HoldsUp

DavidPerlmutterMD · 2026-08-19 · David Perlmutter (host), Emma Heming Willis, Nicole Beurkens

Why Women Should Start Protecting Their Brain Now with Dr. Nicole Beurkens & Emma Heming Willis

18 research-tied claims examined: 2 overstated 3 context 11 supported 2 unverified

2

Overstated

0:27:15David Perlmutter (host)overstatedvery low

Social engagement increases brain production of oxytocin, which binds to microglial cells to keep them supportive rather than destructive.

"When people are socially engaged, they are having higher levels of oxytocin, the love hormone, if you will. The reason I think it's so important is because we now understand that oxytocin binds to the brain's immune cells called microglial cells and helps keep them being supportive and loving versus being destructive." (said at 0:27:15)

Preclinical research in rodents and cell cultures shows that oxytocin can bind to oxytocin receptors (OXTR) on microglia to downregulate pro-inflammatory signaling pathways (such as NF-κB and ERK/STAT3), decrease pro-inflammatory cytokine release, and suppress damaging microglial overactivation. Additionally, social interactions are well established to stimulate endogenous oxytocin release. However, the claim that human social engagement directly modulates microglial phenotype from 'destructive' to 'supportive' is an extrapolation from in vitro and animal disease models (such as ischemic stroke, hypoxia, and sepsis), with no direct human clinical evidence demonstrating this specific pathway in vivo during social interaction.

0:56:09Emma Heming Willisoverstatedlow

Caregivers have a mortality rate that is 63% higher than non-caregivers of the same age.

"caregivers die at a rate that is 63% higher than people their age who are not caregivers." (said at 0:56:09)

The 63% figure comes from the 1999 Caregiver Health Effects Study (Schulz & Beach, JAMA), but it applies specifically to older spousal caregivers (aged 66 to 96) who reported experiencing mental or emotional strain, rather than all caregivers generally. In that study, caregivers who provided care without reporting strain did not have a statistically significant increase in mortality risk compared to noncaregiving controls (RR 1.08; 95% CI, 0.61–1.90).

  • partial: Caregiving as a risk factor for mortality: the Caregiver Health Effects Study. (JAMA 1999) · cited 3378x in the literature
    "After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, prevalent disease, and subclinical cardiovascular disease, participants who were providing care and experiencing caregiver strain had mortality risks that were 63% higher than noncaregiving controls (relative risk [RR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-2.65). Participants who were providing care but not experiencing strain (RR, 1.08; 95 % CI, 0.61-1.90) and those with a disabled spouse who were not providing care (RR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.73-2.58) did not have elevated adjusted mortality rates relative to the noncaregiving controls." (abstract, results, passage verified)
    pubmedfull study (doi)
3

Needs context

0:25:23Nicole Beurkensneeds contextlow

Loneliness is a driver of systemic inflammation and chronic health issues.

"How loneliness is a driver of inflammation and chronic health issues." (said at 0:25:23)

The assertion that loneliness drives systemic inflammation is supported by observational evidence for specific inflammatory markers, but requires qualification regarding causality and marker specificity. A systematic review and meta-analysis found a statistically significant association between loneliness and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in fully adjusted analyses, but found no association between loneliness and C-reactive protein (CRP) or fibrinogen (PMID: 32092313). Individual cohort data similarly demonstrate an independent association between higher loneliness and elevated IL-6 levels (PMID: 33932766). However, because the body of evidence is primarily observational and shows inconsistent links across different systemic inflammatory biomarkers, describing loneliness as a clear causal driver overstates the strength and consistency of the current scientific literature.

0:41:32David Perlmutter (host)needs contextlow

A 12-year study of 1,300 adults found that each daily serving of ultra-processed food increased the risk of developing Alzheimer's by 13%, and eating 10 or more servings per day increased risk three- to fourfold.

"a simple study that—well, it went on for 12 years, 1,300 adults, I think it was age 65, 70, and what they found was they looked at their consumption of ultra-processed foods. And what they found is for every serving as an average per day of ultra-processed foods, every handful of chips, whatever, every serving, the risk of developing Alzheimer's was increased by 13%. And for those people who had 10 or more servings per day, their risk was three to four times increase, three- to fourfold increase." (said at 0:41:32)

The speaker accurately references a 2025 prospective analysis of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort (1,375 adults aged 60+, followed for a mean of 12.7 years). However, the specific risk estimates applied only to participants younger than 68 years at baseline; no statistically significant association was observed in participants aged 68 and older. Among those under 68, each additional daily serving of ultra-processed food was associated with a 13% increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (HR 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03–1.25), and consuming 10 or more servings per day was associated with a 2.7-fold increase in risk (HR 2.71, 95% CI: 1.18–6.24).

0:50:53Emma Heming Willisneeds contextlow

There are approximately 120 different identified types of dementia.

