Your Brain On... Eating Meat
Your Brain On
Carnivorous diets have been woven into our history for millennia, but, with nutrition science advancing at an unprecedented pace over the past century... do we really still need to be eating meat? We live in a time of rising chronic disease, new longevity research, and a growing awareness of how our food choices shape our brain and our planet. We’re also constantly exposed to ‘nutrition tribalism’: social media communicators and influencers building identities (and livelihoods) around polarizing dietary debates. It’s a lot to navigate. So, we’re cutting straight to the data in this...
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Your Brain On... Nutrition (with Dr. Walter Willett)
Your Brain On
Everyone eats. It’s the one thing we all have in common. And yet, nutrition has become one of the most confusing, divisive, and misunderstood sciences in modern life. Low-fat. High-fat. Keto. Vegan. Paleo. Superfoods. For every study, there’s a headline that seems to say the opposite. In this episode, we turn to one of the most trusted voices in nutrition research to cut through the noise: Dr. Walter Willett, MD, DrPH. Dr. Willett, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has spent more than four decades studying how what we eat affects our...
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Your Brain On... Autism
Your Brain On
Autism isn’t new, but our understanding of it has changed dramatically. It’s now recognized as a broad neurodevelopmental spectrum that shapes how millions of people perceive, process, and interact with the world. In this episode, we explore what autism is AND isn’t, from its earliest signs in infancy to its deep genetic roots, and why misinformation about it continues to spread. We speak with three remarkable experts leading the field in early detection, genetics, and public education: DR. AMI KLIN, PhD, Director of the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University and a pioneer in early...
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Your Brain On... Diabetes
Your Brain On
Behind the staggering statistics on global diabetes prevalence are millions of individuals with different stories, struggles, and solutions. In this episode, we explore how diabetes affects your brain, body, and cognition, and how it can be prevented, managed, and (in many cases) reversed. We share some powerful personal stories from the clinic, bust some persistent food myths, and learn why diabetes is as much a neurological emergency as a metabolic one. Plus, we speak to three leading experts who are changing the way we treat diabetes: BRENDA DAVIS, RD: renowned dietitian and global...
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Your Brain On... Alzheimer’s (Mythbusting Special)
Your Brain On
Alzheimer’s disease is constantly surrounded by myths and misinformation. Let’s set the record straight. In this episode, we bust through the most persistent Alzheimer’s myths, with facts based on decades of clinical experience and cutting-edge research. Myths include: • “Alzheimer’s is inevitable in old age” • “It’s all genetic, and there’s nothing you can do” • “There’s no cure, so diagnosis is useless” • “Supplements and vitamins can prevent or cure Alzheimer’s” • “Statins and vaccines cause Alzheimer’s” Plus many others. We also share our...
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Your Brain On... Purpose (Sherzai Family Special)
Your Brain On
With big changes happening in the Sherzai family household, we sat down for a roundtable discussion about the concept that will shape what we’re all doing next: our purpose. In this ‘unplugged’ mid-season chat, we’re joined by our kids — Sophia and Alex! — for a wide-ranging conversation about our values and goals. How they form, how they falter, and how they evolve, in an increasingly noisy world. Together, we discuss: • The neurological and evolutionary importance of purpose • How a firm sense of purpose can help us develop better habits • The difference between...
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Your Brain On... Creatine
Your Brain On
Creatine for Alzheimer’s — let’s separate the hype from the hope. A new study has caused a stir in June 2025, but lead researcher Matthew K. Taylor told us: “ I don’t think I can recommend it to a patient that this is going to ultimately have some sort of cognitive influence.” We speak to Dr. Taylor and Dr. Russell Swerdlow in this episode, discussing: • Role of creatine in your brain, and why it matters for energy metabolism • What the 2025 study found (and why it wasn’t designed to prove effectiveness) • How scientific nuance gets lost in supplement hype • Why even...
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Your Brain On... Stress
Your Brain On
Stress isn’t just a threat to your brain. It’s also one of its best tools for growth. We often hear that stress is bad for your brain. And it can be. Chronic, unpredictable, and uncontrollable stress can damage cognition, harm memory, and accelerate aging. But we don’t talk enough about how the right kind of stress can actually improve brain function, grow your hippocampus, and help you feel happier and more purposeful. In this episode of Your Brain On..., we explore the science of stress with two brilliant guests: Dr. Sharon Bergquist, Yale- and Harvard-trained internal medicine...
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Your Brain On... Stroke
Your Brain On
Stroke is one of the biggest causes of death in the world — but also one of the most preventable. Up to 80–90% of strokes could be avoided with more awareness, resources, and a firmer focus on prevention over intervention. In this episode, we’re joined by renowned stroke neurologist and public health pioneer Dr. Olajide Williams, MD, MS, whose ‘Hip-Hop Stroke’ movement is a shining example of enacting culturally-sensitive community-wide healthcare change. In this episode, we discuss: • What actually causes a stroke (and how to spot one in seconds using the ‘act FAST’ acronym)...
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Your Brain On... The Food Industry
Your Brain On
How can we eat better when we’re constantly marketed to in a way that hijacks our attention and habits? To complement the incredible discussions we regularly have about brain-healthy nutrition, in this episode, we’ve having a very important conversation about how the food industry works against our best intentions, and how we can break through the psychological barriers they use to hold us back. We’re joined by Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, at New York University, whose name is practically synonymous with food policy: a pioneering...
info_outlineAutism isn’t new, but our understanding of it has changed dramatically.
It’s now recognized as a broad neurodevelopmental spectrum that shapes how millions of people perceive, process, and interact with the world.
