393: Alzheimer's Starts Decades Before Symptoms…Here's Why | David Perlmutter
Be Well by Kelly LevequeShow Notes
Neurologist and bestselling author Dr. David Perlmutter returns to discuss the groundbreaking science behind his new book, Brain Defenders. Together, we unpack why Alzheimer's disease may be driven less by amyloid plaques and more by chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and changes in the brain's immune cells.
Dr. Perlmutter explains the critical role of microglia, how blood sugar and insulin resistance affect the brain, why gut health is directly connected to cognitive function, and what lifestyle habits have the strongest evidence for protecting memory as we age.
→ Leave Us A Voice Message!
Topics Discussed:
→ What causes Alzheimer's disease?
→ How do you prevent Alzheimer'?
→ What foods improve brain health?
→ Can inflammation cause dementia?
→ Does blood sugar affect memory?
Sponsored By:
→ Function | Check your health the way I do. Function provides 160+ lab tests for $1/day and member pricing on advanced imaging. Join at https://functionhealth.com/bewellbykelly and use code BEWELL25 for a $25 credit.
→ Be Well By Kelly Protein Powder & Essentials | Get $10 off your order with PODCAST10 at https://bewellbykelly.com.
→ Shop minnow's new apré-ski capsule collection at https://shopminnow.com and enter code MEETMINNOW15 at checkout to receive 15% off your first order.
→ LMNT | Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/Kelly. Find your favorite LMNT flavor, or share with a friend.
→ Branch Basics | Go to https://branchbasics.com/BEWELLPODCAST and use code: BEWELLPODCASTfor 15% off your first purchase.
Timestamps:
→ 00:00:00 - Introduction
→ 00:03:07 - Why Alzheimer's Research Is Changing
→ 00:05:42 - Microglia Explained
→ 00:10:44 - Understanding Immunomatabolism
→ 00:15:10 - Insulin Resistance + "Type 3 Diabetes"
→ 00:19:27 - Long COVID + Brain Recovery
→ 00:30:20 - Lifestyle Changes For Brain Health
→ 00:35:22 - The Gut Microbiome
→ 00:37:27 - Tracking Gut Health
→ 00:39:26 - Early Biomarkers/Testing
→ 00:45:20 - Exercise + Muscle
→ 00:49:51 - Children’s Nutrition
→ 00:52:48 - Women’s Dementia Risk
→ 00:58:53 - GLP1s + Other Peptides
→ 01:07:41 - Dr. Perlmutter's Daily Brain Health Routine
Further Listening:
→ Nutrition for a Healthy Brain & Body (Without Counting Calories) | Max Lugavere
Check Out David:
→ Book | Braindefenders.com
→ Website
Check Out Kelly:
→ Youtube
More from Be Well by Kelly Leveque
407: Hunter Stoler of Health with Hunter joins me to share his 50-pound weight loss journey, the everyday habits that transformed his health, and how he helps millions of people make more informed choices about what they eat. We get into building balanced meals, prioritizing protein and fiber, finding healthier swaps for favorite foods, and creating routines that make healthy eating sustainable without giving up the foods you love.
In this episode, I sit down with John Benjamin, founder and CEO of Rally, and Dr. Dan Giordano, founder of Bespoke Physical Therapy, to talk about recovery, pain management, and how to take better care of our bodies. We discuss how tools like massage and physical therapy can support muscle recovery, mobility, and injury prevention, plus why consistency matters more than chasing the latest wellness trends.
In this episode, I’m joined by Natalie Ellis to talk about what it really looks like to build a business around the life you want. We talk about her journey with Boss Babe, burnout, motherhood, business growth, and learning to step back without feeling like everything will fall apart.
Torie Hall & Eric Wolfinger join me to talk about their new cookbook, Eating for Life, and how food can nourish your body while still being fun, delicious, and something you actually want to eat.We talk about Torie’s journey into nutrition, the story behind Mexican Keto, pregnancy and postpartum nutrition, protein, blood sugar, and the personal experiences with miscarriage and infertility that helped inspire this book. We also get into feeding kids, introducing them to new foods, avoiding food shame, and making healthy eating something the whole family can enjoy.
Today, I’m joined by my husband, Chris, to talk about marriage, parenting, and what it’s really like to build a life and business together. We cover balancing work and family, raising three boys, making time for each other, kids and sports, and the values we want to teach our children. We also talk about communication, supporting your partner, giving each other space, and what helps a marriage get better over time.