Don't Wait for Alzheimer's — A Neurologist's 30-Year Plan to Protect Your Brain

Don't Wait for Alzheimer's — A Neurologist's 30-Year Plan to Protect Your Brain

Author: Dr. Mark Hyman August 19, 2026 Duration: 1:12:30
By the time memory begins to slip, the changes affecting the brain may have been developing for decades. But the trajectory isn’t fixed, and many of the factors driving it are within our control. In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and mentor Dr. David Perlmutter, six-time New York Times bestselling author whose new book, Brain Defenders, rethinks what it really takes to protect the brain as we age. You’ll learn: Why protecting your brain should begin long before memory problems appear How your daily choices influence whether the brain’s immune cells shift into a protective or damaging state Which numbers to know now, including fasting insulin, blood sugar, and waist-to-hip ratio How food, exercise, sleep, gut health, and environmental toxins shape your brain’s future What emerging research reveals about slowing—and even improving—cognitive decline I’ve always appreciated how David’s work replaces fear with something far more useful: a clearer understanding of how the choices we make today can help protect our memory, independence, and quality of life for years to come. View Show Notes From This Episode Sign up for Dr. Hyman’s Brainshaping Academy to learn how to nourish the biological systems that support your mental, emotional, and cognitive health https://drhyman.com/products/brainshaping?utm_source=dr_hyman_show&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=may_27&utm_content=link Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman https://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Health https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley, Pique, Perfect Amino, BON CHARGE, Cozy Earth, and Fatty15. Shop nutrient-rich foods and supplements at paleovalley.com/hyman and save 15% off your first order. Elevate your daily wellness ritual at piquelife.com/hyman and enjoy 20% off plus free gifts. Help fill protein gaps at bodyhealth.com and use code HYMAN20 for 20% off. Explore red light products at boncharge.com/hyman and enjoy 15% off with code HYMAN. Upgrade your sleep setup with cozyearth.com and enjoy 20% off  with code HYMAN. Head to fatty15.com/HYMAN today and use code HYMAN for 15% off your 90-day subscription Starter Kit.

Hosted by physician and functional medicine pioneer Dr. Mark Hyman, The Dr. Hyman Show is a conversation about reclaiming your well-being. Each episode digs into the interconnected systems that shape our health, moving beyond symptom management to address foundational causes. You’ll hear detailed discussions on nutrition, the roots of chronic disease, mental health strategies, and the science of longevity, all framed through a functional medicine lens. Dr. Hyman engages with leading experts and thinkers to challenge conventional wisdom on food policy and prevention, offering a practical and often provocative perspective. This podcast serves as a resource for anyone feeling lost in a healthcare system that can overlook root causes, providing actionable knowledge to make informed daily choices. Tune in for a deep, evidence-based exploration of how our bodies truly work, empowering you to reimagine your personal health potential through informed dialogue and discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Dr. Hyman Show
Podcast Episodes
5 Foods That Are Making Your Brain Fog Worse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:44
Brain fog isn’t just a normal part of getting older—and it may not be a brain problem at all. If you struggle to focus, lose your train of thought, forget why you walked into a room, or feel mentally exhausted after eati…
Encore - What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking for 30 Day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:41
With the Labour Day long weekend here, we’re bringing back one of our most popular Office Hours episodes on what really happens to your body when you take a break from alcohol. Whether you’re drinking less this weekend o…
ADHD Is a Whole-Body Problem: What to Look at Beyond the Brain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:59
ADHD is usually treated as a problem in the brain. But what if some of the factors making it harder to focus, regulate your mood, or manage your symptoms are actually coming from somewhere else in your body? In this epis…
How to Actually Calm an ADHD Nervous System (And Change Your Life) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:57
ADHD can go unnoticed for decades, especially in women who learn to compensate through perfectionism, overpreparing, and working under pressure. It often isn’t until the demands of work, motherhood, or another major life…
Inflammation isn't Something to Eliminate. It's Something to Regulate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:27
Chronic inflammation may be one of the biggest forces accelerating how we age—and the surprising part is that many of the things keeping it switched on are happening every day. Poor sleep, chronic stress, blood sugar spi…
Your Skin’s Worst Enemy Isn't the Sun - It's Your Metabolism! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:12
Healthy skin isn't built in your bathroom—it’s built inside your body. While most people focus on creams, collagen powders, and cosmetic treatments, the biggest drivers of wrinkles, sagging, and loss of elasticity are ha…
What We Got Wrong About GLP-1s (And What's Right) | Dr. Tyna Moore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:20
GLP-1 medications have changed how we treat obesity and metabolic disease. But as their use has exploded, so have questions about side effects, muscle loss, long-term use, and whether patients are receiving the support t…