APOE4: Beat the Odds

Dr. Kevin Tran
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

If you carry APOE4, you have probably heard plenty about risk and far less about what to do next. I am Kevin Tran, a pharmacist and the founder of The Phoenix Community. I carry APOE4/4. Each week, I turn research on Alzheimer's risk, biomarkers, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and emerging interventions into clear actions you can understand and discuss with your healthcare team. This podcast is for carriers and families who want evidence, context, and a practical way forward.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    The Blood Pressure Number That Cuts Dementia Risk | Dr. Jeremy Pruzin, MD

    Originally published on YouTube on 14 September 2026.Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkUqj8Crzbg Half of this community asked me the opposite question I expected. Not how to get their blood pressure down. Whether theirs is already too low, and whether it is starving their brain. Several had been told exactly that by their own neurologist. So I took it to the researcher whose name is on the new analysis. Dr. Jeremy Pruzin is a cognitive and behavioral neurologist and physician-researcher at Banner Alzheimer's Institute, and Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix. He trained in cognitive neurology at Mass General Brigham and Harvard, and he runs a twenty one million dollar federally funded biomarker study inside the SPRINT blood pressure trial. Every question in this hour came from a member of The Phoenix Community, by name. WANT YOUR QUESTION IN THE NEXT INTERVIEW? That is the whole point of the community. You join, you ask, and I take it to the person who actually studies it.https://apoe4.link/JeremyP1 🔗 RESOURCES:→ Free APOE4 Guide: https://apoe4.link/JeremyP1G→ Weekly Newsletter: https://apoe4.link/JeremyP1N A NOTE ON WHAT THIS IS This is an educational conversation. It is not medical advice and it does not create a doctor-patient relationship with anyone watching. Members shared their own readings and their own diagnoses in the thread, so I used their first names and then asked Dr. Pruzin the general version of each question. Nobody is being treated on camera. Take this to your own physician and have a better appointment than you would have had. Dr. Pruzin also runs his own group, the Preventing Alzheimer's Community, which runs webinars on treatments, blood tests and prevention trials. That is his, not mine: https://pacocommunity.com/ WHAT WE COVER 00:00 Teaser00:54 Podcast Introduction01:51 The one risk factor nobody is tracking03:27 Why blood pressure, out of everything in Alzheimer's research05:44 What high blood pressure physically does to your brain09:39 Baseline MRI for APOE4 carriers: worth it or not?12:17 Amyloid in your blood vessels: microbleeds, siderosis, and blood thinner risk15:37 What the SPRINT trial actually was20:34 Do the SPRINT results apply if you're not high-risk?23:55 The APOE4 analysis, and what it does and does not show27:17 Absolute vs. relative risk reduction, explained with a discount analogy29:52 When low blood pressure is fine, and when it's not39:24 How to actually measure your blood pressure correctly41:42 Arm cuff vs. central pressure vs. pulse pressure44:20 His personal BP target, and when treatment should start47:41 Do wearables like the Oura ring measure this accurately?48:52 Do BP supplements and nitric oxide boosters actually work?52:48 His single piece of advice for every APOE4 carrier55:34 Outro

  2. 3d ago

    Does Creatine Help the APOE4 Brain? What the Clinical Trials Show

    Originally published on YouTube on 25 August 2026. Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBEE0VZXWfM Creatine for APOE4 carriers: can a $15 supplement actually help your brain? Here's what the real randomized trials show, including the one that found nothing. Most people still think creatine is just a gym supplement. But the human brain data has quietly gotten interesting, and it matters more for APOE4 carriers than almost anyone. Why? Because the APOE4 brain tends to run low on energy decades before any symptom shows up, and creatine is, at its core, brain fuel. I'm Kevin, a Doctor of Pharmacy, and I carry APOE4/4. I'll give you the effect sizes, the sample sizes, and the holes in the data, then you decide if it's a smart bet. This is education, not medical advice. Talk to your own clinician. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The Brain Fuel Problem 01:05 The Creatine Roadmap 01:55 Why I'm telling you this 03:46 Chapter 1: Main Findings 10:55 Chapter 2: Why It Matters 15:28 Chapter 3: What to do 23:47 Chapter 4: The Honest Part 27:09 Conclusion STUDIES 1. Gordji-Nejad et al., 2024: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54249-9 2. Smith et al. (CABA pilot), 2025: https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.70101 3. Taylor et al. (CABA bioenergetics), 2026: https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.70228 4. Xu et al., 2024: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1424972 5. Prokopidis et al., 2023: https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuac064 6. Farmer et al., 2021: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-021-00483-y 7. Budny et al., 2025: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03550-w 8. Rijpma et al., 2018: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2018.01.031 9. Alves et al., 2013: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076301 10. Taylor et al. (protocol), 2024: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-024-01469-5 11. Li, 2026: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1687719 RESOURCES Apply to join Phoenix: https://apoe4.link/CreatineRCT Essential APOE4 Guide: https://apoe4.link/CreatineRCT-G Weekly Newsletter: https://apoe4.link/CreatineRCT-N

