Mind & Matter
Whether food, drugs or ideas, what you consume influences who you become. Learn directly from the best scientists & thinkers alive today about how your mind-body reacts to what you feed it.
The weekly M&M podcast features conversations with the most interesting scientists, thinkers, and technology entrepreneurs alive today.
Not medical advice.
At M&M, we are interested in trying to figure out how things work, not affirming our existing beliefs. We prefer consulting primary rather than secondary sources and independent rather than institutional voices. If we encounter uncomfortable truths or the evidence suggests unfashionable ideas may be valid, so be it.
As the host, my aim is to help you better understand how the body & mind work by curating & synthesizing information in a way that yields science-based insights that you can choose to use or disregard in your own life. Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet.
I am motivated to connect the dots and distill general principles from what I learn, preferring to ask questions and play devil’s advocate to debating or incessantly pushing my own viewpoint.
My beliefs:
- Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet.
- All knowledge is provisional and we must work hard to prevent ourselves from becoming attached to our favorite ideas & preferred conclusions.
- Wisdom comes from an iterative, trial-and-error process of learning and unlearning. Letting go of pre-conceived notions can be painful, but pain is information.
Sometimes modern discoveries teach us we must unlearn received wisdom. Other times, modern information overload & historical chauvinism cause us to forget ancient wisdom which stills applies. The framework for learning that I embody is inspired by three Ancient Greek maxims inscribed in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi:
- “Γνῶθι σεαυτόν” (Know thyself)
- “Μηδὲν ἄγαν” (Nothing in excess)
- “Ἐγγύα πάρα δ Ἄτα” (Certainty brings insanity)
Mind & Matter
How Genes & Environment Shape Your Brain: ApoE, Alzheimer's & Space Radiation | Jacob Raber | 254
Genetic & environmental factors that affect brain health, including why people age faster in outer space. (Note: technical difficulties affected the audio quality of this recording somewhat)
Episode Summary: Dr. Jacob Raber explains how apolipoproteins, particularly ApoE, influence brain health and disease risk; their role in cholesterol metabolism, Alzheimer’s disease, and responses to environmental stressors like radiation and viral infections; interplay between genetics, diet, and lifestyle factors, highlighting how these affect cognitive function and resilience to stress; research into space radiation, the gut-brain axis, and potential interventions for neurodegenerative diseases.
About the guest: Jacob Raber, PhD, is a neuroscientist at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, where he leads a lab studying genetic and environmental influences on brain health, particularly using mouse models with human genes.
Discussion Points:
- Apolipoproteins (ApoE2, E3, E4) are proteins involved in cholesterol and lipid metabolism in the brain, with ApoE4 increasing risks for Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease.
- ApoE4 carriers may face higher risks for cognitive decline but could have advantages in specific contexts, like fertility or certain infections.
- Environmental stressors, such as space radiation and viral infections like West Nile, can exacerbate oxidative stress, impacting brain health.
- The gut microbiome influences brain function indirectly via the gut-liver-brain axis, with ongoing studies exploring its role in Alzheimer’s and traumatic brain injury.
- Lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and sleep are critical for brain health, potentially mitigating genetic risks like ApoE4.
- Statins, commonly used for cholesterol management, may impair learning in healthy animals, suggesting context-dependent effects.
- Research into space radiation reveals potential therapeutic applications, such as using heavy ion radiation for cancer treatment.
- Genetic variations, including ethnicity and sex, influence ApoE-related disease risks, with women and certain populations showing higher Alzheimer’s susceptibility.
- Chronic low-level stressors, like air pollution, may pose greater risks to brain health than acute exposures due to insufficient activation of protective mechanisms.
Related content:
- M&M 165: PUFAs in Brain Health & Disease, Dietary Fats, Brain Lipids, Nutrition | Richard Bazinet
*Not medical advice
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