The Metabolic Switch That Turns Your Brain Against Itself | E219

The Metabolic Switch That Turns Your Brain Against Itself | E219

July 28, 2026 · 32 min · Episode 219

About this episode

Dr. David Perlmutter discusses the true drivers of neurodegeneration and challenges the plaque theory of Alzheimer's disease.

🧠 Stay ahead with the latest in science, nutrition, and wellness by subscribing to Dr. Perlmutter's newsletter at: www.drperlmutter.com. ✉️🌱====Dr. Perlmutter's groundbreaking new book, Brain Defenders, is now available for pre-order. Discover how to protect your brain and future health - reserve your copy today at https://www.braindefenders.com .What if everything you've been told about Alzheimer's, that it's caused by sticky plaque building up in your brain, is missing the real story? In this episode, Dr. David Perlmutter makes the case that the true driver of neurodegeneration isn't plaque at all. It's your own brain's immune cells turning against you.For decades the field blamed beta-amyloid protein for Alzheimer's. Perlmutter walks through a mechanism reshaping the science: the dysregulation of microglia, the immune cells that can either protect your brain or actively destroy it depending on how you live.We dig into the chilling Parkinson's case where contaminated heroin froze patients like statues and revealed immune cells still attacking the brain decades later, why the same self-perpetuating inflammation shows up in CTE, long COVID, and PTSD, how your gut and blood…

People in this episode

Host: David Perlmutter

Topics covered

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: MIT

Products: Brain Defenders

Places: Alzheimer's, CTE, long COVID, PTSD

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