Aug 11, 2026 · 56 min · 11 segments
In this episode of Revolution Health Radio, Chris Kresser sits down with renowned neurologist and bestselling author Dr. David Perlmutter to discuss the emerging science of microglia—the brain's…
David PerlmutterGuestChris KresserHostYeah, those lifestyle changes can't be turned into a billion-dollar blockbuster drug, though.
Our entire medical industrial complex is geared toward the silver bullet solution because frankly, that's what generates profits for the drug companies.
And fortunately, we have people like you who are educating folks who have, you know, like the-- who the veil has been pulled, and they're interested in finding these solutions 'cause it's far more empowering reality in which we can take action, not only once we start to experience cognitive decline, but actually far before that.
You know, we're spending about $360 billion in, uh, today in, in caring for Alzheimer's patients.
But, you know, uh, beyond that, we, we should consider the emotional impact of this diagnosis on the patient and on the families.
And, uh, you know, I, I watched my father die of this illness, and so I get it.
He's been diagnosed, as you well know, with frontotemporal dementia, and upon that diagnosis, she set about, uh, to create, uh, you know, a, an awareness of this issue, awareness of brain degenerative conditions in general, created a foundation and, you know, is, is be- being proactive, uh, in terms of, uh, gi- giving people this information on the front end that might keep people from having to deal with what she had to deal with.
Uh, you know, been there, and it's, it's, uh, it's a devastating experience.
But a- again, I think your point is well taken that this information needs to get out to people before they're demented.
What the POINTER study did was evaluated, uh, followed 20,111 individuals over a, I think it was a 20-year period of time, and, uh, no, two-year period of time.
And what they did was they had two groups, a- and the main interventional group was a, a group that got, um, instruction on diet, lifestyle, exercise, stress management, et cetera, and management of cardiovascular issues as well.
These were people entered in the study in their late 60s who were metabolically not in the best of shape, but were, w- were cognitively intact and had not had a history of stroke.
So group one gets this vigorous interaction, uh, with 36 interactions with health- with, uh, coaches during a two-year period Working on your diet, working on your exercise, working on lifestyle modification, stress management, on and on.
Yeah, those lifestyle changes can't be turned into a billion-dollar blockbuster drug, though.
Our entire medical industrial complex is geared toward the silver bullet solution because frankly, that's what generates profits for the drug companies.
And fortunately, we have people like you who are educating folks who have, you know, like the-- who the veil has been pulled, and they're interested in finding these solutions 'cause it's far more empowering reality in which we can take action, not only once we start to experience cognitive decline, but actually far before that.
You know, we're spending about $360 billion in, uh, today in, in caring for Alzheimer's patients.
But, you know, uh, beyond that, we, we should consider the emotional impact of this diagnosis on the patient and on the families.
And, uh, you know, I, I watched my father die of this illness, and so I get it.
He's been diagnosed, as you well know, with frontotemporal dementia, and upon that diagnosis, she set about, uh, to create, uh, you know, a, an awareness of this issue, awareness of brain degenerative conditions in general, created a foundation and, you know, is, is be- being proactive, uh, in terms of, uh, gi- giving people this information on the front end that might keep people from having to deal with what she had to deal with.
Uh, you know, been there, and it's, it's, uh, it's a devastating experience.
But a- again, I think your point is well taken that this information needs to get out to people before they're demented.
What the POINTER study did was evaluated, uh, followed 20,111 individuals over a, I think it was a 20-year period of time, and, uh, no, two-year period of time.
And what they did was they had two groups, a- and the main interventional group was a, a group that got, um, instruction on diet, lifestyle, exercise, stress management, et cetera, and management of cardiovascular issues as well.
These were people entered in the study in their late 60s who were metabolically not in the best of shape, but were, w- were cognitively intact and had not had a history of stroke.
So group one gets this vigorous interaction, uh, with 36 interactions with health- with, uh, coaches during a two-year period Working on your diet, working on your exercise, working on lifestyle modification, stress management, on and on.
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3 of 9
APOE4 Is Not Destiny
Genes may not determine your brain's future.
The Amyloid Drug Problem
New evidence challenges the standard Alzheimer's treatment.
Lifestyle Reversed Cognitive Decline
Researchers found lifestyle changes improved existing Alzheimer's.
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