check my serum bone markers because he told me I had osteoporosis based on a dexa scan, and he didn't know what bone markers were.

[@AGBRADFORD]

Your videos over the last week have literally helped so many people that are in my yoga and core body building classes for women. Thanks for taking the time to inform audiences about such common questions and solutions to them. I'm inspired to begin sharing the food and roundtable talks we've been having here in Southern California. Most of us follow a Mediterranean diet, more or less, but monitoring progress is a process everyone is learning to do -- step by step, with your pods. Thx again

[@heidizee5144]

Really appreciate the effort put into this episode. A lot to digest for a regular person, but actionable takeaways included focusing on getting those omega 3s, and for apoB reduction, as a healthy, fit (and mostly raw vegan due to health/GI issues), I will also look at consuming more low-glycemic index fruits to get glucose and HbA1c numbers optimized (thanks ChatGPT for that suggestion). Thanks very much, Simon; you are making such a difference for all of us who want to take personal responsibility for optimizing our health and longevity. Your channel has become my #1 go to for reliable, thoughtful and accurate info.

[@jjjames6894]

@1:30:30 that’s the question I needed about blood/brain statin crossings, unfortunate unsurprising & pretty definitive answer from dr d, outstanding episode thanks Simon & collab🙏💪

[@dahdah6668]

Yes, more brain/cholesterol info. Thanks.

[@samanthab5006]

I loved school and absolutely love when you get into the weeds. My bachelors degree is in biomedical engineering but I ended up pivoting to industrial engineering for my career. I loved your original 3 part series with Doctor Dayspring. I listened to it taking notes while building my son's nursery furniture pregnant. Now with a toddler it'll take me a bit longer to get through all the info but I'll enjoy it so thank you!

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

You’re welcome! Enjoy

[@cynthiabroze]

Excellent presentations as usual, including your clarification interjections. Your program one of the few I can reliably listen to for actual experts, IMO. And so many others highlight carnivorous diets. I then need to exist immediately since it’s something I will not do.

[@kwikitti]

FASCINATING! As an apoE4 +/+, I loved learning about obiceptrapib and more about desmosterol. A possible subject to explore on a forthcoming podcast with Niotis: the effects of apoe4 in the Tsimane in South America and in people in Nigeria? Thank you so much Simon for creating these podcasts to get the latest ground-breaking nutrition related information out to the public. And thank you to Drs Niotis and Dayspring for sharing their cutting edge expertise (and their positivity) on this complex subject.

[@alanmcdonald6380]

Possibly your best one yet, thanks for continuing to make the effort to explain it.

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

Very welcome

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

I’ve been dreaming about you having Kellyann for a couple years now! I can’t wait to listen ❤ I am so curious if either of them eats red meat and/or their thoughts about red meat 🥩?

[@mihaelacostea5783]

What are the main prevention actions we can take in our 40s? I started listening to the podcast but I'm anxious to get to the action points.

[@maryhandlename]

Wow, ask and Simon delivers, and much more!!! Now I need to dig into this episode, thanks!!!

[@samanthab5006]

My maternal grandfather had Parkinson's and my maternal aunt (17 years older than my mom) has advanced dementia at 77. I look forward to the episodes suggested at the end of this one. I decided to get my apoe tested but want to be as proactive as possible regardless for me and my son

[@Jupiter_Crash]

Fascinating Simon! Thx u!

[@RobertWinter2]

I hope you cover the use of therapeutic nutritional ketonemia for treating and preventing dementia. We have well over a hundred years of research on its use for treating refractory epilepsy, and lately, a good bit of research has been investigating its efficaciousness for other neurologic conditions, including Alzheimer's dementia.

[@carolineboult469]

I want to question whether there are other preventative neurologists in the US: what about the Drs Sherzai? They have the public health platform, The NEURO Academy. This brilliant team work in public health and definitely work in Preventative Neurology.

[@notrueflagshere198]

Wonderful! I even understood some of it!

[@Dr_Boult]

Well done. I wished they talke a bit mroe about the Bredesen Protcols (maybe next time). While its keto is largely high-veggie and hence lower cholesterol but the whole ketonic state of it is still of high interest. Loved the discussion of statin types though I would have like to have a reference or two to follow up on the lack of impact and the hydro/hyrdaphilic differences.