"I've heard that there's 120 different types of dementia, and not all dementia is Alzheimer's." (said at 0:50:53)

The speaker's claim consists of two distinct assertions: that Alzheimer's is not the only type of dementia, and that there are approximately 120 different identified types of dementia. The first part of the statement (that not all dementia is Alzheimer's) is well-established medical consensus. Dementia is an umbrella term for cognitive decline, with Alzheimer's disease accounting for an estimated 60-80% of cases, while other major types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. However, the specific figure of "120 different types of dementia" is an imprecise or informal count found in some educational or advocacy literature (which aggregates numerous rare genetic, metabolic, infectious, toxic, and secondary causes of cognitive decline) rather than a formal, standard epidemiological or diagnostic classification. Standard clinical frameworks (such as the DSM-5 or ICD-11) classify dementia into a smaller set of primary neurodegenerative diseases and distinct underlying etiologies. No formal scientific publication establishing an official taxonomy of exactly or approximately 120 distinct dementia types was located; this does not prove the figure false, but reflects that the number relies on informal counting of underlying conditions rather than a standardized scientific classification.

11

Supported by research

0:15:01Nicole Beurkenssupportedmoderate

One in five women will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

"Uh, one in five women will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's." (said at 0:15:01)

Large prospective cohort data establish that the estimated remaining lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or dementia for a woman is approximately 1 in 5 (around 20%), compared to roughly 1 in 10 for men. In the Framingham Heart Study, which prospectively tracked participants and accounted for competing mortality risks, the estimated lifetime risk of dementia/Alzheimer's disease was 1 in 5 for women starting from midlife.

0:15:01Nicole Beurkenssupportedhigh

Two-thirds of the people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease are women.

"Two-thirds of the people diagnosed with Alzheimer's are women." (said at 0:15:01)

Large-scale epidemiological studies and comprehensive reviews consistently confirm that women account for approximately two-thirds (roughly 60% to 67%) of all diagnosed Alzheimer's disease cases. This difference is driven both by women's longer average life expectancy and by distinct sex-specific biological and hormonal risk factors.

0:18:41David Perlmutter (host)supportedmoderate

Stroboscopic 40 Hz flashing light can cause nausea and headaches in users.

"Most use what's called stroboscopic light, and that's the type of light that flashes. Then you can see the flashing, and that can cause nausea. It can cause headaches." (said at 0:18:41)

Visible stroboscopic light flickering (including at 40 Hz gamma frequencies) is known to induce visual discomfort, eyestrain, headaches, and nausea in susceptible individuals, particularly with prolonged exposure or higher luminance intensities. Because stroboscopic 40 Hz flashing can be strenuous and cause compliance issues due to these side effects, researchers have investigated alternative methods such as invisible spectral flicker (ISF) to improve tolerability while maintaining neural entrainment.

0:26:55David Perlmutter (host)supportedmoderate

Exercise enhances production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), leading to neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, reduced inflammation, and improved insulin function.

"Well, we get the idea that exercise enhances the production in the brain of BDNF. It's a trophic hormone, leads to neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, all the things, reduces inflammation, improves insulin functionality, all of that." (said at 0:26:55)

Exercise increases the synthesis and circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin that plays a key role in adult hippocampal neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. Broad scientific literature and reviews demonstrate that exercise-induced BDNF elevation, along with parallel metabolic and neuroimmune pathways, reduces neuroinflammation and improves insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis.

0:26:55David Perlmutter (host)supportedmoderate

Adequate sleep promotes BDNF production, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis while reducing inflammation and improving insulin sensitivity in the brain.

"We get the idea that exercise enhances the production in the brain of BDNF. It's a trophic hormone, leads to neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, all the things, reduces inflammation, improves insulin functionality, all of that. Sleep does the same thing." (said at 0:26:55)

Adequate physiological sleep supports brain health by preserving brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, facilitating hippocampal adult neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, and constraining neuroinflammation. Conversely, sleep disruption and deprivation are well-documented across preclinical and clinical literature to decrease BDNF expression, impair neurogenesis and synaptic remodeling, and trigger neuroinflammatory signaling pathways.

0:31:28Nicole Beurkenssupportedmoderate

Estradiol specifically is critical for the brain's ability to utilize glucose for energy, and reductions in estradiol during perimenopause and menopause impair brain energy metabolism.

"And glucose is that primary energy source for the brain. But what happens in perimenopause and into menopause, as those estradiol levels drop, it turns out estrogen, estradiol specifically, is really critical for the brain's ability to use glucose for energy. And so when we start to have those declines, and as those declines become more pronounced as we get closer to menopause, those estradiol reductions really impact our brain's ability to have the energy that it needs to function well." (said at 0:31:28)

Preclinical and human neuroimaging studies demonstrate that 17β-estradiol acts as a master regulator of cerebral glucose metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics. During the perimenopausal and menopausal transitions, dropping estrogen levels are associated with marked declines in the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglc) as measured by FDG-PET imaging, as well as reductions in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase activity, leading to an established regional hypometabolic bioenergetic phenotype.

