In this week's episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, hosts Dr. Daniel Correa and Dr. Katy Peters discuss some of their favorite articles in the most recent issue of Brain & Life Magazine. They dive into the effects of ultra-processed foods, helpful innovations like smartphone apps and specialized gyms, and the support that sibling caregivers provide to their loved ones. If you would like to read these articles and more, check out the latest issue!
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Brain & Life Articles Mentioned
- How Ultra-processed Foods Can Have a Negative Effect on Brain Health
- Smartphone Apps Can Help Manage Parkinson’s, Migraines, Epilepsy, and More
- How Specialized Gyms Empower People with Neurologic Conditions
- Sibling Caregivers are Supporting Brothers and Sisters Through Chronic Conditions
Other Brain & Life Episodes on These Topics
- The Many Faces of Cerebral Palsy with Micah Fowler, Phoebe Rae Taylor, and Kelsey Cardona
- We Are Brave Together with Jessica Patay
- Cheryl Hile is Running Around the World with Multiple Sclerosis
- Exploring Longevity with Author Dan Buettner
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- Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @NeuroDrCorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD
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- Instagram: @BrainandLifeMag
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Record a voicemail at 612-928-6206, or email us at BLpodcast@brainandlife.org.
Episode Transcript
Daniel Correa:
From the American Academy of Neurology I'm Dr. Daniel Correa.
Katie Peters:
And I am Dr. Katie Peters, and this is The Brain and Life Podcast.
Daniel Correa:
Welcome back to The Brain and Life Podcast. Katie, let me ask you this. If you had to pick one thing that most people overlook when it comes to their brain health, what would it be?
Katie Peters:
If I had to speak just one, that's sort of tough because there's so many important concepts and we've covered so many of them, but I would actually say we just move a little lower than the brain, and it's what goes in our mouth. It's the food diet really does matter to the heart, but what people don't realize is that ultra processed foods can raise the risk of dementia and stroke.
Daniel Correa:
Yeah, I mean, I think there's often a conversation and a focus on the exercise, but I completely agree. More understanding needs to be focused also on the food that we eat, and we're also learning that apps in our pockets and the gyms we use, and even the support we get from our family, especially our siblings, can all shape our brain health and neurologic health.
Katie Peters:
The brain health is not just about brain cells, which we call neurons and prescriptions, the drugs that we take, but it's also about how we live, how we move, how we connect with each other, and how we care for each other.
Daniel Correa:
That's right. So this week we're bringing back highlights from this recent issue of the magazine for August and September because we want to draw a special attention to articles that touch on all of these topics, including how lifestyle, technology, community, family, all come together to support the brain.
Katie Peters:
Let's dive right in.
Daniel Correa:
So in one of the articles, it's titled, "How Ultra Processed Foods Can Have a Negative Effect on Brain Health," you were just mentioning in this. And it raises the concerns that we're hearing from lots of different sources of the potential of hidden neurologic risks of ultra processed foods. And it even explains a little bit better and in detail like what we mean by ultra processed foods. But links have been seen not only to obesity, but also heart disease, depression, and various neurologic conditions including dementia, stroke, Parkinson and Alzheimer's, and even cognitive decline in our executive function. These are those higher tasks skills that we do over life.
Katie Peters:
And in this article, there's a reference to a 2024 review of 45 studies and several more recent findings that really underscore that these risks are real and supported by emerging evidence.
Daniel Correa:
And whether it's for your health or taking any other steps to grow, as many have said, "Today's always the best day to start." And so often there's a joke of like, "When's the best day to plant a tree?" And well, it was whenever it was possible or yesterday, but today would be the best. So because there seems to be a critical window of consideration, so you can start this at whatever age you are, but it does seem that the middle age time period in people's life might be the most critical to make sure you're starting to pay attention to this. And they highlight findings that each daily serving of ultra processed foods potentially increases middle-aged adults risk of Alzheimer's by 13% and more than 10 servings nearly tripled that risk.
And just like that's shocking to me. And sometimes it's making me even question and think back, "What did I have for breakfast and for lunch and yesterday?" While this effect wasn't seen very clearly for those over age 68, it seems to suggest that midlife period might be key, but it also might be that we have less data and there's more considering factors that affect the over 65, over 68 age group. And it's probably very limited in the younger age groups. These reviews were much more in adult population. So we don't want to say it doesn't matter for kids because it's probably just as important, if not more.