[@acke26]

Very impressed by Thomas Dayspring and his long experience in lipidology, but I think he needs to be a bit more humble when correcting Dr Kellyann Niotis for using the wrong terminology for APO protein using the term "APO lipoprotein" - when he did it himself several times in his own explanation 😊

[@racking4507]

I guess this wouldn't be the place to expect to hear this mentioned, but amazing how the work being done with the Ketogenic diet regarding treating dementia related brain disorders doesn't get mentioned. To be fair, I'm not all the way through the podcast yet, and not stumping for it since at this point it isn't proven, just surprised it isn't mentioned.

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

We have another ep coming up. I believe it may be mentioned there. You’re right though -far from proven as beneficial (who knows what the future holds).

[@lynnritchie231]

I'm so depressed listening to this. My GF passed from Alzheimers. My uncle had Parkinsons w/dementia and now my aunt has dementia too. My Mother is so far ok, but it IS worrying.

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

I believe that it is preventable! There’s a lot that we can do. Please search for all the podcast with Dale Bredesen. Dale Bredesen, MD, is an internationally recognized neurologist with specialty expertise in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and gives tons of advice on how we can not only prevent dementia, but if caught in the really early stages, we can reverse it.

[@NonchalantWalrusParty]

@@plants_and_wellness1574 Please correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't Breseden push low carb diet?

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

@@NonchalantWalrusPartyI thought he advocated for a plant rich diet? That’s what I remember 😅

[@NonchalantWalrusParty]

@@plants_and_wellness1574 You're probably correct-i never read his book, just saw him referenced a bit by low-carb goons and assumed. Silly me

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

@@NonchalantWalrusParty I’ve only heard him advocate for a plant rich diet. I hate that some people hear low carb and think high fat or something else, but I’m almost positive that he advocates for lots of plants and he himself eats either very little or no meat now. It’s been awhile since I watched that podcast. I should go back and listen 🎧

[@playfulkitten529]

What is the Lancet article you are referring to?

[@brentsmith5318]

Wonderful guests. I get confused at times how statins prevent Alzheimer's. It seems they all can cross the blood brain barrier, if the brain needs cholester how do they help prevent alzheimers. After a quick review of the literature on pub med, numerous articles mention how statins increase calcium in the arteries. How does this not contribute to worsening of the atherosclerosis or am I missing something here?

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

Because calcification may actually be protective against events (by hardening vulnerable plaques that would otherwise rupture). Good question

[@georgecav]

Thats a sub topic I am very interested in and that I have found almost no one willing to engage and take a position on and in particular is vit K2 perhaps detrimental to the risk of mi/stroke if indeed it does perhaps strip calcium from arteries at the expense of plaque stabilisation? Of course as the original comment alluded to, the contradiction then looms that you may deliberately be allowing your arteries to calcify which is ususlly reffered to as a bad thing? Whether or not to take K2 and how to establish a best dose for individual circumstance (eg existing cvd or probably not) is my biggest supplement quandry despite the cacophany of pro K2 voices.

[@nature-xi9lk]

Love the content on the proof! Would you consider doing a video about blood testing basics? Mostly interested in how often to get blood tests (I've heard this is a good thing to do periodically), which blood tests may be most useful especially for vegans/plant based folks, and general tips. I know many people would say to talk to a doctor and I plan to but not every doctor recommends blood testing or is friendly to plant based folks. I've seen plenty of KZbin videos reviewing an individual's results but not really any that go through blood testing at a higher level. Thanks!

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

CHeck my ep from 2 weeks ago on blood tests and my blood test guide at theproof.com

[@Amgslg12246]

I’m a bit confused. At one point, Dayspring says all statins cross the blood brain barrier and there is later discussion about measuring desmosterol which you should do if you are on a statin. Then move discussion about how the cholesterol system in the body is separate from that in the brain. Then, at the end, Dayspring says Apoe4s should drive their apoB and LDL down as low as possible using pharmaceuticals. I’m still unclear on whether Dayspring and Niotis would recommend a high dose of a statin in an Apoe4 to reduce LDL where zetia and bempedoic acid are insufficient. This is the question all Apoe4s are asking and I don’t think it was clearly answered here.

