Brain Health with Dr. Nissen

Latest Episodes:

#38: Deep Sleep - why is it important and how can you boost it? Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

Deep sleep, also called slow-wave sleep, is the most restorative stage of the sleep cycle. During this phase, brain activity slows into synchronized, high-amplitude waves, allowing the body and mind to recover. Research shows that deep sleep is essential for mental clarity, memory consolidation, and learning: it helps the brain organize and store new information, clear metabolic waste, and reset neural circuits for optimal performance the next day. Studies also link higher quality deep sleep to improved focus, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. In short, deep sleep is the foundation for both cognitive resilience and long-term brain health.

Join me today in my discussion with Dr. Paul Muchowski from Defined Sleep, as he discusses research on deep sleep.

#37: ADHD: What is it? How is it diagnosed? Feb 03, 2024

Show notes

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is: A neurobiological disorder that presents in childhood with the core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulse control problems. The symptoms are present across multiple domains: social, domestic, academic, as well as cognitive and behavioral functioning. Pathogenesis: not very well understood. Deficits are in area of: - Frontal-subcortical areas dealing with executive function - May also involve working memory impairments and information processing speed deficits Neuroimaging shows structural brain abnormalities in ADHD: - smaller volumes of frontal cortex, cerebellum, and subcortical structures. - Abnormalities in the prefrontal and parietal circuits. Early studies suggest that the subcortical abnormalities noted in childhood normalize in adulthood but that cortical abnormalities may last. Studies suggest hypoactivity of dopamine and norepinephrine in the frontal-subcortical circuits contributes to presentation. Genetically, risk of ADHD in parents or siblings is increased 2-8x and twin studies show heritability of 76%. ADHD is a syndrome with two core symptom categories: hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention.

One potential intervention for attention problems is to get rid of digital distractions. I use Zenze - a robust app-blocking app which allows you to block any apps or content you'd like according to whatever schedule you'd like. You can block social media apps during work hours or video streaming at night - whatever you need. Personally, I use it to block all social media/video/entertainment apps at nighttime to prevent bedtime binging. Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zenze-phone-time-limit/id6447419790https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.atmana.zenze&pcampaignid=web_share Brain Health with Dr. Nissen brings you advancements in medicine, #neuroscience, psychiatry, and #nutrition to help you live a better life. Dr. Nissen’s expert interviews reveal new, evidence-based approaches to enhancing mental health, sharpening cognition, and optimizing performance. With topics such as #Alzheimer’s disease, #neuromodulation, #depression, the Mediterranean #Diet, and #psychedelics, this show is sure to expose listeners to new topics on the frontiers of medicine and neuroscience. Join our community at DrNissen.com Subscribe to the podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Dr. Nissen is a medical doctor (M.D.) and therapist. This show is intended for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not substitute personalized medical advice. By listening to this podcast, no doctor-patient relationship is established. Please speak with your doctor before attempting any medical or major diet and lifestyle changes. Check out Dr. Nissen's children's book on empathy and emotional intelligence, Emily Empathy! http://bit.ly/emilyempathy #depression #mentalhealth #wellness #health #healthylifestyle #medicine #treatment #medical #healthcare #psychotherapy #adhd #adhdmom #executivefunction

#36: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) with Michael Perlis, PhD Oct 24, 2022

Show notes

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an evidence-based intervention for insomnia. Please enjoy this discussion with Dr. Michael Perlis.

Dr. Perlis is internationally known for his work in the area of Behavioral Sleep Medicine (BSM). He is a co-author of the first textbook in this field and he is the senior author of a published CBT-I treatment manual and a larger text summarizing all BSM treatments. The CBT-I manual (Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Insomnia: A Session-by-Session Guide (New York: Springer/Verlag) has been translated into Spanish, Italian, Korean, and Chinese. In addition, his program offers an Advanced CBT-I Course (also taught by Drs. ‘Posner and Ellis), individual and group supervision, a BSM mini-fellowship, and (via CBT-I Educational Products) a video mock case vignette DVD. Dr. Perlis has published, as an author or co-author, more than 150 articles and chapters on sleep research-related topics and he serves on the editorial boards of Sleep, the Journal of Sleep Research, the journal of Sleep Medicine Research, the journal of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, and the Journal of Health Psychology. Dr. Perlis has also served as a member, or chair, of several committees and task forces of the Sleep Research Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and he was the assistant chair for the training program of the SRS for five years. Finally, Dr. Perlis was one of the five organizing and founding members of the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine (SBSM). He also served as the SBSM’s first president (2010-2011).

