The Brain Professor: "Popular Treat Now Considered Deadlier Than Smoking!", "Alcohol Is Shrinking Your Brain" - David Raichlen

As humans we have evolved to move, but why are we getting it wrong so often?

David Raichlen is the Professor of Human and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on the connection between human evolution, physical activity, and health, examining why inactivity leads to so many chronic diseases in the modern world.

In this conversation David and Steven discuss topics, such as how modern exercise levels compare to hunter-gatherers, the dangers of sitting, how air pollution is linked to dementia, and the misunderstanding of just how much exercise it takes to get health benefits.

00:00 Intro

01:59 My Work: How Lifestyle & Exercise Affects the Brain

03:07 You Can Change an Ageing Brain

05:22 What Is a Neuron?

05:36 What Is the Hippocampus

07:28 The Link Between Exercise and Brain

09:06 What Happens to Our Brain When We Don't Exercise

12:54 People Aren't Meeting the Guidelines for Good Health

15:25 What Activities Are Good for Our Brain?

17:35 Orienteering Can Train the Brain

18:47 How the Different Types of Exercise Increase Neuroplasticity

22:39 Impact of Exercising in Greener Spaces Than Urban

24:06 Better Cognition Exercising Before a Task

25:41 The Optimal Time of the Day to Exercise

27:46 The Hadzas: Researching Hunter-Gatherer Tribes & the Findings

28:56 What Is the Optimal Exercising Time?

31:59 Cardiovascular Illnesses in Hadza Tribe

35:07 What's the Issue with Sitting?

40:29 The Power of Daily Small Amounts of Exercise

42:17 How to Improve Memory

46:08 Top Factors That Fuel Cognitive Problems

48:38 Link Between Human Connection & Brain Impact

50:54 Pollution Impact on the Brain

53:13 Racquet Sports for Brain Health

54:41 How Much Activity Do I Have to Do?

55:52 Endocannabinoid Receptors and Exercise Rewards

57:24 Mental Health Issues Linked to Lack of Exercise

01:01:45 Brain Foods

01:03:07 Reaching Optimal Living

01:07:50 What Causes Alzheimer's?

01:12:39 Last Guest Question

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