Max Lugavere: 10 Dementia Risk Factors, Hidden Toxins to Avoid and Cognitive Health Tips

Are environmental toxins silently eroding our brain health? In this episode, I sit down with Max Lugavere, author and filmmaker of “Little Empty Boxes,” to explore the hidden dangers lurking in our modern environment and how they are silently affecting our brain health. We discuss Max’s journey of losing his mother to dementia and the startling discoveries he made along the way. We also discuss neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and their links to long-term exposure to environmental toxins found in everyday items. Max Lugavere is a health and science journalist, filmmaker, and bestselling author. He is the author of the Genius trilogy of books, including the New York Times bestseller Genius Foods and the Wall Street Journal bestseller Genius Kitchen. He hosts The Genius Life podcast, one of the top health and wellness podcasts in the U.S. His appearances on The Joe Rogan Experience, The Rachael Ray Show, The Today Show, and PBS’s Brief but Spectacular, along with features in VICE, Fast Company, The New York Times, and People Magazine have made him a respected and well-known voice in the field. An engaging speaker on relevant health and wellness topics, Lugavere regularly leads keynote talks for events around the world. BREAKDOWN What we discuss:  04:02 – Definition of a “super life” 07:43 – Max’s mother and her health issues 15:20 – APOE4 gene and Alzheimer’s risk 17:01 – The documentary “Little Empty Boxes” 24:41 – Ultra-processed foods and their health impacts 28:55 – Factors potentially contributing to neurodegenerative diseases 33:50 – Environmental toxins and Parkinson’s disease 42:47 – Top things to avoid for brain health 54:10 – Obesity, insulin resistance, and brain health 59:45 – Exercise and its benefits for Parkinson’s disease 1:01:52 – Future hopes for Alzheimer’s and dementia research 1:10:47 – The importance of individual action and knowledge LINKS Find more from Darin: Website: https://superlife.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://superlife.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://superlife.com/down-to-earth/ Find more from Max Lugavere: Website: https://www.maxlugavere.com/ Documentary: Little Empty Boxes Instagram: @maxlugavere SPONSORS Thank you to our sponsors: Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off TruNiagen: Go to www.truniagen.com and use code Darin20 for 20% off Vivo Barefoot: Get 20% off your first Vivobarefoot order with DARIN20 at www.vivobarefoot.com Fatty15 : Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/DARIN and using code DARIN at checkout. I hope you enjoyed this episode of The Darin Olien Show! If you want to support or follow the podcast, here’s how: Subscribe, rate or listen on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher Follow my Instagram to keep updated on the podcast, weekly deep dives and other projects that I’m supporting (and the occasional Chaga appreciation post) Sign up for my Weekly Email to keep up with what I’m tuned into. For feedback or suggestions, email my team at [email protected] Find the list of brands & products that get the big tick of approval from me here. Comment below to join the discussion!