Brain Health with Dr. Nissen brings you advancements in medicine, #neuroscience, psychiatry, and #nutrition to help you live a better life. Dr. Nissen’s expert interviews reveal new, evidence-based approaches to enhancing mental health, sharpening cognition, and optimizing performance. With topics such as #Alzheimer’s disease, #neuromodulation, #depression, the Mediterranean #Diet, and #psychedelics, this show is sure to expose listeners to new topics on the frontiers of medicine and neuroscience.

Join our community at DrNissen.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/drnissen

Subscribe to the podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brain-health-with-dr-nissen/id1510757864

Dr. Nissen is a medical doctor (M.D.) and therapist. This show is intended for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not substitute personalized medical advice. Please speak with your doctor before attempting any medical or major diet and lifestyle changes.

Check out Dr. Nissen's children's book on empathy and emotional intelligence, Emily Empathy! http://bit.ly/emilyempathy

#depression #mentalhealth #wellness #health #healthylifestyle #medicine #treatment #medical #healthcare #psychotherapy #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy

#35: Sleep Better with CBT-I: The Evidence-Based Treatment for Insomnia Sep 12, 2022

Show notes

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an evidence-based approach to insomnia. Here is Doctor Nissen's description of the CBT-I methodology.

Join our community at DrNissen.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/drnissen

Subscribe to the podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brain-health-with-dr-nissen/id1510757864

Check out Dr. Nissen's children's book on empathy and emotional intelligence, Emily Empathy! http://bit.ly/emilyempathy

#depression #mentalhealth #wellness #health #healthylifestyle #medicine #treatment #medical #healthcare #psychotherapy #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy

#34: Diet, Fitness, and Mental Health: metabolic psychiatry with Rodrigo Mansur, MD Aug 12, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Mansur is a staff psychiatrist at the University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Mansur completed his medical degree at the Universidade Federal de São Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP/EPM), Brazil. He received his Psychiatry residency training and PhD at UNIFESP/EPM; and Fellowship training in Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Mansur’s research has focused primarily on investigations of etiological processes of mood disorders, using a combination of clinical and neurobiological methods, and the development and evaluation of mechanistically novel interventions for these conditions. Current targets of interest include the role of brain insulin signaling, which his team has explored using innovative approaches, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and modern biomarkers techniques. Dr. Mansur also leads a clinical trials unit, designing and executing studies testing the potential of anti-diabetes and weight loss agents in the treatment of depression and bipolar disorder.

Podcast Outline:

1. Dr. Mansur's background

2. What is meant by metabolic illness?

3. What is meant by inflammation?

4. Metabolic-inflammatory impacts on mental illness?

5. Practical tips moving forward (weight and hemoglobin a1c goals)?

6. How to learn more about Dr. Mansur and his work?

Join our community at DrNissen.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/drnissen

Subscribe to the podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brain-health-with-dr-nissen/id1510757864

Dr. Nissen is a medical doctor (M.D.) and therapist.

This show is intended for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not substitute personalized medical advice. Please speak with your doctor before attempting any medical or major diet and lifestyle changes.

Check out Dr. Nissen's children's book on empathy and emotional intelligence, Emily Empathy! http://bit.ly/emilyempathy

#depression #mentalhealth #wellness #health #healthylifestyle #medicine #treatment #medical #healthcare #psychotherapy #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy

#33: The Problem of Porn: Society's Hidden Addiction, How Porn Acts Like a Drug, What Helps, and Steps to Recovery Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

The age of the smartphone has created an unprecedented problem for society: limitless access to pornography. For the first time, young adults are coming to age after a lifetime of exposure to pornography, resulting in porn addiction, relationship problems, erectile dysfunction, and paraphilias (abnormal sexual behaviors). In this episode, we'll explore how porn acts like drugs, can create addiction, what helps, and what steps one can take for recovery.

