Podcast
ThinkWell AgeWell Podcast
Hosted by Dr. Heather Sandison, ND · EN
Welcome to ThinkWell AgeWell with Dr. Heather Sandison, New York Times bestselling author of Reversing Alzheimer’s. This podcast celebrates aging as a time of meaning, connection, and joy. From doctors and scientists to those with real, lived experience, each episode uncovers tools, perspectives, and practices to help you stay sharp, live fully, and age well. Join us as we explore brain health, longevity, and what it truly means to thrive in your later years.
29episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Aging with Intention: A Couple’s Journey Toward Cognitive Longevity
Feb 1000:58:23Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with Tom and Betty Freitag, a couple who chose to confront cognitive changes early rather than wait and see. Tom shares how subtle memory and processing changes led him to proactive testing and a comprehensive brain health plan. Together, they discuss diet, exercise, sleep, cognitive training, and the power of partnership in slowing cognitive decline and improving function. This conversation offers a hopeful, realistic model for aging with intention and agency.Tom Freitag is a retired aerospace engineer who applied his problem-solving mindset to protecting his cognitive health after noticing early changes and facing a family history of Alzheimer’s disease. Alongside his wife, Betty—a nurse, mother, and longtime child advocate—the couple built a comprehensive, team-based approach to brain health that includes lifestyle interventions, cognitive training, medical testing, and ongoing accountability. Together, they model what proactive, intentional aging can look like when curiosity, partnership, and persistence guide the process.Explore More from Dr. Heather SandisonReversing Alzheimer’s Course: https://www.maramaathome.com/Dr. Sandison’s Latest Book: https://reversingalzheimersbook.com/Learn More at: https://www.drheathersandison.com Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.drheathersandison.com/newsletter/Learn About Marama: https://www.maramaexperience.com/Learn About Solcere: https://www.solcere.com/ Follow Dr. Sandison:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.heathersandison/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherSandisonND/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-sandison-nd-31357241PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
Transcribe →Rebuilding Brain Chemistry: How Amino Acids Restore Calm, Focus, and Memory
Feb 300:44:33Tap to summarizeDiscover how targeted amino acid therapy supports neurotransmitter balance, emotional resilience, and cognitive longevity at every stage of life.In this episode, I sit down with Laurie Hammer to explore how targeted amino acid therapy can restore balance to brain chemistry and support emotional health, memory, and cognitive longevity. We discuss how neurotransmitters are formed, why modern diets leave many people deficient, and how simple nutritional strategies can calm the nervous system, improve sleep, and enhance mental clarity at any age.As a Functional Nutritional Therapist and founder of the Calm Mom Method, Laurie Hammer focuses on helping clients navigate depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other neurological conditions. Her work is driven by her own healing journey—overcoming cancer, celiac disease, bulimia, and depression through holistic approaches. Today, she supports clients around the world, both virtually and in person, offering hope and practical strategies for moms facing anxiety, depression, and the overwhelming demands of daily life.Learn More About: Laurie Hammer, FNTP, NNTSWebsite: https://www.lauriehammer.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takebackmybrainFacebook: https://facebook.com/takebackmybrain/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-hammer-ab84ab8/🎧 Take Back My Brain with Laurie Hammer A compassionate, empowering journey into brain health, trauma recovery, and whole-body healing:Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsListen on iHeart RadioWatch on YouTubeExplore More from Dr. Heather SandisonReversing Alzheimer’s Course: https://www.maramaathome.com/Dr. Sandison’s Latest Book: https://reversingalzheimersbook.com/Learn More at: https://www.drheathersandison.com Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.drheathersandison.com/newsletter/Learn About Marama: https://www.maramaexperience.com/Learn About Solcere: https://www.solcere.com/ Follow Dr. Sandison:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.heathersandison/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherSandisonND/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-sandison-nd-31357241PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
Transcribe →Estrogen, Progesterone, and the Aging Brain: Here’s a Smarter Hormone Strategy
