Do life-saving statins secretly damage your brain? This episode tackles the controversial link between statins and dementia head-on. I'll explore the origins of the fear, from patient anecdotes to plausible science, and weigh it against the highest-quality evidence from large clinical trials. We'll separate the myths from the facts to reach a clear, evidence-based verdict on how these drugs truly affect your brain.

Sign up for my free newsletter to receive analysis, reviews, and my interpretations of the most recent research to help you stay active for life.

Click Here: https://www.jrennickemd.com

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Intro

01:07 - Where This Idea Came From

04:55 - The Possible Mechanism Cause of Symptoms

07:31 - The Scientific Evidence for Harm

11:20 - The Evidence Against The Claims

14:20 - Putting It All Together: A Unifying Framework

18:57 - Final Thoughts/ Guidance

23:32 - Outro

SELECTED REFERENCES:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12885101/

https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-6887.1000141

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362574285_Mendelian_Randomization_Study_of_PCSK9_and_HMG-CoA_Reductase_Inhibition_and_Cognitive_Function

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5487843/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5487843/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5487843/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5487843/

https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2021.04.075

Disclaimer This podcast is for entertainment, education, and informational purposes only. The topics discussed should not solely be used to diagnose, treat , or prevent any condition. The information presented here was created with an evidence based approach, but you please keep in mind that science is always changing and at the time of listening to this there may some new data that makes this information incomplete or inaccurate. Always seek the advice of your personal physician or qualified health care provider for questions regarding any medical condition.

Ever wonder what your blood pressure numbers really mean? With different guidelines from the US and Europe, it can be incredibly confusing. In this episode, I'll cut through the noise, explaining the different standards, how to measure your BP accurately, and what's truly considered "optimal" for your cardiovascular health. We'll break down the authoritative guide on what your numbers really mean for you.

Stop stressing over every health detail & start living! My FREE 'Necessary Nine' PDF cuts through the noise, giving you the essential things you need for a healthy life.

➡️ Download Here: https://www.jrennickemd.com/necessaryninepdf

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:47 - Systolic vs Diastolic Blood Pressures
02:04 - How To Measure Blood Pressure
04:17 - Monitoring Blood Pressure Outside the Clinic
06:16 - US Blood Pressure Guidelines
08:15 - Medication Isn’t Always The Answer
09:54 - The European Guidelines
11:41 - Why The Guidelines Differ
14:20 - So What Is “Normal” Blood Pressure?
16:11 - BP Goals for Different Ages
17:49 - Special Considerations for Specific Conditions
19:08 - Why We Actually Care About Blood Pressure
20:39 - The Risks of Low Blood Pressure
22:43 - Lifestyle Interventions for BP Management
24:45 - Medications for BP Management
26:35 - Takeaways
27:03 - Outro

SELECTED REFERENCES:
[https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/45/38/3912/7741010?login=false#503300301](https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/45/38/3912/7741010?login=false#503300301)
[https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.15026](https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.15026)
[https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/hyp.0000000000000065](https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/hyp.0000000000000065)
[https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/344424/9789240033986-eng.pdf](https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/344424/9789240033986-eng.pdf)
[https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.124.24173](https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.124.24173)

*Disclaimer*

This podcast is for entertainment, education, and informational purposes only.
The topics discussed should not solely be used to diagnose, treat , or prevent any condition.
The information presented here was created with an evidence based approach, but you please keep in mind that science is always changing and at the time of listening to this there may some new data that makes this information incomplete or inaccurate.
Always seek the advice of your personal physician or qualified health care provider for questions regarding any medical condition.

The old "try lifestyle first" model for treating obesity is officially over. For years, we've treated obesity differently than other chronic diseases, often blaming a lack of willpower. In this podcast, I break down the new guidance from the American College of Cardiology and explore why we need to treat obesity as the complex biological disease it is, using powerful new medications synergistically with lifestyle changes right from the start.

Stop stressing over every health detail & start living! My FREE 'Necessary Nine' PDF cuts through the noise, giving you the essential things you need for a healthy life.

➡️ Download Here: https://www.jrennickemd.com/necessaryninepdf

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:44 - The Scale of the Problem
02:21 - Diagnosing Obesity
05:19 - How Biology Affects Weight Loss
07:33 - How Lifestyle Only Tends to Fail
10:18 - A New Tool: Medications
11:32 - Effectiveness of Incretin Therapies
13:11 - The SELECT Trial
15:18 - Side Effects
18:24 - The ACC’s New Proposed Model
21:18 - Biggest Issues Preventing Change
23:22 - Takeaways
25:21 - Outro

SELECTED REFERENCES:
Gilbert, O., Gulati, M., Gluckman, T. J., Kittleson, M. M., Rikhi, R., Saseen, J. J., & Tchang, B. G. (2025). 2025 Concise Clinical Guidance: An ACC Expert Consensus Statement on Medical Weight Management for Optimization of Cardiovascular Health. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.05.024](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.05.024)

*Disclaimer*

This podcast is for entertainment, education, and informational purposes only.
The topics discussed should not solely be used to diagnose, treat , or prevent any condition.
The information presented here was created with an evidence based approach, but you please keep in mind that science is always changing and at the time of listening to this there may some new data that makes this information incomplete or inaccurate.
Always seek the advice of your personal physician or qualified health care provider for questions regarding any medical condition.

