#595: Neuroplasticity and Reducing Risk of Cognitive Impairment – Dr. Majid Fotuhi
About this episode
The episode discusses neuroplasticity, cognitive impairment, and the impact of lifestyle factors on brain health with Dr. Majid Fotuhi.
Conversations about brain health have been dominated by a competing mix of fatalism and over-promising, with aging framed as inevitable decline and "brain optimisation" sold through weak evidence. So how should we think about cognition across the lifespan? In this episode, we explore the idea that neuroplasticity does not disappear in adulthood, but instead continues to respond, for better or worse, to repeated behaviours and exposures. Much of what is labelled age-related cognitive decline may in fact reflect an accumulation of modifiable risk factors. We also dig into how to critically evaluate brain-health claims and how lifestyle pillars such as exercise, sleep, diet, stress reduction and cognitive training fit into a coherent framework. The discussion extends to emerging multimodal intervention programs, their promising signals and their clear limitations, and to a broader, multifactorial view of Alzheimer's disease that moves beyond a narrow amyloid-centric model. Finally, we examine the role of genetics, including ApoE4, and why genetic risk does not equate to biological destiny, even later in life. Dr. Majid Fotuhi is a neurologist and an adjunct professor at the Johns…
People in this episode
Host: Danny Lennon
Guest: Dr. Majid Fotuhi
Topics covered
- neuroplasticity
- cognitive impairment
- brain health
- modifiable risk factors
- Alzheimer's disease
- lifestyle interventions
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Johns Hopkins Mind/Brain Institute, Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Hospital
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