Jan 2701:06:56Tap to summarizeDr. Felice Gersh explains how estrogen and progesterone shape brain health, cognition, and longevity — and why hormone loss accelerates aging.In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Felice Gersh to explore how estrogen and progesterone affect the brain, metabolism, inflammation, and longevity. We unpack why menopause accelerates cognitive aging, how hormone therapy was misunderstood after the Women’s Health Initiative, and why today’s low-dose, daily hormone protocols may fall short. This conversation reframes hormones as essential regulators of brain health across a woman’s lifespan.Felice Gersh, MD, is a multi-award-winning physician with dual board certifications in OB-GYN and Integrative Medicine. She is the founder and director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, a practice that provides comprehensive health care for women by combining the best evidence-based therapies from conventional, naturopathic, and holistic medicine. For 12 years, she taught obstetrics and gynecology at Keck USC School of Medicine as an Assistant Clinical Professor, and she now serves as an Affiliate Faculty Member at the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona School of Medicine.Dr. Felice is a prolific writer and lecturer who speaks globally on women’s health and regularly publishes in peer-reviewed medical journals. She is the bestselling author of the PCOS SOS series and her latest book, Menopause: 50 Things You Need to Know.Explore More from Dr. Heather SandisonReversing Alzheimer’s Course: https://www.maramaathome.com/Dr. Sandison’s Latest Book: https://reversingalzheimersbook.com/Learn More at: https://www.drheathersandison.com Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.drheathersandison.com/newsletter/Learn About Marama: https://www.maramaexperience.com/Learn About Solcere: https://www.solcere.com/ Follow Dr. Sandison:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.heathersandison/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherSandisonND/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-sandison-nd-31357241PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
Transcribe →Sleep Apnea, Oral Health, and the Hidden Drivers of Cognitive Decline
Jan 2000:54:49Tap to summarizeHow sleep, breathing, and oral health shape brain aging—and why airway issues at night may be a hidden driver of cognitive decline.In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Erela Katz Rappaport to explore the powerful but often overlooked connection between sleep, airway health, oral inflammation, and brain aging. We unpack why sleep apnea is so underdiagnosed—especially in women—and how disrupted breathing at night affects memory, metabolism, and cognitive decline. This conversation reveals why optimizing sleep and oral health may be one of the most impactful steps you can take for lifelong brain resilience.Dr. Erela Katz Rappaport, DMD, is a dentist specializing in dental sleep medicine and airway-focused care. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and practices in San Diego, where she integrates oral health, airway science, sleep, and inflammation to support whole-body and brain health. Dr. Katz Rappaport is the author of Breathe Easy, Sleep Deep, a guide designed to help people recognize sleep-disordered breathing and reclaim restorative sleep for long-term cognitive protection.Explore More from Dr. Heather SandisonReversing Alzheimer’s Course: https://www.maramaathome.com/Dr. Sandison’s Latest Book: https://reversingalzheimersbook.com/Learn More at: https://www.drheathersandison.com Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.drheathersandison.com/newsletter/Learn About Marama: https://www.maramaexperience.com/Learn About Solcere: https://www.solcere.com/ Follow Dr. Sandison:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.heathersandison/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherSandisonND/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-sandison-nd-31357241PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
Transcribe →What ESS60 Teaches Us About Aging and Cellular Energy
Jan 1300:57:17Tap to summarizeLearn more about MyVitalC’s science-focused approach to supporting brain health, energy, and overall wellness.https://www.myvitalc.com/pages/thinkwellExplore More from Chris Burres:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myvitalcInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/myvitalcTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@myvitalcYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyVitalC/videosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburresChris Burres explains the science behind ESS60, mitochondrial health, oxidative stress, and how cellular support may influence aging, sleep, and vitality.In this episode, I talk with Chris Burres about ESS60, a carbon molecule studied for its effects on oxidative stress and mitochondrial function. We explore the surprising rat longevity research, how ESS60 may support sleep and energy, and why buffering mitochondrial stress could influence aging at a foundational level. Chris also shares why mindset, sleep, and movement matter just as much as supplements when it comes to living longer and better.Chris Burres is the founder and chief scientist of My Vital C and a longtime carbon nanomaterials researcher. His work focuses on ESS60, a molecule discovered through Nobel Prize–winning research and studied for its