Dr. Terry Simpson - The Unfiltered MD

A cruise ship outbreak. A newly sequenced Andes hantavirus strain. Social media panic. In this episode of The Unfiltered MD, Dr. Terry Simpson explains what the latest hantavirus sequencing actually shows — and what it does not.Why do some viruses mutate constantly while others remain remarkably stable? What is the “rule of six” in measles? Why do influenza and COVID boosters need updating while measles vaccines continue working decade after decade? And how do tiny molecular changes in viral surface proteins determine whether a virus can unlock a human cell?Dr. Simpson walks through the biology of viral mutations, receptor binding, purifying selection, zoonotic spillover, and why the shrinking world makes future pandemics inevitable — even if this hantavirus outbreak probably is not the next one.This is not panic.This is preparedness. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe

The internet says GLP-1 drugs are stealing your muscle. That “up to 40% lean mass loss” is supposed to scare you. But here’s the problem: it’s not new, it’s not unique, and it’s not what they say it is.In this episode, Dr. Terry Simpson breaks down what really happens to lean body mass during weight loss—whether it’s diet, surgery, or medications like semaglutide. He explains why glycogen and water get mislabeled as “muscle loss,” why severe protein deficiency is actually rare, and why most people naturally move more—and get stronger—after losing weight.Then we tackle bone: why some bone loss is a normal adaptation to carrying less weight, what actually causes osteoporosis, and why staying active matters far more than clinging to excess pounds out of fear.And yes—we take on the “gym bro” narrative that GLP-1s are dangerous unless you follow their program. (Spoiler: that’s not evidence, that’s marketing.)If you’ve heard the panic, this is the episode that puts it back into physiology. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.drsimpson.comMeasles cases surge as vaccination gaps widen. Colon cancer rises in younger adults. GLP-1 lawsuits reshape access. Deepfake doctors spread misinformation. This week, we connect the science, policy, and what you can actually do.

This week on Dr. Simpson Unfiltered, I take a hard look at what medicine is — and what it isn’t. From the Peter Attia controversy and the responsibilities that come with medical training, to measles outbreaks threatening U.S. elimination status, pediatric vaccine failures, and why men develop heart disease years earlier than women, this episode is about duty, humility, and trust. Medicine isn’t built on personalities or shortcuts — it’s built on protecting patients, especially children, and making small, evidence-based steps forward that actually save lives. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe

This week, the virus didn’t win — the committee did.Dr. Terry Simpson opens with a personal look at the rollback of the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns — a policy that ignores decades of data from Alaska showing infants catch hepatitis B from caregivers, not just mothers. Then, updates on vaccines that save lives: shingles shots that protect the brain, and HPV vaccines that may erase an entire cancer from the map.You’ll hear how Australia is on track to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035 — thanks to universal HPV vaccination, smarter screening, and access to self-collection testing — and why Dr. Simpson’s own 15-year-old son is fully vaccinated. Sons and daughters alike can help end HPV-linked cancers, from cervical to oral.Also in this episode:* mRNA COVID vaccines linked to 25% lower all-cause mortality.* Mediterranean and MIND diets improve brain function in MS.* Polyphenols from tea, coffee, and berries boost heart health.* WHO endorses GLP-1s for long-term obesity treatment.* New hope for HIV remission, concerns over AI and privacy, and why ERs are seeing a surge in “scromiting.”Dr. Simpson Unfiltered — where data beats dogma, and science always gets the last word. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.drsimpson.comWhat happens when the Formula 1 engines inside your cells start behaving like a tired 1974 Karmann Ghia? In this episode, Dr. Terry Simpson breaks down the real science of mitochondria, why they age, how they sabotage your energy, and why RFK Jr. definitely cannot diagnose mitochondrial dysfunction by looking at teenagers in an airport. No wellness woo. No quantum nonsense. Just biology, humor, and clarity.

This week on The Unfiltered MD, Dr. Terry Simpson takes on RFK Jr.’s latest admission that his campaign’s Tylenol–autism claim has no scientific basis — and explains why real science doesn’t “prove” ideas, it tests them.Then: new research on hearing loss, brain health, and blood pressure; the expanding cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide; and why the Mediterranean diet continues to outperform quick fixes.Plus: how fewer steps can still improve longevity, why food-borne E. coli may be behind some urinary-tract infections, and what rising cancer rates mean for screening.All that — and a preview of Dr. Simpson’s upcoming live TikTok cooking show, where paid subscribers at drsimpson.com get the recipes and ingredients early so they can cook along. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe

I’m Dr. Terry Simpson, and this is Medical News of the Week, ending October 19 2025.Each week I read the medical journals so you don’t have to.This episode covers ten new studies that affect real-world health — including a major rise in alcohol-related deaths, how GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound are reshaping obesity trends, why gait training and proper footwear protect your joints, and updates on cholesterol management, cancer care, infectious disease, and global longevity.If you care about evidence-based health, prevention, and the science that actually changes lives, this one’s for you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.drsimpson.comAfter a calm summer, avian influenza (H5N1) is on the rise again as migratory birds return — and this time, it’s starting early. Over 4 million poultry have already been culled, and the virus has shown up in dairy cows and even raw milk. In this week’s Dr. Simpson Unfiltered – This Week in Medicine, Dr. Terry Simpson breaks down why this fourth straight…

From rising early-onset cancers to America’s maternal mortality crisis, from food addiction to the hidden toll of heart disease—your medical correspondent, Dr. Terry Simpson, breaks down this week’s most important medical news and why diet matters. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe

Your teenager can buy kava at a gas station today — no warnings, no age limits. But this “natural” root has a long history, from Polynesian rituals to Captain Cook’s voyages, Chelsea Physic Garden, patent medicines, and now modern supplements. In this episode, Dr. Terry Simpson unpacks kava’s journey — and why “natural” has never meant safe. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drsimpson.com/subscribe