Are plants actively trying to kill us? In this episode, I break down a popular video making that exact claim. I'll walk you through my thought process for analyzing these big statements, look at the evidence (or lack thereof), and give you the nuance that's often missing from these discussions. My goal is to help you become a more informed consumer of health information.

Stop stressing over every health detail & start living! My FREE 'Necessary Nine' PDF cuts through the noise, giving you the essential things you need for a healthy life.

➡️ Download Here: https://www.jrennickemd.com/necessaryninepdf

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
01:21 - Thesis Statement
02:21 - Brussell Sprouts Carcinogens
05:45 - Professor Doesn’t Eat Plants
07:49 - Plants and Carcinogens
10:47 - Lectins and Satiety/Weight Loss
13:01 - Lectins and Parkinson’s
16:15 - Lectins and Leaky Gut
19:15 - Mikhaila Peterson Story
21:28 - Cyanogenic Compounds in 3rd World Countries
23:50 - Are Almonds Going to Kill You?
25:25 - Seed Oils
27:41 - Photosensitivity
29:17 - Can You Get All Your Nutrients With Meat?
32:14 - Hormesis
34:07 - Takeaway Points
36:05 - Outro

SELECTED REFERENCES:
https://youtu.be/j1cqNDDG4aA?si=TWNeo115yi0z09tZ

*Disclaimer*

This podcast is for entertainment, education, and informational purposes only.
The topics discussed should not solely be used to diagnose, treat , or prevent any condition.
The information presented here was created with an evidence based approach, but you please keep in mind that science is always changing and at the time of listening to this there may some new data that makes this information incomplete or inaccurate.
Always seek the advice of your personal physician or qualified health care provider for questions regarding any medical condition.

Stop stressing over every health detail & start living! My FREE 'Necessary Nine' PDF cuts through the noise, giving you the essential things you need for a healthy life.
➡️ Download Here: https://www.jrennickemd.com/necessaryninepdf

What if a single blood test could reveal a hidden, lifelong risk for heart disease that affects one in five people? This risk factor, Lipoprotein(a), is almost entirely determined by your genes and doesn't improve with diet or exercise. In this episode, I break down everything you need to know about Lp(a) and why asking your doctor for this simple, once-in-a-lifetime test could be a game-changer for your health.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction
00:44 - What is Lp(a)?
01:30 - The Genetics of Lp(a)
02:27 - 4: Kringle Repeats
03:20 - 5: Epidemiology
04:06 - 6: Global Impact of Lp(a)
04:50 - 7: Why It Actually Causes Increased Risk
05:50 - 8: Atherogenic Pathway
06:31 - 9: Lp(a) and Plaque Stability
07:22 - 10: Pro Inflammatory Pathway
07:57 - 11: Local Inflammation Doesn’t Always Mean Systemic Inflammation
09:03 - 12: Pro Thrombotic Pathway
10:04 - 13: Clinlical Manifestations
10:48 - 14: Screening Recommendations
11:37 - 15: Measuring Lp(a)
13:20 - 16: Defining High Risk Lp(a)
14:32 - 17: Current Management Principles
15:11 - 18: Lowering LDL
17:08 - 19: Statins, Ezetimibe, and Bempedoic Acid
18:25 - 20: PCSK9i and Omega 3’s
19:31 - 21: Therapies to Avoid
20:39 - 22: RNA Based Treatments
21:17 - 23: Antisense Oligonucleotides- Pelacarsen
22:00 - 24: siRNAs- Olpasiran
22:50 - 25: Muvalaplin- An Oral RNA Option
23:28 - 26: Lp(a)/Diabetes Paradox
24:17 - 27: High Risk Populations
25:18 - 28: Key Unanswered Questions
25:53 - 29: Key Takeaways
26:36 - 30: The Future

SELECTED REFERENCES:
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18050753
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacl.2024.03.001
https://doi.org/10.37532/1755-5310.2023.15(S16).395
https://doi.org/10.1161/ATV.0000000000000147
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpc.2024.100651

*Disclaimer* This podcast is for entertainment, education, and informational purposes only. The topics discussed should not solely be used to diagnose, treat , or prevent any condition. The information presented here was created with an evidence based approach, but you please keep in mind that science is always changing and at the time of listening to this there may some new data that makes this information incomplete or inaccurate. Always seek the advice of your personal physician or qualified health care provider for questions regarding any medical condition.

