Board-Certified Neurologist | Harvard CME Faculty | 7x NYT bestselling author Empowering you to take control of your brain health.
Naples, Florida, USA
Joined July 2009
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Today, Brain Defenders is officially available.
After more than 40 years of research, clinical experience, and asking different questions about Alzheimer’s disease, this book feels like the culmination of everything I’ve learned about protecting cognitive health for the long term. I truly believe it’s some of the most important work I’ve done.
Your brain’s future is not predetermined. You have more agency over your cognitive health than you may have been led to believe.
I hope you’ll join me for this next chapter in protecting your brain.
Order your copy: braindefenders.com/
Olive oil is a staple in my kitchen, but how you cook with it matters.
Excessive heat can damage its beneficial compounds. I prefer cooking with olive oil at low temperatures, well below its smoke point, to help preserve its health benefits.
Your diet is one of your most powerful defenses against a toxic environment.
On this week's episode of The Empowering Neurologist, I'm joined by Dr. Jed Fahey. We explore how these plant compounds interact with our biology, why environmental exposures deserve greater attention, and what this research could mean for long-term health in a world where neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are increasingly prevalent.
youtu.be/JT9JnimiYjE
You won’t find fruit juice in my kitchen.
The sugar in fruit juice is largely fructose, in much the same ratio you would find in soda.
Fructose is handled almost entirely by the liver, where metabolizing it generates uric acid. Elevated uric acid is associated with insulin resistance and higher blood pressure, which both shape the brain’s long-term trajectory.
Reason enough to reconsider what is in your fridge.
Pickleball may benefit your brain in ways you haven't considered.
Exercise supports BDNF, a protein involved in neuron health and brain plasticity. Add in strategic thinking, coordination, and social connection, and pickleball becomes more than just physical activity.
drperlmutter.com/pickleball-…
Sunlight doesn't just help humans produce vitamin D. Chanterelle mushrooms can also increase their vitamin D content when exposed to sunlight.
That means a little time in the sun before you eat them may actually make them more nutritious.
Yet another reason to appreciate what nature provides. 🍄
Your brain makes up just 2% of your body weight but uses nearly 20% of your energy…
…which makes metabolic health especially important. Blood sugar regulation, sleep, movement, and nutrition all help shape the environment your brain has to function in.
Want to see how well your daily habits are supporting your brain?
Take my free 10-question Brain Defenders assessment: drperlmutter.com/the-brain-d…
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One of my simplest brain health habits starts with a jar of broccoli seeds.
Broccoli sprouts contain sulforaphane, a compound being studied for its effects on brain inflammation and oxidative stress.
Here’s the method I use to grow them: drperlmutter.com/simple-step…
Protecting your brain may start with something as simple as putting on your sneakers. Regular exercise supports brain health and may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
I was featured on The @700club discussing Alzheimer's, the brain's immune system, and the role of lifestyle choices in brain health.
Watch: youtube.com/watch?v=yLO47Zhr…
Malaria kills hundreds of thousands of people each year. It may also hold clues to treating neurological disease.
Dr. M. Marc Abreu explores the surprising connection between temperature and brain health on The Empowering Neurologist.
Watch here: youtu.be/flZoSGK9EZ8
Your brain’s immune system is deeply connected to your metabolic health.
Microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells, can shift from protective to damaging when exposed to chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.
This is one reason Alzheimer’s prevention has to begin long before memory symptoms appear.
I recently discussed microglia, metabolism, and lifestyle on the Everyday Wellness podcast with @CynthiaThurlow.
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/at/podcas…
Your brain’s immune cells are supposed to protect you.
But under chronic metabolic stress and inflammation, microglia can begin contributing to the very damage they were meant to prevent.
This process is increasingly important to how we understand Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurological conditions.
I recently discussed the role of microglia, metabolic health, and lifestyle on the 40+ Fitness Podcast with Allan Misner.
Listen:
podcasts.apple.com/my/podcas…
Hormonal health and brain health are deeply connected, particularly as we consider the changes that occur during midlife.
I recently joined my friend and colleague Dr. Anna Cabeca on The Girlfriend Doctor to explore the science of immunometabolism, including how hormones, nutrition, and metabolic health influence the brain’s immune system. We also discussed why understanding these connections is so important when it comes to protecting cognitive health as we age.
Listen to our conversation: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcas…
What if one of the fastest ways to calm an overwhelmed brain is right at your fingertips?
My guest on the latest episode of The Empowering Neurologist, @nickortner, shares research showing that EFT tapping, a practice of tapping on specific acupressure points, reduced anxiety by 42%. Other studies have linked tapping to lower stress hormones and improvements in depression and PTSD symptoms. youtu.be/JV-M0s8iv2g
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Brain aging begins earlier than you think.
Your diet, sleep, movement, and metabolic health can influence inflammation and how well your brain functions over time.
Are your daily habits protecting your brain?
Take my free assessment: drperlmutter.com/the-brain-d…
Halloween is this Saturday, and candy is everywhere.
While an occasional treat is one thing, consistently high sugar intake can contribute to insulin resistance, a major concern for long term brain health.
A reminder that what you eat today can influence your brain health tomorrow.
A simple technique may help reduce anxiety in just minutes.
On this week's episode of The Empowering Neurologist, I'm joined by @nickortner, bestselling author and CEO of The Tapping Solution, to explore the science behind tapping and its potential benefits for stress, anxiety, and cognitive function.
Tune into the full episode here: youtu.be/JV-M0s8iv2g
Millions of dollars have been spent chasing the wrong target in Alzheimer’s.
For decades, beta-amyloid has dominated Alzheimer’s research. Yet even when drugs successfully remove amyloid from the brain, the cognitive decline that defines the disease continues.
That should force us to ask a different question. What is driving the disease process in the first place?
In my Brain Defenders Immersion Course, we go much deeper into the biology of Alzheimer’s, including the role of metabolism, inflammation, microglia, and the factors that may influence brain health long before memory begins to fail.
Join me: drperlmutter.com/immersion-c…
Your brain is not separate from your environment.
Many scented candles and air fresheners release volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, into indoor air. Some VOC exposures are associated with symptoms that include headache, dizziness, and memory-related effects.
A simple swap: simmer cinnamon sticks, orange slices, cloves, and rosemary.
Better home fragrance. Less unnecessary chemical exposure.
I’m honored to be presenting at Eudēmonia Summit in West Palm Beach, November 5- 8!
Join me and leading voices in health and wellness for conversations on the future of wellbeing.
Use code DPERLMUTTER for 10% off your badge: eudemonia.net/dperlmutter
