The Neuro Experience

Most people assume they’re healthy until something breaks. The problem is that dysfunction shows up in your biology years before symptoms appear.

I sat down with Dr. Paul Turek to break down what modern biomarkers actually reveal about your health, performance, and long term disease risk.

We explore why “normal” lab ranges can be misleading, why guessing based on symptoms fails, and how early signs of metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and nutrient deficiencies quietly shape how you feel, train, and age. 

This conversation is about testing and not guessing. We spoke about how to understand what’s happening inside your body before problems become diagnosed. And about taking ownership of your health data at any age, not reacting once it’s too late.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance.

Topics discussed....

00:00 Intro

01:18 Why most people miss early signs of dysfunction

03:42 Why symptoms appear years after biological dysfunction

06:15 What modern blood biomarkers actually reveal about health

09:48 Metabolic dysfunction and early insulin resistance

13:12 Inflammation markers and long-term disease risk

16:30 Why “normal” lab ranges can be misleading

19:55 Nutrient deficiencies that quietly impact energy and cognition

24:05 How biomarkers influence training, recovery, and performance

28:10 Male and female differences in interpreting lab data

32:20 Hormones, aging, and proactive health monitoring

36:05 Why guessing based on symptoms fails

39:45 Taking ownership of your health data at any age

44:05 Longevity, prevention, and performance through testing

48:20 When to test, how often, and what actually matters

52:10 The future of personalized medicine and early intervention

56:00 Final takeaways on testing vs reacting

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Function: Visit https://functionhealth.com/louisa or use gift code NEURO100 at sign-up to own your health.

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I’m Louisa Nicola, clinical neurophysiologist, Alzheimer’s prevention specialist, and founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you’re committed to optimizing your brain, reducing Alzheimer’s risk, and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed.Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneuroexperience_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@louisanicola_
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In this episode of The Neuro Experience, I sit down with Mike Feldstein to explain how indoor air quality affects the brain and nervous system. They break down why indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air and how modern buildings trap particles and chemicals. The conversation also covers airflow, off-gassing from everyday materials, and the realities of mould and environmental testing.

Discover:

• Why indoor air can be 10x more polluted than outdoor air

• How airflow and building design influence air quality

• What VOCs, metals, and mold particles actually mean biologically

• Why air and mold testing is often misleading

• How detox culture can increase nervous system stress

📺 Watch the full episode here - https://youtu.be/932rUIBP4SM?si=TyggvjFr1hFG3SP5

Follow The Neuro ExperienceInstagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/theneuroexperience_/⁠TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@louisanicola
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Most people fail at their goals not because they lack discipline but because they are working against their own neurobiology.

After spending over a decade studying the brain I have learned this. Your brain does not change based on what you want. It changes based on the conditions you create for it.

This episode is not about motivation. It is about understanding how your brain actually learns adapts and transforms at a structural level so you can make 2025 the year things permanently shift.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s with my science backed protocol for women 30 plus.

https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. Each episode delivers evidence based insights you can apply to your own health journey.

Topics discussed

00:00 Intro

02:38 Why Most People Fail at Personal Development

03:21 Your Prefrontal Cortex and the Brain Architecture Problem

04:56 What Is Neuroplasticity and How Your Brain Changes

05:40 Sponsor Rho Nutrition

06:55 Principle One Identity Over Goals and Your Brain’s Reality Filter

09:40 Principle Two The 48 Hour Window of Neuroplasticity

13:05 Principle Three Decision Fatigue and Why Willpower Is Finite

15:28 Principle Four Lower Your Activation Threshold for Success

19:16 Principle Five Emotion Encodes Memory Ten Times Stronger Than Logic

21:42 Principle Six Stop Fighting Your Environment and Redesign It

24:11 Principle Seven Your Brain Changes While Resting Not Working

26:24 Recap Seven Neuroscience Backed Principles for 2026

Sponsors

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode.

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About Louisa

I am Louisa Nicola clinical neurophysiologist Alzheimer’s prevention specialist and founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity peak performance and brain disease prevention.

If you are committed to optimizing your brain reducing Alzheimer’s risk and staying mentally sharp for life you are in the right place.

Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter

https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_

Twitter

https://twitter.com/louisanicola_
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What if 70% of cognitive decline is optional — and you've been told the wrong story about aging?
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tommy Wood — neuroscientist, performance researcher, and author of The Stimulated Mind — to dismantle the myth that brain decline is inevitable. Dr. Wood reveals why most people are treating their brains like trucks when they should be treating them like Formula One cars — and how that mindset shift changes everything.
We unpack the truth about cognitive function: it doesn't have to decline. Studies show that for most people, brain performance can stay stable from your 50s into your 80s and beyond. But here's what no one is saying: the average decline we see is driven by a minority of people who experience severe deterioration — not the majority. That means the trajectory you're on is largely within your control.
Dr. Wood breaks down his 3S Model for Brain Health — Stimulus, Supply, and Support — a framework that simplifies the overwhelming noise around brain optimization. We discuss why retirement accelerates cognitive decline by 40%, how resistance training protects white matter and executive function, why being unkind to yourself creates chronic inflammation that accelerates dementia risk, and the shocking role of allostatic load in brain aging.
This conversation will change how you think about your brain. It's not about doing 40 things perfectly. It's about understanding the core mechanisms — and making strategic changes that shift the entire system in your favor.

About the guest:
Dr. Tommy Wood is a neuroscientist, performance researcher, and author of The Stimulated Mind. He holds a PhD in physiology and neuroscience from the University of Cambridge and an MD from the University of Oslo. Dr. Wood has worked with Formula One drivers, elite athletes, and high performers across industries to optimize brain health and cognitive longevity. His work focuses on translating cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for peak performance and dementia prevention.

***
Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/brain-code-yt
Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

I'm Louisa Nicola — clinical neurophysiologist — Alzheimer's prevention specialist — founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.
If you're committed to optimizing your brain — reducing Alzheimer's risk — and staying mentally sharp for life, you're in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

Topics discussed:00:00:00 Introduction: The Cognitive Decline Choice
00:08:38 The Supplement Myth: Why 500 Dollars a Month Wo
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What if thousands of steps of gentle walking aren’t giving you the brain protection you think they are?
In this solo episode, I break down one of the most important exercise studies published in Nature Communications and what it means for your brain, longevity, and Alzheimer’s risk.
Tracking over 73,000 people for eight years using wearables, the findings are shocking: one minute of vigorous exercise is worth up to 10 minutes of moderate activity — not the outdated 2-to-1 rule. For diabetes prevention, it’s nearly 10-to-1. For cardiovascular mortality, it’s 8-to-1. And here’s what no one is saying: every outcome measured — heart disease, diabetes, metabolic dysfunction — is an independent risk factor for Alzheimer’s and dementia.
I explain why vigorous exercise is so powerful for your brain: shear stress that strengthens blood vessels, lactate that triggers BDNF, muscle fiber recruitment that protects against falls and cognitive decline, and glucose regulation that defends against insulin resistance — a driver of neurodegeneration.
Think vigorous exercise is out of reach? Good news: the study defines it as brisk stairs, carrying groceries, or playing actively with your kids. No gym required — just effort. Just 3–4 minutes of vigorous bursts per day can reduce all-cause mortality by 40% and cardiovascular events by nearly 50%.
For women over 40, this is critical. Two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases are women, and perimenopause is a vulnerability window for the brain. Vigorous exercise can partially compensate for declining estrogen by improving glucose regulation, reducing inflammation, and protecting the brain in ways gentle movement cannot.

***
Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/brain-code-yt
Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Rho NutritionYou can get 20% off with the code NEURO at https://rhonutrition.com

Function HealthVisit https://functionhealth.com/louisa or use gift code NEURO100 at sign-up to own your health.

AquaTruGo to https://AquaTru.com now for 20% off using promo code NEURO.

TimelineHead to https://www.timeline.com/neuro to get 20% off.

Cure HydrationGet 20% off your first order at https://curehydration.com/neuro with code NEURO.

***

I'm Louisa Nicola — clinical neurophysiologist — Alzheimer's prevention specialist — founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.
If you're committed to optimizing your brain — reducing Alzheimer's risk — and staying mentally sharp for life, you're in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

Topics discussed:00:00:00 Introduction: The Exercise Intensity Revolution
00:01:02 The Study That Changes Everything
00:04:50 The Flawed Foundation: Why Guidelines Were Wrong
00:06:50 The Real Numbers: 4 to 10 Times More Powerful
00:08:53 The Brain Connection No One Is Talking About
00:15:32 Mechanism 1: Shear Stress and Cerebral Blood Flow
00:17:38 Mechanism 2: Lactate and BDNF Production
00:19:25 Mechanism 3: Type 2 Muscle Fibers and Myokines
00:24:30 Mechanism 4: Glucose Regulation and Mitochondrial Health
00:28:18 VILPA: The 3-Minute Daily Game Changer
00:32:16 Women and Menopause: The Critical Window
00:35:19 Practical Protocols: What to Do Starting Today

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