The latest on how to prevent Alzheimer’s | Kellyann Niotis, M.D.

Jason Wachob (0:00)

Welcome to The mindbodygreen Podcast. I'm Jason Wachob, Founder and Co-CEO of mindbodygreen and your host.

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Jason Wachob (2:38)

What if the first signs of Alzheimer's don't show up in your memory, but in the way you walk, swing your arms or focus your eyes? Dr. Kellyann Niotis is a preventative neurologist in New York, trained with Dr. Richard Isaacson, who's been on this podcast, and her background in movement disorders like Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia. In today's show, we dig into why she says Alzheimer's is preventable, and your genes aren't your destiny. Even with two copies of Apoe4, Niotis explains why Ptow 217 is getting too much attention and why a viral infection or even the day of a woman's menstrual cycle can shift those results. We also talk about motor reserve, why cardio might matter more for your brain than the current strength training craze and the one-blood cholesterol marker that can actually cross into your brain. If improving your brain health has ever felt out of reach for you, this conversation will change your perspective. Let's dive in.

So we are recording on September 10th, 2026 I want to call off the date because the world of brain health is changing rapidly. So what do we know for sure about Alzheimer's and cognitive decline in September 2026?

Kellyann Niotis (3:53)

Yes. So indeed, the world is changing in this field rapidly every day. New research is coming out. What we know for sure is that Alzheimer's is a preventable disease, and that it's not destiny, that your genes don't dictate whether or not you will get this disease.

And there's a lot in your power that you can do to take ownership over this.

Jason Wachob (4:19)

So a message of empowerment, your genes are not your destiny. So if I'm listening and I say, oh, well, this runs in my family, I'm an Apoe4 gene or double copy of that genes, and my risk is significantly elevated compared to other genes. You say, genes are not your destiny.

We can help here.

Kellyann Niotis (4:41)