[@drumsnmore2545]

Great discussion! While ApoB is discussed in depth, Dale Bredesen - a heralded expert on preventing or even reversing AD - does not like to see a total cholesterol below 150 in ApoE4s It would have been interesting to see Dr Dayspring comment, as aggressive ApoB lowering could certainly drive TC below this level

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

Haven’t heard him say that. Do you remember which podcast you heard Dr Bredesen say that? I love him and love learning from him 😊

[@drumsnmore2545]

@@plants_and_wellness1574 his book. And it’s not just ApoE4s. From his book: “Perhaps surprisingly, low rather than high cholesterol is associated with cognitive decline. When total cholesterol falls below 150, you are more likely to suffer brain atrophy-shrinking. Cholesterol is a key part of cell membranes, including those of brain cells.”

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

@@drumsnmore2545 that’s interesting and I would definitely like to see another Alzheimer’s expert on with him because from everything I’ve learned over the years, it’s the opposite. My father in law got dementia at 59, he was an alcoholic but also had extremely high cholesterol his whole life. He’s only 67 and is practically a vegetable in a nursing home. Me and my husband used to buy grass fed beef from a local farm. The lady and her husband were health freaks! She was on the board, the name escapes my memory 😑, you would know it. They prescribe raw milk and butter and meat. Anyways they didn’t consume sugar or junk food. They lived on a farm far away from any big city and raised cows naturally and they both had high cholesterol and they both developed dementia before the age of 70. Her husband developed it a few years earlier than she did. She looked insane! She was so pretty and skinny and fit and was running the farm by herself and taking care of her husband up until a couple years ago. They both of course ate a lot of beef and had high cholesterol. They did everything they believed was right. They didn’t believe that high cholesterol was a problem and yet they both now have dementia as well as my father in law.

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

@@drumsnmore2545 I just thought of the name of the board she was on, haha, it’s Westin A Price.

[@teri2466]

I just found two longitudinal studies from 2021 about this topic. One found decrease & the other found increase in cognitive decline. Also, there's some valid criticism of the science that led to Dr. Bredesen's protocol, so it's something I'd want to look into more.

[@VeganLinked]

I think I heard you say dietary cholesterol doesn't make it to the brain but excess sulfur-containing amino acids like methionine from the diet can contribute to the amyloid plaque formation in the brain especially if somebody is not eating their legumes, greens, nuts and seeds for folate and b vitamins and supplements B12. So while dietary cholesterol may not find its way up there food is a package deal and when you eat animals it comes with excess baggage.

[@anastazjasokoloff3050]

Great .Thank you ❤

[@yassennikolov3519]

Great work, as always! Statins are cheap and very easy to get prescribed, compared to other LDL lowering meds. In relation to dementia, specifically Alzheimers, which is better: fat-soluble statin (e.g. atorvastatin, simvastatin, and lovastatin) or water-soluble (e.g.rosuvastatin and pravastatin)? Do the type of statin matter for the lipid balance in the brain? Even if it is not clear which type would be logically safer? Supposedly, the water-soluble do not cross the blood brain barrier...

[@gailhumiston3890]

Being a post-menopausal woman with one EPOE4 gene, this podcast may serve to save my future self! I look forward to more interviews and your summaries!!!🎉 I didn't see that being a post -menopausal woman was on the risk-factor list. Yet, women make up 2/3 of Alzheimers patients, as I recall. Did I miss something?

[@lindajones4849]

You are absolutely correct . During perimenopause the brain ATP production drops on average by 40 percent cent. If you felt like crap during menopause that's why and it's due to the estrogen drop. See the work and books by Dr.isa Mosconi. Many neurologist believe that menopause makes women more likely to develop Alzheimers than men.

[@jynjerbred4718]

Does Empower DX lab offer these tests?

[@catherinekasmer9905]

I thought there were some studies showing negative cognitive side effects from statins?

[@anonymouse100]

I think that’s truer or only true of lipophilic statins. Stick to hydrophilic statins and you reduce the risk. And supplement with CoQ10.

[@kathycoe58]

I am homozygous Apo E4 with established heart disease and Parkinsonism. How should I proceed to find someone who can put together a program with cutting edge info like you outlined here. I saw Dr William Davis decades ago and he recommended I see Dr Dayspring. I wish I had. My carotids are full of plaque and I had a stent in the LAD in 2021 Any and all info would be appreciated

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

Contact Dr Kellyann Niotis’ practice

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

I’m so sorry 😞 my niece is a double 4 and is 28 with very high LDL and I am trying so hard to get her to take better care of herself. Can you share the diet you had before you found out about the plaque in your arteries? I’ve told her to cut down on red meat and stop butter altogether, and of course no processed foods at all.

