Your lifestyle is to blame
Hoss & Hopf in conversation with Dr. Nehls. A summary.
The latest episode of the Hoss & Hopf podcast featured Dr. Michael Nehls as a guest. As an expert in molecular genetics and immunology, he spoke about cognitive health, Alzheimer's and the impact of lifestyle and technology on our brains.
The conversation was full of valuable information, which we have summarized for you in this article.
Alzheimer's is often seen as an inevitable symptom of old age, but this is a misconception. Dr. Michael Nehls explains that Alzheimer's is strongly influenced by lifestyle - so it's not just about getting older. The hippocampus, the part of your brain responsible for memory and orientation, is particularly important. In the early stages of the disease, this area is affected, and the good thing is that with the right measures, the process can be halted or even reversed.
Another point that Dr. Nehls emphasizes is that Alzheimer's is not necessarily related to age. In his book “The Alzheimer's Lie”, he refutes the myth that ageing automatically leads to this disease. Rather, it is the modern, unhealthy lifestyle - stress, poor diet and, above all, excessive consumption of social media - that weakens the brain and paves the way for Alzheimer's.
The key to this?
Exercise and a healthy diet!
Regular physical activity can increase the volume of the hippocampus
by up to 2 % per year.
The hippocampus plays a central role in your memory and cognitive health. Dr. Nehls describes it as the “diary” of your brain - this is where your autobiographical memories are stored. It is also important for stress management and emotional resilience.
A fascinating detail: the hippocampus can actually form new nerve cells, even in adulthood. This process is called neurogenesis and takes place almost exclusively in the hippocampus. With the right mix of exercise, mental challenges and a healthy diet, you can actively promote the growth of these new nerve cells and thus keep your brain fit.
However, stress, a poor diet and the constant consumption of social media also work against this. These factors inhibit the growth of the hippocampus and accelerate cognitive decline in the long term. Alzheimer's used to be a rare disease, but today it is one of the most common causes of death in Europe - and according to Dr. Nehls, this is mainly due to modern lifestyles.
Our modern way of life, especially the excessive consumption of social media, has a greater impact on our brain health than you might think. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram flood our brains with constant, often irrelevant information. The result? A veritable overload that prevents our brain from thinking deeply and reflectively. Instead, it remains in a mode that only reacts to new stimuli.
Dr. Nehls explains that this constant flow of information stimulates the release of dopamine - the happiness hormone responsible for “reward” in the brain. Every time you scroll through the feeds, your brain gets a little dopamine boost. This causes you to seek out more and more stimuli, losing the ability to engage in deeper, more complex thoughts.
He also talks about the concepts of System 1 and System 2, which were originally described by psychologist Daniel Kahneman.
Due to the constant consumption of social media, many people get stuck in System 1. The deep, reflective thinking of System 2 is neglected, which leads to superficial, impulsive behavior in the long term. Dr. Nehls warns that this could put our society into a kind of “zombie mode” in which emotions and stimuli dominate, while analytical thinking becomes increasingly rare.
Dr. Nehls discusses in detail the importance of certain nutrients for brain health in the podcast. He particularly emphasizes the role of lithium, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Dr. Nehls emphasizes the importance of using your mental energy wisely and not wasting it on useless activities like excessive social media consumption. Mental energy is limited, and constant distraction depletes it before your brain can engage in deeper thought processes.
In the podcast, Dr. Nehls offers practical tips on how to actively strengthen your cognitive health. These suggestions are easy to implement and help keep your brain fit in the long run.
Dr. Nehls also discusses the broader societal consequences of cognitive decline, which he links to our modern lifestyle. A healthy society requires people who are capable of making informed and rational decisions. However, this ability is being weakened by constant social media consumption and the resulting mental overload.
Dr. Nehls and the hosts of the podcast, Philip Hopf and Kiarash Hossainpour, also share personal experiences and insights. Dr. Nehls emphasizes that his own mental health has always been particularly important to him. Fearing cognitive decline, he deliberately avoided drugs and instead focused on a healthy lifestyle. His experience shows: With the right measures, you can actively protect your brain.
Philip and Kiara also reflect on their use of social media and admit that they sometimes find themselves spending too much time on these platforms. They emphasize how important it is to be aware of these dangers and take measures to avoid overloading your brain.
The conversation with Dr. Nehls makes it clear that Alzheimer's and dementia are not inevitable signs of old age. They are strongly linked to the lifestyle you lead. With the right measures - such as exercise, a healthy diet, taking lithium, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids as well as a conscious approach to social media - you can actively protect your brain and prevent cognitive decline. It's up to you to keep your brain fit!
Dr. Michael Nehls holds a doctorate in medicine and is a habilitated molecular geneticist who works intensively in the fields of immunology, genetic research and cognitive health.
He has raised an important voice for the human immune system during the corona pandemic and is considered an expert on the link between lifestyle and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. In his books, including “The Alzheimer's Lie” and “The Lithium Conspiracy”, he shows how exercise, diet and certain nutrients can protect and even regenerate our brains.
