The long lasting damage of the Women’s Health Initiative's hormone replacement study

# 252 ‒ Latest insights on Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, exercise, nutrition, and fasting with Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D.

In the full episode, we discuss:

- Alzheimer’s disease: Rhonda’s evolved thinking on neurodegenerative diseases
- The breakdown of the blood-brain barrier in neurodegenerative disease
- An explanation for the observation that type 2 diabetes increases risk of Alzheimer’s disease
- The role of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) in brain health and prevention of neurodegeneration
- Comparing the preventable nature of type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, cancer, and dementia
- Blood pressure: an important modifiable lifestyle factor that can affect Alzheimer’s disease risk
- Rhonda’s outlook on “precision medicine” as it pertains to one’s genetic predispositions
- Possible mechanisms by which exercise reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease
- Building your aerobic pyramid: neurobiological effects of exercise, benefits of lactate peaks, and more
- Maximizing mitochondrial biogenesis: alternative training approaches and strategies
- Possible brain benefits of sauna, and Rhonda’s personal protocol
- The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and dementia risk
- How exercise may reduce the risk of cancer
- The overarching impact of exercise of health, and the importance of focusing the factors that matter most
- Impact of alcohol consumption on breast cancer risk and overall health
- Exercise as an intervention for poor sleep habits
- The longevity benefits of consuming adequate protein and strength training to preserve muscle mass and strength
- How to get enough of the right kind of protein in your diet
- Fasting: weighing the risk vs. reward
- How Rhonda’s views have shifted on diet and exercise
- How to follow Rhonda’s work and more about the benefits of lactate for the brain
- More.

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About:

The Peter Attia Drive is a deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing longevity, and all that goes into that from physical to cognitive to emotional health. With over 90 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including exercise, nutritional biochemistry, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more.

Peter Attia is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan.

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[ltybfmq]

I just got HRT. It feels like I got my life back. Years of pain and sweating, moodswings, and weeks without sleep at a time. It's been 6 years of hell. So thankful for the treatment!.

[mssmiley]

I’m 75 and have been on the estrogen patch for about 25 years. The WHI study did not scare me, nor my health care providers. I’m so glad I took that stance! I feel very sorry for the women whose doctors refused to prescribe it or took them off of it.

[jabuliledayton]

The issue isn’t women, it is women’s doctors and/or the medical system that hasn’t caught up to your perspective and lacks education on the topic.

[lisalamberton]

If only dr’s would get educated on this

[donnaallgaier-lamberti]

Yes I was one of those women who were advised to go off of my estrogen patch. I was on the patch for 10 years after my total hyst. I went back on P and E once again at age 65 to protect my heart, bones and brain!

[mollybpwebb]

I'm one of those women who got lumps, hot flashes and continual spotting with HRT.
Not for everyone .
Was scheduled for biopsy and it showed negative. Lucky me.
Very scary though.
Very health conscious, stopped eating sugary everything and starchy carbs at age 30 after last child.

[heidirexin]

Thank you So much for championing this. HRT has improved the quality of my life tremendously, but I still get crap from doctors about it.

[BlueSkies]

We need a really good discussion about absolute risk. Many bad decisions are made based or relative risk.

[katanne]

Thyroid med, testosterone, estrogen and progesterone titrated has given me a great life.

[laurelwalton]

I'm 66 and never was offered HRT and was refused it when, at 60, I requested it. I sure could have used it but have had a harder life because I couldn't get access.

[charlottebuck]

Bioidentical hormones would be my option, never synthetic

[traceygratch]

major flaw in WHI study, average age at time of enrollment was 67, avg age of menopause is ~50 so the study population was not typical menopausal aged women.

[willow]

My endocrinologist won’t let me have it. She is a young dr with an excellent reputation and still says it heightens my risk for cancer and it’s not worth it. I’m in perimenopause and should be a prime candidate in my opinion.

[lizakroberts]

Thank you for sharing this information! Keep getting the word out. 🙏

[pejisan]

I decided to take HRT at 71 in spite of all the unsubstantiated warnings by every doc I talked to. You're too old, they said, oh, and sorry about your aching joints, bone loss, brain fog, weight gain, sleeplessness, etc. that we caused you with our bad data science.

bah humbug!
I am feeling better but lost so many estrogen receptors it's a slow climb...but better some than none!

[fatcityhockey]

Tell that to my mum who died not from the breast cancer but had a horrible 15 years from the complications and side effects of the chemo and radiation therapy and the oestrogen inhibitors. Yes she went on the record as having survived the breast cancer but the HRT still was the cause that lead to her early death.

[jlynngambler]

Thank you! Do you know how hard it is to get your OB-GYN or any medical professional to address this? It's awful. But they gloss over it and put me at greater risk for more problems.

[sarahgo]

I took HRT for ten years following menopause and never looked back! 🙌🏼

[swannee]

Here in Australia it’s your doctor that you have to try and convince to let you take HRT! They tell you the risks are too high. You shouldn’t be on HRT after 60, it’s too dangerous. I have changed doctors, but the general consensus here is, it’s too dangerous for long term use.
I personally don’t agree, but who am I? Just an older woman trying to live my best life.

[suzannederringer]

I'm 77 and never took anything. Never occurred ro me. Menopause came and went without a single Hot Flash, no symptoms at all. Never had any problems with my Periods, which were painless and comfortable. I think it's a matter of Lifestyle and Diet...not 'Good Genes' because my Mother had miserable Periods and miserable going into Menopause. She took HRT.