Could one of the most effective ways to boost survival after a colon cancer diagnosis be exercise? In this episode, I dive deep into the groundbreaking CHALLENGE Trial, a landmark study that explored how a structured exercise program impacts survival rates for colon cancer patients. We'll break down the study's surprising results, including a 28% relative reduction in disease-free survival events and a 37% relative reduction in the risk of death, and discuss what this could mean for the future of cancer care.

Want a checklist to know the most important areas of health you need to take care of?
Click Here: https://www.jrennickemd.com/necessaryninepdf

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:34 - Old Evidence
01:40 - CHALLENGE Trial Intro
02:51 - Population, Invervention, Comparators, Outcomes
04:30 - Healthier Survivor Problem
05:22 - No True “Control” Group
06:55 - Main Results
08:08 - Fitness Outcomes
10:01 - Safety and Side Effects
11:07 - What Explains These Results?
12:03 - Comparing These Results With Older Results
13:27 - New Standard of Care?
15:03 - Future Areas of Research
16:11 - My Takeaways
17:50 - Outro

SELECTED REFERENCES:
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2502760

*Disclaimer* This podcast is for entertainment, education, and informational purposes only. The topics discussed should not solely be used to diagnose, treat , or prevent any condition. The information presented here was created with an evidence based approach, but you please keep in mind that science is always changing and at the time of listening to this there may some new data that makes this information incomplete or inaccurate. Always seek the advice of your personal physician or qualified health care provider for questions regarding any medical condition.

colon cancer, exercise, cancer survival, CHALLENGE Trial, oncology, cancer research, disease-free survival, structured exercise program, physical activity, cancer treatment, cancer care, evidence-based medicine

In this podcast, I break down the most effective supplements to optimize your recovery, separating the science from the hype. We'll dive into the foundational pillars of recovery and then take a deep look at everything from protein and carbs to creatine, HMB, tart cherry juice, and more, so you can make informed decisions to support your training.

Sign up for my free newsletter to receive analysis, reviews, and my interpretations of the most recent research to help you stay active for life.

Click Here: https://www.jrennickemd.com

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Intro

00:35 - Recovery Pillars

03:43 - Protein

05:39 - Whey Protein

07:52 - Casein Protein

09:28 - Plant Protein and Protein Blends

11:57 - Carbohydrates

15:20 - Protein and Carbs Together

16:57 - Creatine

20:08 - HMB

22:07 - Tart Cherry Juice

24:02 - Omega 3’s

25:56 - Magnesium

27:22 - BCAAs

30:20 - L-Glutamine

31:42 - Tiers of Recovery

35:19 - Takeaways

37:25 - Outro

SELECTED REFERENCES:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5852829/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8228369/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9306613/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11918606/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8565244/

Disclaimer

This podcast is for entertainment, education, and informational purposes only. The topics discussed should not solely be used to diagnose, treat , or prevent any condition. The information presented here was created with an evidence based approach, but you please keep in mind that science is always changing and at the time of listening to this there may some new data that makes this information incomplete or inaccurate. Always seek the advice of your personal physician or qualified health care provider for questions regarding any medical condition.

Have you ever felt like you've hit a plateau at the gym? What if I told you there’s a biological handbrake in your cells that’s actively stopping your muscles from growing? In this episode, we're diving into the science of myostatin, the protein that puts a ceiling on your muscle potential, and how new drugs in development could change medicine and fitness forever.

Sign up for my free newsletter to receive analysis, reviews, and my interpretations of the most recent research to help you stay active for life.
Click Here: https://www.jrennickemd.com

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:44 - What Is Myostatin?
01:51 - How Myostatin Limites Muscle Growth
03:41 - The Origins of Myostatin Interest
05:37 - Myostatin and Weight Loss
07:07 - Regeneron’s Recent Study
08:37 - COURAGE Trial
10:39 - Myostatin and Sarcopenia
12:14 - Myostatin and Muscular Dystrophy
13:02 - Myostatin and Spinal Muscular Atrophy
14:14 - Eli Lilly’s Drug
15:24 - Myostatin for sports
17:35 - Safety Considerations
19:29 - Key Takeaways
21:10 - Outro

SELECTED REFERENCES:
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circresaha.116.308391
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1707925114
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6909929/

https://jamanetwork-com.usu01.idm.oclc.org/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774903
https://newsroom.regeneron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/interim-results-ongoing-phase-2-courage-trial-confirm-potential

Disclaimer

This podcast is for entertainment, education, and informational purposes only. The topics discussed should not solely be used to diagnose, treat , or prevent any condition. The information presented here was created with an evidence based approach, but you please keep in mind that science is always changing and at the time of listening to this there may some new data that makes this information incomplete or inaccurate. Always seek the advice of your personal physician or qualified health care provider for questions regarding any medical condition