role in oxidative stress and cellular health. Chris is also the author of Live Longer and Better and a podcast host dedicated to helping people understand emerging longevity science with clarity, balance, and curiosity.Explore More from Dr. Heather SandisonReversing Alzheimer’s Course: https://www.maramaathome.com/Dr. Sandison’s Latest Book: https://reversingalzheimersbook.com/Learn More at: https://www.drheathersandison.com Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.drheathersandison.com/newsletter/Learn About Marama: https://www.maramaexperience.com/Learn About Solcere: https://www.solcere.com/ Follow Dr. Sandison:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.heathersandison/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherSandisonND/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-sandison-nd-31357241PODCASTThank you for listening. Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
Transcribe →When the Brain Gets Better: Rethinking Cognitive Decline
Jan 600:49:38Tap to summarizeDr. Stephen Chamberlain joins ThinkWell AgeWell to explore salutogenesis, cognitive reversion, AI-driven medicine, and how resilience-based, whole-systems approaches can restore brain health and support aging well.In this episode of ThinkWell AgeWell, I sit down with Dr. Stephen Chamberlain, an interdisciplinary physician-scientist at Oregon Health & Science University, to explore a radically hopeful framework for brain health and aging.Dr. Chamberlain introduces salutogenesis—the study of how health is created—challenging the idea that aging and cognitive decline are linear or inevitable. We discuss why health exists on a continuum, how certain stressors can build resilience, and why a small but powerful group of patients who improve after cognitive impairment deserve far more attention.Our conversation also dives into the role of AI and complex systems science, showing how machine learning can finally make sense of multi-domain interventions like exercise, diet, and botanicals working together. Dr. Chamberlain shares insights from his research on Centella asiatica, exercise “sweet spots,” and the future of scalable, Medicare-accessible brain health solutions.This episode offers both scientific depth and genuine hope for restoring cognitive health and aging well.Dr. Stephen Chamberlain, ND, LAc, MS, is an interdisciplinary physician-scientist at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). His work integrates data science, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and network physiology to study cognitive resilience and health restoration. Dr. Chamberlain’s research focuses on salutogenesis, reversion in cognitive impairment, botanical synergy, and the use of artificial intelligence to develop prescriptive, whole-systems approaches to brain health and aging.Explore More from Dr. Heather SandisonReversing Alzheimer’s Course: https://www.maramaathome.com/Dr. Sandison’s Latest Book: https://reversingalzheimersbook.com/Learn More at: https://www.drheathersandison.com Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.drheathersandison.com/newsletter/Learn About Marama: https://www.maramaexperience.com/Learn About Solcere: https://www.solcere.com/ Follow Dr. Sandison:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.heathersandison/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherSandisonND/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-sandison-nd-31357241PODCASTThank you for listening. Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
Transcribe →The Soul of Herbal Medicine: Regeneration, Purpose, and Aging Well
Dec 3000:56:23Tap to summarizeHerbal pioneer Ric Scalzo shares how regenerative farming, herbal integrity, and nature’s wisdom support brain health, longevity, and aging well.In this episode, I sit down with herbal pioneer Ric Scalzo to explore the deeper meaning of herbal medicine. We discuss his journey from founding Gaia Herbs to building regenerative farms in Costa Rica, and how soil health directly influences the quality of herbal remedies. Ric shares why nature heals when we work in partnership with it—and how regenerative living supports brain health, vitality, and aging with purpose.Ric Scalzo began his journey into herbal and naturopathic medicine in 1980 studying Naturopathic Herbal Medicine, Eclectic Herbal Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and various diagnostic practices. He received a master’s degree in Herbal Medicine from the School of Herbal Medicine and an Honorary Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. Renowned for his innovations in Herbal Medicine and personal commitment to retaining herbal integrity, today Ric continues to innovate herbal remedies and is a leader in the movement to integrate regenerative agriculture into the world of Herbal Medicine.Explore More from Dr. Heather SandisonReversing Alzheimer’s Course: https://www.maramaathome.com/Dr. Sandison’s Latest Book: https://reversingalzheimersbook.com/Learn More at: https://www.drheathersandison.com Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.drheathersandison.com/newsletter/Learn About Marama: https://www.maramaexperience.com/Learn About Solcere: https://www.solcere.com/ Follow Dr. Sandison:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.heathersandison/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherSandisonND/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-sandison-nd-31357241PODCASTThank you for listening. Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