  3. 5d ago

    Is It Ever Too Late for HRT? Timing, Tests and What to Ask Your Doctor

    Originally published on YouTube on 3 September 2026. Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCSbRP03j3U Your birthday doesn’t decide whether you start or stop hormones. Your arteries, bones, and health numbers do. This is Part 2 of my Q&A with Steve Goldring, RPh, a licensed pharmacist with 30+ years of experience compounding menopause hormones and training clinicians who prescribe them. Part 1 covered menopause, the 2002 WHI study, what’s changed, and hormone options, doses, and forms. Watch Part 1 first: https://apoe4.link/TherapyY I am Dr. Kevin Tran, Doctor of Pharmacy. I carry APOE4/4, and I built The Phoenix Community because I needed it first. Get the free APOE4 Woman's Guide: https://thephoenix.community/guides/womens-guide PHOENIX Build your personal protocol, track progress and learn with carriers like you. Apply to join Phoenix: https://apoe4.link/SteveQnA2 MORE RESOURCES Essential APOE4 Guide: https://apoe4.link/SteveQnA2G Weekly Newsletter: https://apoe4.link/SteveQnA2N STEVE'S LINKS YouTube: @SimpleHormones Instagram: @thehormonepharmacist His program, Seven Steps to Clarity and Confidence About Hormones: The Menopause Solution: https://www.simplehormones.com/ WHAT WE COVER 00:00 Teaser 00:20 Podcast introduction 03:46 Recap: What Part 1 covered 05:26 Is it too late? Five community questions on starting HRT late 06:49 Why women's heart risk catches up to men's by 60 09:22 How plaque builds up, and the tests that show it 11:38 How to measure plaque: CAC scan vs. CIMT test 14:38 Transdermal vs. oral estradiol and blood clot risk 16:04 Best time to start HRT 18:47 Starting Hormones 10 Years After Menopause 20:53 Do Hormone Benefits Change If You Start Late? 22:58 Which Menopause Symptoms Get Better or Worse? 24:04 Hysterectomy and Early Menopause 26:26 Should You Stop Hormones at 60 or 65? 29:50 High cardiovascular risk? What's still on the table 32:44 How to Stop Being Dismissed by Your Doctor 34:57 Steve's HRT Questions Framework, and the cheat sheet that builds trust fast 38:40 Finding a Doctor Who Understands Hormones 41:38 Being more directive with your doctor when you're already informed 49:30 The Big Five hormones, and his estradiol target 54:23 Recommended blood tests & target levels (estradiol/progesterone) + APOE4-specific thyroid (T3/Free T3) note 01:00:39 What to test if you carry APOE4, and blood vs. saliva vs. urine 01:06:16 SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) deep dive 01:10:16 Dosing to relieve symptoms vs. dosing to optimal blood levels 01:12:11 Vaginal estrogen vs. systemic estrogen risk 01:14:03 Compounding pharmacies vs. Big Pharma, Bi-Est and cream bases 01:19:17 A bad compounded batch: QA and how to vet a compounding pharmacy 01:23:28 Natural vs. chemical framing 01:25:16 Where to find Steve, and Kevin's closing line 01:28:26 Outro