Join our community at DrNissen.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/drnissen

Subscribe to the podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brain-health-with-dr-nissen/id1510757864

Check out Dr. Nissen's new children's book on empathy and emotional intelligence, Emily Empathy! http://bit.ly/emilyempathy

#depression #mentalhealth #wellness #health #healthylifestyle #medicine #treatment #medical #healthcare #psychotherapy #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy

#32: Schizophrenia: Is it related to marijuana? What is schizophrenia? How is it treated? Aug 24, 2021

Show notes

#Schizophrenia is a very misunderstood mental illness. It is not "split personality" (or dissociative identity disorder), but rather a chronic, long-standing (6+ month) pattern of delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behavior, etc. There are #genetic risks to developing the illness and #cannabis likely increases risk. According to the "Dunedin" study, Archives of General Psychiatry 2000, those who used cannabis at age 15 were 4x more likely to develop schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder.

Join our community at DrNissen.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/drnissen

Subscribe to the podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brain-health-with-dr-nissen/id1510757864

Check out Dr. Nissen's new children's book on empathy and emotional intelligence, Emily Empathy! http://bit.ly/emilyempathy

#depression #mentalhealth #wellness #health #healthylifestyle #medicine #treatment #medical #healthcare #psychotherapy #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy

#31: Ketamine - A Legal Psychedelic? Discussion with Dr. Steven Mandel and Sam Mandel Jul 29, 2021

Show notes

Doctors treating depression see promise in #ketamine, a cheap drug already approved for anesthesia. Some say it is the only legal #psychedelic.

Steven L. Mandel, M.D., is an internationally recognized expert and pioneer in the use of ketamine infusion therapy to treat mental health disorders and chronic pain. Dr. Mandel has more than 40 years of experience utilizing ketamine as a board-certified anesthesiologist. He also earned his master’s degree in psychology. He is the founder and president of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles, a leading ketamine infusion therapy clinic in Southern California: https://ketamineclinics.com/

Sam Mandel is co-founder and chief operating officer of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles, a leading provider of ketamine infusion therapy for the treatment of mental health disorders and chronic pain conditions.

Join our community at DrNissen.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/drnissen

Subscribe to the podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brain-health-with-dr-nissen/id1510757864

Check out Dr. Nissen's new children's book on empathy and emotional intelligence, Emily Empathy! http://bit.ly/emilyempathy

#depression #mentalhealth #wellness #health #healthylifestyle #medicine #treatment #medical #healthcare #psychotherapy #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy

#30: Men's Mental Health with Owen Marcus from Evryman Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

Owen Marcus is the cofounder of Evryman, one of the world's largest men's mental health organizations. Owen dove into men’s work in 1995 because he wanted more from life. In 2005, he wanted more from men’s work, so he began developing what became Evryman’s unique approach. Owen is an author, blogger, speaker, coach, and trainer for men’s leadership.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/drnissen

Subscribe to the podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brain-health-with-dr-nissen/id1510757864

Check out Dr. Nissen's new children's book on empathy and emotional intelligence, Emily Empathy! http://bit.ly/emilyempathy

#29: Psychedelic Update! How MDMA-assisted therapy could treat PTSD with Rick Doblin May 29, 2021

Show notes

Research into MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) shows impressive results.

See my ABC News article on the trial results here

Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his Master's thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients. His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment, which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences. He also conducted a thirty-four-year follow-up study to Timothy Leary's Concord Prison Experiment. Rick studied with Dr. Stanislav Grof and was among the first to be certified as a Holotropic Breathwork practitioner. His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise healthy people, and eventually to become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. He founded MAPS in 1986.

Here is my interview with Rick about MAPS' latest Phase III Clinical Trial for MDMA-assisted therapy as a treatment for PTSD. In the trial, they enrolled 90 participants and randomly assigned 46 to receive MDMA-assisted therapy, while the other 44 participants were given a placebo with identical talk therapy. This therapy went on for 18 weeks. Ultimately, 67% of those in the MDMA-assisted therapy group no longer had PTSD after three sessions, compared to 32% in the placebo with therapy group.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/drnissen

Subscribe to the podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brain-health-with-dr-nissen/id1510757864

Check out Dr. Nissen's new children's book on empathy and emotional intelligence, Emily Empathy! http://bit.ly/emilyempathy

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