Chimpanzee brain growth slows rapidly after birth, whereas human brains sustain a fetal-like rate of growth until at least six to ten years of age.
"And shortly after birth, the chimpanzee brain stops growing as fast and eventually asymptotes right away. The human brain continues that feverish fetal rate of growth until at least 6 years of age, maybe out there to 10 years of age." (said at 0:38:51)
While humans are characterized by 'secondary altriciality'—extending rapid, fetal-like rates of brain growth postnatally compared to chimpanzees and other non-human primates—this rapid fetal rate of growth is sustained only during the first postnatal year (or up to roughly 12–18 months), after which the rate of brain growth decelerates dramatically. By 5 to 6 years of age, the human brain has already achieved ~90–95% of its adult size. The speaker erroneously claims that the fetal rate of brain growth continues until 'at least 6 years of age, maybe out there to 10 years of age', confusing prolonged neurodevelopmental maturation (such as synaptic remodeling and myelination) with sustaining the rapid fetal rate of volumetric growth.
Nattokinase supplementation can reduce LDL cholesterol levels.
"As a result, I decided to start supplementing with nattokinase, which can naturally help reduce LDL cholesterol, and it did. In a follow-up test, I could confirm that this strategy worked; my blood lipids are now back where I want them in range." (said at 1:18:41)
A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (PMID 39076715) evaluating nattokinase supplementation found that nattokinase monotherapy does not reduce LDL cholesterol. In pooled RCT data, standard/low doses showed a slight increase in LDL cholesterol compared to controls, while higher doses showed no statistically significant effect on LDL levels. Although combinations of nattokinase with red yeast rice (Monascus, which contains monacolin K / lovastatin) reduce LDL, and one non-randomized study observed lipid improvements only at an exceptionally high experimental dose (10,800 FU/day; PMID 36072877), the randomized trial evidence indicates that standalone nattokinase supplementation does not lower LDL cholesterol.
- context: Effective management of atherosclerosis progress and hyperlipidemia with nattokinase: A cl… (Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine 2022) · cited 28x in the literature
"NK was found to be ineffective in lowering lipids and suppressing atherosclerosis progression at a dose of 3,600 FU/day... In conclusion, our data demonstrate that atherosclerosis progression and hyperlipidemia can be effectively managed with NK at a dose of 10,800 FU/day. The lower dose of 3,600 FU per day is ineffective." (abstract, results and conclusions)
pubmedfull study (doi) - contradicts: Nattokinase Supplementation and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-… (Reviews in cardiovascular medicine 2023) · cited 9x in the literature
"Relatively low total dosage of nattokinase had a negative effect on blood total cholesterol (MD [mean difference] = 5.27, 95% CI [confidence intervals]: 3.74 to 6.81, p < 0.00001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD = -2.76, 95% CI: -3.88 to -1.64, p < 0.00001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD = 6.49, 95% CI: 0.83 to 12.15, p = 0.02)... Nattokinase group with relatively high total dosage also had a higher total cholesterol (MD = 3.18, 95% CI: 2.29 to 4.06, p < 0.00001) than control interventions, but no significant differences were found in levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol." (abstract, results)
pubmedfull study (doi)
In birds, brain sexual differentiation is driven by local hormone synthesis inside the brain determined by genetic sex.
"in some cases, it's the brain itself that's making the hormone and is masculinizing itself. So in birds, there's pretty good evidence that brain sexual differentiation happens because the genetic sex of the brain determines how much hormone, including testosterone and estrogen, is getting made locally and that that then is driving sexual differentiation" (said at 1:40:30)
While research in songbirds (such as zebra finches) established that the brain synthesizes its own neurosteroids (expressing steroidogenic enzymes like CYP17 and aromatase), empirical studies do not support the claim that sexual differentiation is driven by genetic sex determining local hormone synthesis levels. Studies measuring steroidogenic enzymes (CYP17 and aromatase) in the developing avian brain found no significant sex differences in expression levels or spatio-temporal patterns between males and females. Furthermore, manipulation of steroid synthesis (such as aromatase inhibition) fails to prevent masculine brain development, and gynandromorph studies indicate that avian brain sexual differentiation is driven primarily by cell-autonomous direct genetic sex effects rather than differences in local hormone production.