0:39:57Emma Heming Willissupportedmoderate

Approximately 30% of frontotemporal dementia cases are genetic or familial, while 70% of cases are sporadic.

"I know that for, you know, 30%, it can be in genetics, you know, you can see this or within the family, and you can see it through a grandmother, a brother, and, you know, you can see sort of that lineage. And then for, you know, 70% of people with FTD, it's sporadic, meaning it just can happen" (said at 0:39:57)

Published reviews and epidemiological data on frontotemporal dementia (FTD) confirm that approximately 30% to 40% of FTD cases are familial or heritable, while the remaining 60% to 70% are sporadic.

0:41:10Emma Heming Willissupportedmoderate

Projections indicate that dementia cases worldwide are expected to triple by the year 2050.

"we're at a time where, you know, they say like 2050 dementia cases are going to triple." (said at 0:41:10)

Global Burden of Disease Study projections published in The Lancet Public Health estimate that the number of people living with dementia worldwide will increase nearly threefold, from approximately 57.4 million in 2019 to 152.8 million by 2050. This projected increase is largely driven by population growth and population ageing.

0:43:15David Perlmutter (host)supportedmoderate

A 2024 Lancet report found that addressing 14 modifiable risk factors could reduce Alzheimer's and dementia rates by 40% to 50%.

"the Lancet published in 2024 a study indicating that if we paid attention to 14 modifiable factors like reducing alcohol, wearing a helmet when we're bike riding, keeping our blood sugar under control, keeping our blood pressure under control, etc., 14 modifiable factors, that rates of Alzheimer's would not increase, but would be reduced by as much as 40 to 50%." (said at 0:43:15)

The 2024 Lancet Commission report on dementia prevention, intervention, and care updated its life-course model to include 14 modifiable risk factors (including less education, hearing loss, hypertension, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury, air pollution, social isolation, untreated vision loss, and high LDL cholesterol). The report calculated that globally, approximately 45% of dementia cases are attributable to these 14 modifiable risk factors combined (with country-specific population attributable fraction estimates typically ranging between 39% and 60%).

0:48:06Nicole Beurkenssupportedmoderate

It takes an average of 17 years for research findings to be implemented into clinical medical practice.

"that it takes a really long time, on average 17 years, for things to reach clinical practice once they've been shown in research." (said at 0:48:06)

The statement accurately cites a canonical metric in implementation science. The estimate that it takes an average of 17 years for scientific discoveries to be integrated into routine clinical practice originates from an influential synthesis by Balas and Boren (2000), which modeled the research-to-practice pipeline. Subsequent reviews of time lags in translational research have examined this 17-year figure across multiple clinical domains, noting that while the duration varies widely depending on the intervention type, technology, and study design, a ~17-year average lag is widely documented in the literature.

0:43:30David Perlmutter (host)supportedhigh

The annual healthcare cost associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia is approximately $360 billion.

"because here we are spending $360 billion right now. That's the number that's always quoted." (said at 0:43:30)

According to the Alzheimer's Association's 2024 Facts and Figures report, total payments for healthcare, long-term care, and hospice services for individuals aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias in the United States were estimated at $360 billion in 2024.

2

No source found (not proven false)

0:19:05David Perlmutter (host)unverifiedvery low

OptoCeutics' EVY LIGHT 40 Hz light device achieves a 94% adherence rate and produces significant improvements in mood, energy, focus, sleep, and memory.

"And that's why this company sees a 94% adherence rate, uh, and significant improvements across various metrics including mood, energy, focus, sleep, and memory. And, uh, the light is called the EVY LIGHT." (said at 0:19:05)

No published record matching the claim that OptoCeutics' EVY LIGHT device achieves a 94% adherence rate and produces significant improvements in mood, energy, focus, sleep, and memory was located; this does not prove the claim false. Published literature on OptoCeutics' invisible spectral flicker technology consists primarily of technical feasibility and electroencephalography studies measuring visual evoked potentials in healthy volunteers, alongside published protocols for ongoing clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease and major depression.

0:56:16Emma Heming Willisunverifiedvery low

Approximately 30% of caregivers die before the loved ones they care for.

"And there is this also this percentage that 30% of caregivers do die before their loved ones." (said at 0:56:16)

No published record matching the claim that approximately 30% of caregivers die before the loved ones they care for was located; this does not prove the claim false. While landmark observational studies (such as the Caregiver Health Effects Study) have evaluated mortality risks associated with caregiver strain, published epidemiological data verifying a specific 30% pre-deceased rate among informal caregivers were not identified.

Unverified means no publication matching the claim was located; it does not prove the claim false. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy - disputes from the people quoted are prioritized.