Katie Peters:
I completely agree with you. I think that this article really points to what is an ultra processed food and how can we maybe get some tips and tricks to not put that in our lifestyle. Sometimes our smartphones can help us with that, picking out better foods, knowing what's in our food. But there's another article in the magazine that talked about how smartphone apps can help manage Parkinson's, migraines, epilepsy, and even more neurologic conditions. I like to focus on the personal empowerment through tracking and insight. The article illustrates how apps, even simple ones, enable people with neurologic conditions can log their symptoms, track lifestyle patterns, record doctor visits, and share meaningful data. And there was one app for Parkinson's patients called StrivePD that helped them discover exercise, enhance their medicines effect. So when they exercise, they had better effectiveness of their medication and actually have her tremors. Another app, a migraine sufferer was using it to trace triggers that led to earlier treatment and relief.
Daniel Correa:
And I mean, we have to totally acknowledge that sometimes these things can be too much data and technology to manage. We have a lot of other things going on in our lives, and we totally get that though consider starting for yourself with the things that feel manageable, maybe what you are motivated to take action on because then it makes it much more reasonable to play around and try out that app and see where it fits in about the conditions that you're most important to you. Other possible pitfalls of this kind of broader category of neurology health apps is there are apps and wearables that can help identify tremors, seizures or changes in your gait or how you walk earlier on, but there can be significant limitations. There can be false positives or it can point out when there's actually not something wrong. There can be possible privacy risks.
And some of these features, there's not enough data really yet on what is the best way that these apps can identify these things. And we don't want to also reassure someone or have them think that because their app didn't say that they had a seizure that they didn't, because that's really probably only catching certain types. And as we know, a lot of this technology and these apps might have variable accessibility to many communities and people because they're very much based on how much cost and technology you have access to. And there can be inconsistency across many of these apps, meaning for you and your neurologist and the care team that you have supporting you, we have to choose wisely what to use and how to use it. Another place, an article that I found interesting, and we've had some episodes talking about adaptive gyms, but it was great to see really a fully dedicated article to the increasing numbers.
This article titled, "How Specialized Gyms Empower People with Neurologic Conditions," and they brought together essential issues around safety, confidence and customized support and exercise training. And it's amazing to see the increasing numbers of adaptive gyms, one called SheStrength tailors workouts even including things like rubber edged weights and cushion floors and adjusting lighting to individuals with neurologic conditions such as functional neurologic conditions along with helping clients gain strength, capability, confidence, and safe environments. So I think that was great to see even consideration of functional neurologic disorders and other neurodiversity.
Katie Peters:
Yeah, and I think that there's an important consideration about the balance between inclusion versus specialization. And that article contrasts the dedicated studio model with mainstream gyms where people with disabilities can train alongside others which may foster inclusion and challenge perceptions. So experts emphasize the need or increasing neurologist awareness of these programs. I'd like to be more informed, love to send my patients to them because benefits and safety needs vary based on what the condition of the patient is, what their disease progression may look like, and also each one's individual circumstances.
Daniel Correa:
And you know what? This is a way that many of you out there in community can help us and promote and share the information with other neurologists. If you're aware of adapted gyms in your community, if you found them helpful in your own ways, send in a message or a note whether it's an audio message or an email, and let us know about those and maybe we can highlight more of those efforts.
Katie Peters:
I think this next article, I believe our podcast actually inspired this article and the article is called, "Sibling Caregivers Are Supporting Brothers and Sisters Through Chronic Conditions." And on the podcast we've talked with lots of siblings. I recently talked to Micah Fowler and his sister, Kelsey. We talked really about their acting careers and how much they enjoyed them, but Kelsey also supports Micah and his challenges with cerebral palsy. So this article highlights really the often overlooked role and challenges of sibling caregivers and one focused on Mia Rosenbaum. She's a teenager who helped care for her twin sister, Sarah. And Sarah was actually born prematurely with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. And I think that their story really illustrates the emotional depth and the responsibility and the challenges faced by the young caregivers, the sibling caregivers in the United States, which really is a large number of people.
It's 15.4 million youth care for family members with chronic conditions. And I know that I see siblings come into clinic with my patients all the time, and it is a growing group and they often take on very complex roles ranging from emotional support to medical assistance. Maybe they're balancing their own school lives and social lives, their own lives, yet their contributions frequently go unrecognized by healthcare professionals and educators, where an estimated 5.4 million youth care for family members with chronic conditions including neurologic conditions. Among them, sibling caregivers are a growing group, many of whom do not even identify as caregivers.
