7. Gill Livingston, MD on preventing dementia

11/07/24 • 66 min

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Gill Livingston about her groundbreaking research on dementia. Dr. Livingston has played an important role in uncovering the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that contribute to our risk of developing dementia. Follow her on X @Gill_Livingston for more insights.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction to Dr. Gill Livingston and Her Research on Dementia
(00:30) - Dr. Livingston's Career Path and Inspiration for Dementia Research
(06:35) - The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention and Key Findings
(09:53) - Understanding Dementia’s Preventability and Main Risk Factors
(12:22) - Hearing Loss and Other Key Dementia Risk Factors
(22:45) - Blood Pressure, Air Pollution, and Dementia Risk
(29:44) - Amyloid Beta and Tau’s Role in Alzheimer’s Disease
(36:59) - Cognitive Reserve and the Impact of Education on Dementia Risk
(41:12) - Genetics in Dementia: APOE4 and Other Risk Genes
(46:24) - The Immune System’s Role in Alzheimer’s and Potential Treatments
(50:12) - Policy Implications for Dementia Prevention
(01:04:01) - Dr. Livingston’s Ongoing Research

Timestamps:

Previous Episode

6. Athina Demertzi, PhD on the neuroscience of consciousness

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Athina Demertzi, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of
Liège who studies human consciousness, especially in patients with severe brain injuries. We discussed her fascinating work on disorders of consciousness like the vegetative and minimally conscious states, and how brain imaging techniques have advanced our understanding of these conditions. We also talked about some treatments people have proposed for these conditions, including psychedelics.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction and Background

(01:58) - Defining Disorders of Consciousness: Coma, Vegetative, and Minimally Conscious States

(05:13) - Using Neuroimaging to Study Consciousness in Brain-Injured Patients

(07:36) - Predicting Recovery from Disorders of Consciousness

(09:51) - Auditory and Visual Cortex Communication in Conscious Patients

(15:16) - The Role of the Default Mode Network in Consciousness

(20:14) - Phase Coherence and Communication Across the Brain

(26:34) - Functional vs. Structural Connectivity in Consciousness

(28:24) - Theories of Consciousness: Global Workspace, Integrated Information, and Active Inference

(35:44) - Body-Brain Interactions in Anesthesia and Unconscious States

Next Episode

8. Farah Lubin, PhD on epigenetics and the brain

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Farah Lubin, a neuroscientist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to explore the fascinating world of epigenetics in the brain. Dr. Lubin shares her groundbreaking research on how gene expression can influence memory formation and neurological disorders like epilepsy. We also discuss how understanding these mechanisms could lead to novel therapies, along with the transformative power of epigenetics in brain science. Follow along as Dr. Lubin walks us through her unique career journey and sheds light on the evolving field of neuroepigenetics.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction to Dr. Farah Lubin and her research on epigenetics
(06:00) - Epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation and histone modifications
(09:00) - Epigenetics and brain plasticity in memory and learning
(12:00) - The role of DNA methylation in gene expression and memory
(18:00) - Epigenetics and the consolidation of long-term fear memories
(25:00) - How brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is influenced by epigenetics
(30:00) - The role of epigenetics in epilepsy development and resilience
(35:00) - Methionine supplementation and its potential impact on memory
(40:00) - The importance of environmental influences on the epigenome
(46:00) - Future directions in epigenetics: new sequencing technologies
(52:00) - Funding challenges in neuroscience research and the value of basic science
(56:00) - Advice for students interested in neuroscience and epigenetics