[@kathycoe58]

@@plants_and_wellness1574 I’d like to be encouraging, but I’ve always exercised eaten a stellar diet….and worked at health food stores… and as a personal trainer.

[@terrileeg03]

I am going to listen to this lengthy podcast in its entirety solely for the dad joke at the end.

[@patangel1652]

lol yeah I love them too

[@kinpatu]

My Ω3 index is 10.7%, and I don’t take supplements. Do I really need to take Ω3 supplements?

[@kathycoe58]

Doesn’t DHA raise vldl levels in 4/4?

[@NonchalantWalrusParty]

Apologies if covered in previous video but does Dr dayspring have an opinion on whether ground flax is enough for dha supplementation in vegans? Or should we be using expensive algae pills? Cheers

[@peterz53]

On Apoe2 and age related macular degeneration. Interestingly to me, I have e2/e3 but my 23andMe says I have very low risk of macular degeneration. Other genetic factors at play...

[@AnnaLorris]

Anything the Government say to eat i just do the opposite. I recommend reading “Health and Beauty Mastery” that book is a real eye opener about shocking stuff health industry is doing! I completely changed my habits

[@meditim2032]

I got it, one of the best books ive read

[@The_Legend_Himself]

Bot lives don’t matter

[@fractaltv5209]

More alcohol, tobacco, refined sugar and refined grains then!

[@harvinderubhi5540]

@@fractaltv5209 you surmised correctly from that statement. May all be happy and healthy.

[@k.h.6991]

Where is that stuff about omega 3? The timestamp is incorrect.

[@blee3ee]

Do the guidelines consider desmosterol levels and how lipid lowering drugs lower desmosterol? gets worrisome if you have APOE4

[@drumsnmore2545]

They discuss this is the video. Guidelines don’t comment - but astute clinicians will weigh it in and measure desmosterol

[@blee3ee]

@@drumsnmore2545 seems like guidelines should catch up to the science. If someone has to choose between AD and heart disease.

[@drumsnmore2545]

@@blee3ee you shouldn’t have to choose. For example they mentioned a lot of ApoE4s are hyperaborbers of cholesterol (which can be tested), so ezetimibe can help reach ApoB targets without affecting desmosterol. Bempedoic acid was also mentioned.

[@brentsmith5318]

It would be nice to get Some one like Dr Dale Bredesen on the show. He is about the only one that has run the clinical trials on alzheimers and had fantastic resuls. Although I'm sure your guests are very qualified, how much luck have they had in reversing alzheimers?

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

Yes!! I’ve been following him for years now and he is so knowledgeable and helpful with all things Alzheimer’s. He talks a lot of prevention and people need to hear and know that there’s SO much that we can do to prevent this awful disease 🎉

[@peterz53]

Very excellent discussion. But maybe there is a semantics/anatomy issue that is lost on the layman, like me. The vascular system in the brain is part of the brain. So LDL clearly makes it into the brain but not out of the vascular part of the brain. LDL works against cognition by compromising the function of the vascular system.

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

LDL doesn’t make it into the brain.

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

Your brain makes its own cholesterol. Your body makes its own cholesterol. The cholesterol you consume does not cross the blood brain barrier and therefore does not increase cholesterol there in the brain.

[@RobertWinter2]

In a future episode, I'd like to learn why alzheimer's dementia is increasing among younger adults.

[@moshmorok]

Actually science doesn't know if taus are making the inflammation or inflammation and othe damage is asking for Tau patches

[@richardthompson9029]

How sad. We're willing to spend hundreds of billions on remediation but virtually nothing on preventive medicine. Our health care system is broken!

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

Is it though? Don’t we all know that it’s much healthier to eat more fruits and veggies and yet so many don’t because they want to eat garbage because it tastes good. Everyone I know who I’ve tried to tell about how we can prevent almost every disease just by what we put in our mouth, their response is “we’re all gonna die someday, might as well enjoy it while we’re here”. No one is making people eat junk, they do it because they choose to do it and most of them don’t care about the consequences.

