From time to time we feature specific podcast episodes we love. We’ve fallen a bit behind on our pod reports in 2020, but are picking things back up with this special spotlight on Covid Longhaulers and the brain health concerns many of us must learn about managing now…

THE POD: The Groomed LA Podcast by Emily Wagner, Season 3 Episode 9, Brain Biohacking For Covid Longhaulers.

Emily speaks with leading neuroscientist Dr. Kristen Willeumier, who wrote the first book outlining a strategy for Covid longhaulers: Biohack Your Brain: How to Boost Cognitive Health, Performance & Power, to discuss Covid long hauler syndrome and ways to take better care of our brain health to reduce our susceptibility to Covid and the diseases of aging.

This fifty-minute conversation is an essential listen as we navigate life post-Covid. Dr. Willeumier, a neuroscientist with expertise in the fields of psychiatry and neuroimaging, served as the Director of Neuroimaging and Clinical Research for the Amen Clinics, where she led efforts utilizing imaging technologies to understand the neurobiological issues underlying psychiatric disorders.

Studies show the long-term effects of Covid on mental health include increased PTSD, depression and anxiety — not to mention the effects of a near-global quarantine with little or no social interaction.

THE MESSAGE:
For those looking for solutions to optimize brain function, Dr. Willeumier shares her experience from a clinical setting on the most effective ways to do so. She gives advice on very accessible, practical lifestyle upgrades she has used with clients and professional athletes who have been transformed through these practices.

Research demonstrates that lifestyle medicine is the most important way to effectively protect the brain and prevent the diseases of aging. Dr. Willeumier emphasizes that brain health strategies should not only be adopted by those with neurological or psychiatric issues, but they should also be embraced by each one of us, as early in life as possible.

WHY WE LOVED IT:
There are natural approaches available to heal and restore brain function. As she says in the podcast, brain health will take on a new meaning in the post-Covid era, particularly for long haulers. We love that she offers practical upgrades, which, if practiced consistently, can enhance brain function and slow cognitive decline. What is so inspirational about her message is that living a brain-healthy lifestyle will positively impact your emotional health and well-being, enabling you to lead a more joyful, vibrant, productive life.