About This Episode
<p>Neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter Explains Brain Inflammation and Alzheimer's Risk </p><p><br /></p><p>Your brain has its own immune system, and when it turns against you, it becomes the hidden driver behind Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, depression, and even long COVID. This episode hands you the science to recognize it early and reverse it. </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>Get Dr. Perlmutter’s new book <em>Brain Defenders</em>: <a href="https://drperlmutter.com/books/brain-defenders/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://drperlmutter.com/books/brain-defenders/</a> </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>Host Dave Asprey sits down with Dr. David Perlmutter, a board-certified neurologist and six-time New York Times bestselling author whose work sits at the intersection of neurology, nutrition, and brain health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, serves on its Board of Directors, and sits on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. His books, including the number one bestseller Grain Brain, span 32 languages and have sold over a million copies, and his upcoming release, Brain Defenders, explores the pivotal role of microglia, the brain's immune cells, in protecting, repairing, and reprogramming the brain for lifelong resilience. </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>Dave and Dr. Perlmutter break down how microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, shift from a supportive state into a destructive one called M1, and why this shift, not amyloid plaque, may be the real driver of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative conditions. They dig into why the leading amyloid-clearing drugs fail to improve cognition, what a landmark JAMA study revealed about reversing cognitive decline through lifestyle intervention alone, and why a single daily serving of ultra-processed food raised Alzheimer's risk by 13 percent in a 12.7 year study. They also cover new research on GLP-1 drugs and brain inflammation, the surprising role of gum disease and oral bacteria in dementia risk, and why 40 hertz light therapy is emerging as a low-cost tool for clearing brain plaque and calming neuroinflammation. </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>You'll Learn: </p><ul><li>Why the shift from supportive to destructive brain immune cells may be the true root cause of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's </li><li>Why leading Alzheimer's drugs fail to improve cognition, and what the original research behind the amyloid hypothesis actually showed </li><li>How one daily serving of ultra-processed food raises Alzheimer's risk, and what a landmark lifestyle intervention study found instead </li><li>Whether GLP-1 drugs help or harm brain inflammation, based on new Parkinson's and Alzheimer's trial data </li><li>How gum disease and oral bacteria are linked to dementia, and simple daily habits that reduce that risk </li><li>Why 40 hertz light therapy is emerging as a tool to clear brain plaque and calm neuroinflammation </li><li>How ketones, DHA, and metabolic health protect the brain after head injury </li></ul><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Thank you to our sponsors!</strong> </p><p>- Beyond Wonderland Conference | Oct 13 - 14, 2026. Get your ticket now at <a href="http://wonderlandconference.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">wonderlandconference.com</a>. </p><p>- ZenBud | Dave’s Nervous System Biohack. Visit <a href="https://zenbud.health/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">zenbud.health</a> and use code DAVE15 at checkout for a discount. </p><p>- Pique | Head over to <a href="https://www.piquelife.com/collections/subs-collection?utm_source=superfiliate&utm_campaign=DAVE&utm_medium=pod&utm_content=eyJzZi1leHRlcm5hbC1zZXNzaW9uLXV1aWQiOiJmNTBiMTliMy1lMmIyLTRkMzctYmQyNS1hZTNmZDI5MDJhYmIifQ%3D%3D&ref=superfiliate-DAVE&attributes=%7B%22sf-external-session-uuid%22+%3D%3E+%222f8b41c4-f6cc-4749-99ff-3ab73c696ed6%22%2C+%22sf-origin%22+%3D%3E+%22organic--DAVE%22%7D" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Piquelife.com/Dave</a> to get 20% off your order. That's P-I-Q-U-E life dot com slash DAVE </p><p>- PredictiveMind™ | Get your Brain Pattern Mapping report at <a href="http://predictivemind.io/dave" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">predictivemind.io/dave</a> and use code DAVE for 10% off. </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Dave Asprey</strong> is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of <strong>Bulletproof Coffee</strong>, and the <strong>father of biohacking</strong>. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, <em>The Human Upgrade</em> brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights inhealth, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>New episodes are released every <strong>Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS)</strong>. Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient. </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> microglia, brain inflammation, Alzheimer's prevention, Parkinson's disease, amyloid hypothesis, neurodegeneration, GLP-1 drugs, semaglutide, ultra-processed food, gum disease and dementia, oral microbiome, 40 hertz light therapy, ketones, DHA, mitochondria, brain fog, long COVID, David Perlmutter, Brain Defenders, Grain Brain, functional medicine, biohacking, longevity, neuroplasticity </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Resources:</strong> </p><p>• Get Dr. Perlmutter’s New Book <em>Brain Defenders</em>: <a href="https://drperlmutter.com/books/brain-defenders/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://drperlmutter.com/books/brain-defenders/</a> </p><p>• Learn More About Dr. Perlmutter’s Work At: <a href="https://drperlmutter.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://drperlmutter.com/</a> </p><p>• Get My 2026 Clean Nicotine Roadmap | Enroll for free at <a href="https://daveasprey.com/2026-clean-nicotine-roadmap/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://daveasprey.com/2026-clean-nicotine-roadmap/</a> </p><p>• Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to <a href="https://daveasprey.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://daveasprey.com/</a> to join <em>Inside Track</em> today. </p><p>• Danger Coffee: <a href="https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15?</a> </p><p>• My Daily Supplements: <a href="https://www.shopsuppgradelabs.com/discount/DAVE15" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SuppGrade Labs</a> (15% Off) </p><p>• Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: <a href="https://truedark.com/?coupon-code=DAVEASPREY15&sc-page=shop" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TrueDark</a> (15% Off) </p><p>• Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: <a href="https://beyondconference.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://beyondconference.com</a> </p><p>• Dave Asprey’s New Book – <em>Heavily Meditated</em>: <a href="https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated</a> </p><p>• Join My Substack (Live Access To Podcast Recordings): <a href="https://substack.daveasprey.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://substack.daveasprey.com/</a> </p><p>• Upgrade Labs: <a href="https://upgradelabs.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://upgradelabs.com</a> </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong> </p><p>00:00 – Trailer </p><p>00:40 – Intro </p><p>02:38 – Ultra-Processed Foods </p><p>06:34 – Are Carbs Bad? </p><p>08:48 – Alcohol & Brain Health </p><p>12:28 – Microglia & Inflammation </p><p>24:37 – Head Injury & Recovery </p><p>29:27 – Oral Bacteria & Dementia </p><p>34:08 – GLP-1s & Brain Inflammation </p><p>40:20 – 40 Hertz Light Therapy </p><p>48:35 – Air Pollution vs. Lead </p><p>50:27 – David's Closing Truth </p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>