Transcribe →Patient Zero: How 80-year-old Judy Benjamin Reclaimed Her Brain After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Dec 2300:59:28Tap to summarizeJudy Benjamin shares how she stabilized cognitive decline after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and why commitment and lifestyle change made all the difference.In this episode, I sit down with Judy Benjamin, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 67 and refused to accept that diagnosis as her destiny. Judy shares how working with Dr. Dale Bredesen, making radical lifestyle changes, and committing fully to her healing helped her stabilize cognitive decline and reclaim her brain health. Now in her 80s, Judy is dedicated to helping others find hope, take action, and understand that aging and cognition do not have to follow a predictable downward path.Judy Benjamin was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at age 67 after witnessing her mother’s long battle with the condition. Rather than accepting a progressive decline, she pursued a comprehensive lifestyle-based approach to brain health and became Dr. Dale Bredesen’s first successful human case using his protocol. Today, Judy is a ReCODE-trained cognitive health coach with Apollo Health and the founder of Access Longevity, where she supports individuals and families navigating cognitive decline. Now in her 80s, she continues to advocate for hope, education, and proactive brain care.Explore More from Dr. Heather SandisonReversing Alzheimer’s Course: https://www.maramaathome.com/Dr. Sandison’s Latest Book: https://reversingalzheimersbook.com/Learn More at: https://www.drheathersandison.com Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.drheathersandison.com/newsletter/Learn About Marama: https://www.maramaexperience.com/Learn About Solcere: https://www.solcere.com/ Follow Dr. Sandison:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.heathersandison/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherSandisonND/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-sandison-nd-31357241PODCASTThank you for listening. Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
Transcribe →A 22-Year Alzheimer’s Journey That Changed Everything
Dec 1601:15:41Tap to summarizeDel Muzzillo shares how realistic hope and a multimodal approach supported his mother through a 22-year Alzheimer’s journey with dignity and purpose.----In this episode, I speak with Del Muzzillo about what’s possible when we refuse to accept false hopelessness in dementia care. Del shares his mother Dorothea’s extraordinary 22-year journey with Alzheimer’s and the integrative, multimodal approach that helped stabilize cognition, restore joy, and preserve dignity into her 100th year. This conversation challenges conventional care models and offers realistic, grounded hope rooted in environment, purpose, nutrition, and connection.----Del Muzzillo asked us to clarify that while Dorothea lived with dignity, purpose, and improved quality of life for many years, she was not fully independent. She still required daily care and support, including assistance with safety and personal needs, and continued to experience deficits consistent with Alzheimer’s disease. Her story reflects realistic hope and meaningful improvement—not a claim of full independence.----Del Muzzillo is a wellness consultant with over 40 years of experience in health, performance, and whole-person transformation. His background includes wilderness leadership, meditation practice, wellness education, and integrative health. Del developed the Integrative Cognitive Wellbeing (ICW) Program while caring for his mother, Dorothea, whose Alzheimer’s journey inspired his book Up and Down and Even Sideways. Today, he mentors caregivers and organizations seeking more humane, effective models for dementia care.----The book “Up and Down and Even Sideways” is available exclusively on Amazon.Find it on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, and other international Amazon sites.Learn more or get in touch at www.luminescence-icw.cavia the Contact page.----Explore More from Dr. Heather SandisonReversing Alzheimer’s Course: https://www.maramaathome.com/Dr. Sandison’s Latest Book: https://reversingalzheimersbook.com/Learn More at: https://www.drheathersandison.com Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.drheathersandison.com/newsletter/Learn About Marama: https://www.maramaexperience.com/Learn About Solcere: https://www.solcere.com/ Follow Dr. Sandison:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.heathersandison/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherSandisonND/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-sandison-nd-31357241PODCASTThank you for listening. Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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