In this episode, we explore what autism is AND isn’t, from its earliest signs in infancy to its deep genetic roots, and why misinformation about it continues to spread.
We speak with three remarkable experts leading the field in early detection, genetics, and public education:
DR. AMI KLIN, PhD, Director of the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University and a pioneer in early autism research, whose work shows autism can be identified in babies as young as two months old.
DR. JOSEPH BUXBAUM, PhD, Director of the Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai and a global leader in autism genetics, uncovering hundreds of genes linked to the condition.
DR. ANDREA LOVE, immunologist, microbiologist, and founder of ImmunoLogic, known for her clear, evidence-based communication about vaccines, immunity, and autism myths.
Together, we discuss:
• What autism really is, and how the definitions have evolved
• How it develops in infancy (and why early diagnosis can be so critical)
• The powerful genetic evidence behind autism
• The persistence of vaccine myths, and how misinformation spreads
• How technology like eye-tracking can detect autism early
• The rise of “profound autism” and what it means for families
• The future of genetics-based treatments and therapy
Whether you’re autistic yourself, a parent navigating a new diagnosis, or simply seeking understanding, we’re thrilled to share this extensive, in-depth episode with you.
This is... Your Brain On Autism.
SUPPORTED BY: the 2026 NEURO World Retreat. A 5-day journey through science, nature, and community, on the California coastline: https://www.neuroworldretreat.com/
‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.
‘Your Brain On... Autism’ • SEASON 6 • EPISODE 1
LINKS
Dr. Ami Klin at Emory University: https://ctsn.emory.edu/faculty/klin-ami.html
Dr. Ami Klin at Marcus Autism Center: https://www.marcus.org/about-marcus-autism-center/meet-our-leadership/ami-klin
Dr. Joseph Buxbaum at Mount Sinai: https://profiles.icahn.mssm.edu/joseph-d-buxbaum
Dr. Andrea Love’s website: https://www.immunologic.org/
Dr. Andrea Love on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrealove
REFERENCES
Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review. JAMA, 2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2800182
Is There a Bias Towards Males in the Diagnosis of Autism? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11065-023-09630-2
Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children's Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38592388/
Eye-Tracking–Based Measurement of Social Visual Engagement Compared With Expert Clinical Diagnosis of Autism. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2808996
Rare coding variation provides insight into the genetic architecture and phenotypic context of autism. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-022-01104-0
Rare coding variation illuminates the allelic architecture, risk genes, cellular expression patterns, and phenotypic context of autism. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.20.21267194v1
Andrew Wakefield and the fabricated history of the alleged vaccine-autism link. https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2024/04/29/andrew-wakefield-and-the-fabricated-history-of-the-alleged-vaccine-autism-link/
VACCINES & AUTISM
1. Major Cohort Studies
Hviid et al., 2019 – Annals of Internal Medicine
A nationwide study of 657,461 Danish children found no increased risk of autism in vaccinated children compared to unvaccinated peers — even among those with risk factors such as a sibling with autism. Ann Intern Med. 2019;170(8):513–520
Madsen et al., 2002 – New England Journal of Medicine
In 537,303 Danish children, researchers found no difference in autism rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, and no relationship with age, timing, or date of vaccination. NEJM. 2002;347:1477–1482
Jain et al., 2015 – Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
A U.S. cohort of 95,727 children — including those with siblings with autism — showed no link between MMR vaccination and autism risk, even in genetically predisposed children. JAMA. 2015;313(15):1534–1540
Madsen et al., 2003 – JAMA
A study of 467,450 Danish children found no relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism. JAMA. 2003;290(13):1763–1766
DeStefano et al., 2022 – Vaccine
A retrospective cohort of over 500,000 U.S. children with ASD found no increase in adverse events or worsening of autism-related symptoms following vaccination. Vaccine. 2022;40(16):2391–2398
2. Population-Level Epidemiologic Evidence
Taylor et al., 1999 – The Lancet
One of the earliest large epidemiological studies found autism prevalence was the same in vaccinated and unvaccinated children, and the age of onset was unrelated to the timing of MMR vaccination. Read: Lancet. 1999;353(9169):2026–2029
Institute of Medicine (U.S.) Immunization Safety Review, 2011
A global review of studies from the U.S., Denmark, Sweden, and the U.K. concluded there is no causal relationship between vaccination status and autism, and no plausible biological mechanism linking vaccines (including thimerosal) to ASD. Read: National Academies Press / PubMed 20669467
3. Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Taylor et al., 2014 – Vaccine
A comprehensive meta-analysis of 10 studies including over 1.2 million children found no association between vaccination and autism or ASD. Vaccine. 2014;32(29):3623–3629
Maglione et al., 2014 – Pediatrics
Review of 67 high-quality studies covering the full U.S. immunization schedule concluded that vaccines are safe, adverse events are rare, and there is no link to autism, type 1 diabetes, or other chronic conditions. Pediatrics. 2014;134(2):325–337
Parker et al., 2004 – Pediatrics
Systematic review of 10 primary studies examining thimerosal exposure found no relationship between vaccines and ASD. Authors noted that studies showing an association were methodologically flawed or biased, while robust studies consistently showed safety. Pediatrics. 2004;113(6):1904–1910
Offit & Hackett, 2003 – Clinical Infectious Diseases
Review of immunology and epidemiology concluded that claims that vaccines “overwhelm” or “damage” the immune system are not biologically plausible based on how the immune system actually functions. Clin Infect Dis. 2003;46(9):1450–1456