In the 105th episode of the Soberhead Podcast, Dr. Esra Çavuşoğlu, PhD hosts Dr. Austin Perlmutter, MD. Dr. Austin explains how human behavior, mental health, and decision-making are deeply influenced by brain biology; not just psychology. Dr. Austin Perlmutter is an internal medicine physician, researcher, and New York Times bestselling author who focuses on brain health. His work explores how nutrition, environment, and lifestyle impact the brain and decision-making, which he shares through his podcast and writing. His goal is to help people improve their mental performance and overall health. The conversation explores how modern environmental factors such as ultra-processed food, air pollution, social media, and synthetic chemicals are rewiring the brain through inflammation, metabolism, and neuroplasticity. These changes can lead to increased impulsivity, poor emotional regulation, and long-term risks like depression and dementia, often long before any clinical diagnosis appears. Dr. Perlmutter introduces the concept of the “hijacked brain,” where everyday exposures subtly shift how we think, feel, and act. The episode also highlights the critical role of diet quality, air quality, immune function, and lifestyle in shaping brain health, as well as emerging research on psychedelics, the microbiome, and epigenetics. This episode provides a new framework for understanding mental health: Your brain is constantly being programmed by what you consume—and you have the power to change that. #EsraÇavuşoğlu #AyıkKafa #ElevatingLifeEvolvingHealth #Longevilab #DrAustin Perlmutter Dr. Austin Perlmutter, MD Website: https://www.austinperlmutter.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQOgwRDnA_vpvW9nnUh9KBg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draustinperlmutter Special thanks to T.C. Istanbul Gedik University https://www.gedik.edu.tr/en/ 00:00-04:25 Introduction to Dr. Austin Perlmutter. 04:25-06:24 The Hijacked Brain: Why behavior is driven by biology, not just psychology 06:24-09:35 Why we’re becoming more impulsive and losing long-term thinking 09:35-10:53 Mental health starts years before diagnosis; what we’re missing 10:53-14:32 Your brain vs the modern world: negativity, social media, and attention hijacking 14:32-19:02 How food rewires your brain and affects decision-making 19:02-24:08 Air pollution’s hidden impact on brain health, mood, and behavior 24:08-26:03 Why indoor air can be more toxic than outside 26:03-36:21 Scented products, VOCs, and the illusion of “clean” environments 36:21-37:18 Why women are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s and depression 37:18-40:37 The brain-immune connection and inflammation explained 40:37-53:26 Psychedelics: how they affect brain biology, not just serotonin 53:26-55:30 Food as medicine: can nutrition reprogram brain health? 55:30-56:13 Wrap up.*About Ayık Kafa* Dr. Esra Çavuşoğlu, PhD, took her studies, starting from her personal treatment experiences and continuing with her clinical psychology education, to the next level by completing her PhD focused on Addiction. Dr. Esra in Ayık Kafa podcast discusses the world’s latest technologies, protocols, products and research in the fields of Biohacking and Longevity, while sharing first-hand information and experiences about the Disease of Addiction, as well as her latest academic studies. *About Dr. Esra Çavuşoğlu, PhD* Longevilab’s founder, Dr. Esra, is a United States and internationally trained clinical psychologist and a certified addiction therapist in New York. She served as International Development Advisor on the Yale University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Advisory Board. She is the founder and supervisor of Gaziantep Oya Bahadır Yüksel Rehabilitation Center, Dr. Esra is the designer and implementer of the Turkey Rehabilitation Model. Dr. Esra founded the Contemporary Addiction Studies Association (ÇABAÇAD) in order to combat Turkey’s growing addiction problem. Disclaimer The information and statements on our YouTube Channel Sober-Head are not intended to guide individuals towards medical diagnosis and treatment. Please consult with your doctor for medical diagnostic and treatment procedures. The content is shared for informational purposes only, derived from scientific studies prepared by EMC Medya Yayıncılık Ticaret Ltd. Şti.’s researchers, consultants, and authors/scientists, as well as compilations from publicly available public