[@richardthompson9029]

@@plants_and_wellness1574 Of course, you're right, personal responsibility is paramount. But, how many doctors have you seen who are schooled in diet, exercise and healthy living. I've seen MDs who smoke, are terribly out of shape, and/or are obese, but I've never had a doc who promoted healthy living. My (ex) doctor didn't even know what Apo-B was. The medical profession is shirking it's responsibility to explain unhealthy behaviors and how to correct them. THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

@@richardthompson9029 I agree that the healthcare system is broken and I agree there are so many doctors not being good examples. I worked at a hospital when I was younger and I kid you not that all of the registered dietitians that worked there were all overweight 🤦‍♀️ but I’ve also seen plenty of doctors tell their patients to eat healthy and they still would rather take a pill. My best friends husband is that person. His diet is cigarettes, beer, and frozen pizza. His recent triglycerides were over 300! He also just found out he has fatty liver. His A1C was 6.4. Do you think he’s changed anything? Like, even one thing?! Nope. I know too many people like him who literally don’t care. It makes me angry and sad because people like him only think of themselves. He isn’t the only one who will pay the consequences for his bad decisions, his wife will. It’s so frustrating.

[@acke26]

Lowering LDL to 50 mg/dl ! Is that even possible ? I think it would be good to be open with the fact that there are side effects and discuss them just as deep as the topics in this pod talking about lowering cholesterol. If we can't have an open debate there will always be misinformation spread. What do practitioners say to relatives to patiens that have passed away due to Rhabdomyolysis ? Also if statins causes type 2 diabetes with a tenfold risk of CVD, what do they say to their patients then ?

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

Theproof.com/lipid-series - I’m sure we answer all your questions here and more

[@b.porterv7418]

This guy doesn't shut up. He needs to let her talk some, good Lord.

[@cypriano8763]

this Nick Norwitz is now saying saturated fat, c15 is an essential fatty acid. whole milk should be recommended in the dietary guidelines. he has more subs that you know, surprise surprise

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

Video on C15 coming with insights from fatty acid experts

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

Nick Norwitz isn’t even an MD, nor is he or has he studied lipidology 😅

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

Nick Norwitz is not an MD, nor has he studied Lipidology. Physionic had a video on C15.

[@georgecav]

C15, obvious overhype. Check out Physionic review of the supposed supporting research

[@GlobalDrifter1000]

Is that a monk costume he is wearing

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

Yes

[@k.h.6991]

​@@TheProofWithSimonHillcool hoody

[@kentonanderson2457]

Can you please not have political ads on this. Our president is irrelevant to lipids. Thank you

[@TheProofWithSimonHill]

That’s KZbin

[@bigcat9977]

How about inviting Nick Norwitz and Thomas Dayspring to have a LDL debate? I'll pay good money for a ticket.

[@GlobalDrifter1000]

You wish to be entertained?

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

It would be so embarrassing for Nick and a waste of time for Dr Dayspring 🤦‍♀️ but you can watch the episode he did with Dave Feldman and Dr Cromwell. That was kind of sad and embarrassing for Dave. Dr Cromwell tried so hard to hide his “bless your heart” faces 😅

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

Nick isn’t even an MD and isn’t even studying cardiology 🫀 🤦‍♀️ to think that Nick would know more about lipids than someone who has studied them for over 40 years is laughable and I’m so sad to see people like yourself who can’t see that 😢

[@bigcat9977]

WRT LDL. Nick has lots of questions. Tom knows all the answers. A direct discussion/debate is a good way to move the science forward. One of them is intentionally avoiding it.

[@GlobalDrifter1000]

@@bigcat9977 are you simple minded? This is not a sporting event. Go back to your TV

[@musicmonsterman8395]

Next episode: friendly debate between Doug Graham and Matthew Nagra over whether a cooked or raw food diet is superior for humans.

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

How many raw vegan centenarians do you know? I can name a dozen cooked vegetarian/vegan centenarians..

[@musicmonsterman8395]

@@plants_and_wellness1574 Not the point of the discussion, but okay

[@plants_and_wellness1574]

@@musicmonsterman8395 I would love to see instead of Matthew, how about Dr. John Scharffenberg, a professor of nutrition at Loma Linda University in California. He gave advice for prolonging your life in a KZbin video. At the age of *100*, he still maintains a vivacious mentality, and with years of studying nutrition, he serves as a distinguished example and guide for living long with solid overall health 🥰

[@Steve-y4m2g]

😅

[@pursuingtruth13]

W

[@b.porterv7418]

Mr Dayspring is quite knowledgeable, but imo he gets in the weeds too deeply. It's all academic, and very little real application to my life. Not being rude intentionally, but he needs to stick to those who want mechanisms in an academic setting. Otherwise, great episode and thank you for posting.

[@Steve-y4m2g]

😅