Daniel Correa:
And the experts in the article, I thought, really it was essential. And I like that, that they stress the importance of age appropriate involvement and emotional support along with voluntary participation for young caregivers. Ideally families are stressed super thin, but ideally children should never be forced into caregiving and care support roles before they are ready and they're emotionally developmentally ready. So their development and their needs at that level needs to be respected so that way it's not an added burden that further limits their own mental development and open communication and access to specialists like child life professionals and the recognition of the children's or the youth's efforts are really crucial for their well-being to make sure that they are also developing themselves healthy.
As young caregivers grow older, families are also really encouraged to consider involving them in future planning, such as decisions on guardianship and power of attorney and financial care for their disabled siblings. That can really help because really looking at a future of these siblings together throughout their lives and not just them doing chores or a task as a family and programs like those at Boston Children's Hospital actually are particularly designed to help prepare families for these transitions and ensure responsibilities are shared and not automatically assumed. I think those conversations and within families and within the youth who are serving in these roles are so important.
Katie Peters:
It really focused on the continuum that stories like this, those of Nathan Grant and Tara Connolly really grew into adult advocates after childhood caregiving, and it highlights that long-term impact of these roles. And both of them advocated for early inclusion support networks and resources that help sibling caregivers manage those unique responsibilities while maintaining their own identity and emotional health. And I think one of our other podcast guests, Jessica Patay, who is a mother with a son with Prader-Willi syndrome, who started something called, We Are Brave Together, which is a supportive community for mothers with children with disabilities. When we had the episode with her, she really focused in on the need of the siblings and the role of sibling caregivers. So I just want to give a shout-out to her and her group because I think that's something that they really highlight in this article does the same thing.
Daniel Correa:
Yeah, absolutely. I'd love to see the podcast getting an opportunity to influence the magazine, our listeners and guests.
Katie Peters:
Absolutely.
Daniel Correa:
Providing that added feedback is amazing. And so today we've seen and talked some and these articles highlight how brain health is influenced by more than just the medications and more than a specific diagnosis or condition, but it's how we live day to day. So, Katie, what are you going to take into your day?
Katie Peters:
Well, good lifestyle choices like eating fewer ultra-processed foods, staying active, which I think we're doing a good job at, and using technology wisely can make a real difference. And even simple tools like most of us have with our smartphone apps can help people notice patterns and stay more engaged in their care.
Daniel Correa:
Yeah, and I think the episode that we had on technological health also probably learning when to put down the technology and get those mental breaks, especially towards those evenings so we get good sleep. And it's not just those individual choices, community and family matter too. We heard and one of these articles highlights on how specialized gyms and exercise communities can show how safe and supportive spaces empower people with neurologic conditions. And then we brought in how siblings and caregivers and care supporters remind us that no one manages brain health alone.
Katie Peters:
So for me, the takeaway is focus on small healthy steps in your diet and activity. Use technology as a helper and lean on your support system, all those different caregivers, and protecting the brain really is a team effort.
Daniel Correa:
Absolutely, and thank you all for listening and remember, taking care of your brain means taking care of your whole self, and we'd love to hear more of your questions and if you have also really things that are essential that you do for your brain health, and please send those in. Thank you again for joining us today on the Brain and Life Podcast. Follow and subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss our weekly episodes. You can also sign up to receive the Brain and Life magazine for free at braininlife.org.
Katie Peters:
Also for each episode, you can find out how to connect with our team and our guests along with great resources in our show notes. We love it when we hear your ideas or questions. You can send these in an email to blpodcast@brainandlife.org and leave us a message at 612-928-6206.
Daniel Correa:
You can also find that information in our show notes, and you can follow Katie and me and the Brain Life Magazine on many of your preferred social media channels. We are your hosts, Dr. Daniel Correa, connecting with you from New York City and online at neuro Dr. Correa.
Katie Peters:
And Dr. Katie Peters joining you from Durham, North Carolina and online at Katie Peters MD PhD.
Daniel Correa:
Most importantly, thank you and all of our community members that trust us with their health and everyone living with neurologic conditions.
Katie Peters:
We hope together we can take steps to better brain health and each thrive with our own abilities every day.
Daniel Correa:
Before you start the next episode, we would appreciate if you could give us five stars and leave a review. This helps others find a Brain and Life podcast. See you next week.
