EFR 689: Operating Manual for Human Performance, the Best Form of Exercise for the Brain, and How to Prevent Stroke, Cardiovascular Disease and Alzheimer's with Louisa Nicola

Neurophysiologist and brain coach, Louisa Nicola, is back to talk about how to optimize brain health and performance with exercise. Louisa sheds light on why exercise is so important for brain function, the best form of exercise for the brain, and how to take control over your brain health to prevent stroke, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

If there’s one episode that will persuade the most sedentary person to finally prioritize exercise in their life, it’s this one. Louisa shares some incredible facts about the brain, disease, and exercise that will make you less scared of disease and more empowered to take care of your body.

Louisa Nicola is a neurophysiologist, brain coach to elite athletes, and Founder of Neuro Athletics, a full-service neuroscience diagnostic testing company. 

 

Follow Louisa Nicola @louisanicola_

Follow Chase on Instagram @chase_chewning

Follow him on Twitter @chasechewning

 

Key Highlights

  • To optimize your performance at work and consistently operate at your best, you need to think of yourself as an athlete. An athlete bases their life on the tactics of their sport (their job), the technical side, the sports psychology side, nutrition, and strength. “If you base your life on those pillars, the ROI is exponential,” Louisa says.
  • What does neuroscience currently say about the benefits of exercise on brain health?
  • Louisa explains the difference between exercise and physical activity, noting why resistance training is better for the brain than aerobics. She details a study that shows a reversal in mild cognitive impairment (pre-dementia) from just six months of exercise alone.
  • You are in control of your brain health. Lifestyle interventions give you the control over developing/preventing stroke, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. 
  • Start to assess yourself. The #1 thing that is controllable, yet can collapse the capillaries in your brain, is consistent high blood pressure (hypertension), which can decrease brain function. Do you check your blood pressure regularly? 
  • Louisa shares why she’s so intrigued by vascular health right now and the crucial role your veins play in brain health.

Episode resources:

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