Your Brain Health Problems May Be Starting Decades Earlier Than You Think With Eric Collett

In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, I sit down with brain health and dementia expert Eric Collett to explore a question I think a lot of us would rather avoid: What if the problems we experience in our brain, energy, focus, and mental health today are warning signs of something deeper? Eric explains why conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s can begin developing decades before obvious symptoms appear, and why things like brain fog, low energy, declining productivity, gut health issues, and memory changes deserve more attention than we often give them. We also unpack Eric’s powerful “hardware vs. software” analogy: sometimes we keep trying to learn more, work harder, or become more productive when the real problem is that our underlying biology needs attention.

What makes this conversation especially powerful is Eric’s personal story. After 16 years working in assisted living and memory care, he reached a breaking point when he had to leave his family’s evening plans to return to work with a dying resident. That night, he looked in the mirror and realized he was overweight, exhausted, brain foggy, chronically stressed, and ignoring the warning lights in his own life. Within days, he decided to leave his career and build what became A Mind for All Seasons. We talk about his four-part process—measure, learn, apply, and adjust—and why information alone isn't enough to change your health. Ultimately, this episode is about taking care of your brain before you desperately need to, recognizing that common doesn't always mean normal, and taking the next right step toward having the energy, clarity, and capacity to live the life you actually want.