Team, Our brains are, like, kind of a big deal. Since they don’t come with owner’s manuals, we may need a little help keeping them healthy and functioning well. That’s where Dr Fotuhi comes in . He’s spent decades learning about the brain, helping others change their brain health and, in turn, their lives. In this episode, we dive into easy(ish) ways to adjust your habits for a healthier brain. I hope you love it! All my love, Sarah PS My book is out in the wild, and it’s changing lives! Order Growing Executive Function at Solution Tree ⁠ or on Amazon. I’m also training educators and organizations across this beautiful globe, and we’re finding improving executive function is game-changing! If that sounds like what your school or organization needs, reach out! Sarah at sarahkesty.com. Meet Dr. Majid Fotuhi , who earned his PhD in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University in 1992 and his Medical Degree from Harvard Medical School in 1997. Currently, he serves as an adjunct professor at the Mind/Brain Institute at Johns Hopkins University, while also teaching at George Washington University and Harvard Medical School. With 37 years of experience in teaching, clinical practice, and neuroscience research, Dr. Fotuhi has pioneered a multidisciplinary approach to enhancing brain vitality and cognitive performance at any age. His groundbreaking “Brain Fitness Program” combines a comprehensive baseline “Brain Portfolio” assessment with 12 bi-weekly brain training sessions. This program targets lifestyle optimization and cognitive stimulation to improve memory, focus, and overall brain health. Dr. Fotuhi’s program has delivered measurable success for patients dealing with memory loss due to aging, concussions, and ADHD, as documented in several peer-reviewed journals. He is also the author of three books, including the highly acclaimed Boost Your Brain: The New Art and Science Behind Enhanced Brain Performance.

Your keys aren’t lost. Your mind isn’t going. And no, that’s not Alzheimer’s. Dr. Majid Fotuhi, Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins University & author of The Invincible Brain, busts the biggest myth in women’s brain health: that the fog, the forgetfulness, and the “wait, why did I walk in here?” moments of perimenopause are a sign of something sinister. Spoiler: they’re not. And your brain? It can literally grow. From the surprising science of how walking three times a week can give you a measurably bigger brain, to why your hearing aid might be the best thing you ever do for your memory, Dr. Fotuhi gives us proof that midlife isn’t a decline — it’s a new childhood. And this time, you’re in charge. Episode Overview (timestamps are approximate): (0:00) Intro/Teaser (5:00) Why Perimenopause Causes Brain Fog (8:00) Estrogen & How Hormones Affect Memory (13:00) Exercise Is the #1 Pillar of Brain Health (16:00) Exercise That Grows Your Brain (21:00) Brain Fog vs. Alzheimer’s (26:00) Your Genes Are Not Your Destiny (30:00) Medications & Hearing Loss (43:00) Beyond IQ: The 30 Forms of Intelligence (50:00) Brain Training & Neuroplasticity (1:01:00) The After-Party with Dr. Stephanie Resources mentioned in this episode: https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep458 We couldn’t do it without our sponsors: QUALIA CREATINE+ – If you want to feel stronger, sharper, and more resilient, Qualia’s Creatine+ is my recommendation.Go to https://qualialife.com/better and use code BETTER to save up to 50%, plus an additional 15% off. COZY EARTH – Cozy Earth helps you feel better by keeping your temperature perfect overnight to facilitate deep restorative sleep. Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code BETTER for up to 20% off. TROSCRIPTIONS – There’s a completely new way to optimize your health. Give it a try at https://troscriptions.com/BETTER or enter BETTER at checkout for 10% off your first order. PIQUE LIFE – If you want to redefine your evening ritual and still feel like yourself the next day, you can get 10% off for life. Yes, for life at https://piquelife.com/better

Around the world, more than 50 million people are living with some form of dementia – a number expected to triple by 2050 as populations age. But the thing is, dementia is often talked about as a kind of genetic lottery. You either get lucky and escape it, or unlucky and develop it. But what if that framing is wrong? What if far more of our brain health is within our control than we’ve been led to believe? Our guest today is Dr Majid Fotuhi, a neuroscientist who has spent decades treating and studying people with cognitive impairment. His message is a bold one: dementia is largely preventable – not with a miracle pill or silver-bullet treatment, but through the way we live. The 12-week programme he and his team have developed has helped his patients improve their memory, regain independence, and even grow new brain connections. Today, he talks us through the essentials of the programme – and what it really takes to stay sharp for life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Hopkins Mind/Brain Institute. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed a Ph.D. in neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University.

What if Alzheimer’s isn’t inevitable – and your brain is far more changeable than you’ve been led to believe? World-renowned neurologist Dr. Majid Fotuhi shares groundbreaking research from his new book showing that cognitive decline can often be delayed, prevented, and even reversed – and how music uniquely strengthens the brain’s memory, attention, and emotional networks. Dr. Majid Fotuhi is a world-renowned neurologist and medical doctor who is redefining how we think about aging, intelligence, and brain health. He teaches at Johns Hopkins University, George Washington University, and Harvard Medical School. He is the author of multiple books, the latest of which is The Invincible Brain: The Clinically Proven Plan to Age-Proof Your Brain and Stay Sharp for Life. He joins the show to discuss how music can play a role in enhancing brain vitality and cognitive performance at any age.

Dr. Majid Fotuhi explores the intersection of neuroplasticity, spirituality, and brain health, explaining how science supports practices like prayer and meditation.

Dr. Majid Fotuhi discusses the multifaceted nature of brain health, different types of intelligence, and the power of practice.

Dr. Majid Fotuhi explains how cognitive decline can be delayed and how music uniquely strengthens the brain’s memory and emotional networks.