  4. Sep 11

    Menopause, What HRT Actually Does & What It Means for APOE4 Carriers

    Originally published on YouTube on 13 August 2026. Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJV7O5hnKos One 2002 study shaped how millions of women think about menopause hormone therapy. In Part 1/2, I sit down with Steve Goldring, RPh, The Hormone Pharmacist, to unpack what the Women's Health Initiative actually found, how pills, patches, gels, vaginal estrogen and pellets differ, and why taking hormones and not taking them both involve trade-offs. Get the free APOE4 Woman's Guide: https://thephoenix.community/guides/womens-guide RESOURCES: Apply to join Phoenix: https://apoe4.link/Therapy Essential APOE4 Guide: https://apoe4.link/TherapyG Weekly Newsletter: https://apoe4.link/TherapyN More about Steve Goldring The Menopause Solution: Your 7-Step Roadmap to Feeling Like Yourself: https://apoe4.link/stevegoldring YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SimpleHormones CHAPTERS: 00:00 Opening highlights 00:29 Podcast introduction 03:16 The Conversation 07:39 The Women's Health Initiative: What Went Wrong? 11:58 Does HRT Really Increase Breast Cancer Risk? 16:08 Why the FDA Removed HRT Warnings 20:48 Can Women With a History of Breast Cancer Take HRT? 26:15 Is Duavee a Better Alternative to Progesterone? 29:10 Different HRT Options & Common Mistakes 34:05 What's the Best HRT Method & Can You Combine Them? 39:32 Does Hormone Stability Matter for Brain Health? 43:40 Why Are Estrogen Patches Wearing Off Too Soon? 46:53 Can Estrogen Patches Survive Heat, Sweat & Swimming? 48:44 How Should You Apply Estrogen Cream? 51:30 Should You Increase HRT If You Have No Symptoms? 56:26 What If You Can't Tolerate Progesterone? 01:03:22 Why Are Hot Flashes Coming Back? 01:06:31 Testosterone Replacement for Women and Men 01:11:30 Outro

  5. Aug 26

    Both Parents Died of Alzheimer's. Now this Physician is Fighting Back. | Phoenix Member Stories

    John lost both his parents to Alzheimer's. His mom. Then his dad. He retired early to care for his father, watched the disease take everything, and then got his own genetic test. The result? APOE 3/4 carrier. Most people would spiral. John did the opposite. He overhauled his entire life (diet, exercise, supplements, sleep, alcohol, wearables) and joined The Phoenix Community to find others on the same path. In this conversation, John shares: - What it was like caring for both parents through Alzheimer's - How genetic counseling became the spark that changed everything - The alcohol realization most APOE4 carriers relate to - Why he retired at 55 and made health his full-time mission - His p-tau test results (and why he was brave enough to take it) - How the Neuronic photobiomodulation study became a daily habit - His advice for busy people who can't go "all in" - Why Phoenix became his "genetic family" John's philosophy is simple: even if none of this prevents Alzheimer's, these are still the best 13 years of his life. And that's worth everything. 📚 RESOURCES → Join the Phoenix Community: https://apoe4.link/John → Free APOE4 Guide: https://apoe4.link/JohnG → Weekly Newsletter: https://apoe4.link/JohnN Timestamps : 00:00 Introduction 00:30 John shares his experience with his parents who had Alzheimer’s 03:01 Getting tested for the APOE4 gene 13:40 How the APOE4 result changed his life 17:25 The lifestyle changes he made after the test 26:32 Alzheimer’s biomarker p tau test 30:40 Advice for people who do not have time for prevention 35:35 The brain health technologies he uses 44:00 How he stays motivated to stay healthy 51:44 The importance of community for APOE4 carriers

  6. Aug 19

    She Diagnosed Her Mother With Alzheimer's. Then Found Out She Carries the APOE4 Gene.

    Dr. Gertrude Behan spent decades as a family medicine physician in Australia. She diagnosed patients with Alzheimer's. She saw firsthand how little the medications helped. Then in 2016, she diagnosed her own mother. Two years later, while battling breast cancer and searching for the BRCA gene, she discovered something else: she carries APOE4. In this Phoenix Member Stories episode, Dr. Behan shares: → The moment she diagnosed her mother (and what happened next) → Why discovering APOE4 after her mother's diagnosis felt "believable" → How she juggles breast cancer prevention AND Alzheimer's prevention → Her surprisingly skeptical view on supplements (as a doctor) → Why she says "do it now" (the 6-8 years realization) → The "wild variant" reframe: APOE4 carriers as tough humans built for survival → Her current stack: activated B vitamins, vitamin D, NR (and why she's tempted by lithium) → Why she thinks APOE4 testing should be population-wide at age 30 → Her message to anyone who just found out they carry the gene 📚 RESOURCES → Join the Phoenix Community: https://apoe4.link/Gertrude → Free APOE4 Guide: https://apoe4.link/GertrudeG → Weekly Newsletter: https://apoe4.link/GertrudeN TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Episode Trailer 01:20 Podcast Introduction – Gertrude Behan and Her Work 02:32 Diagnosing Her Mother with Alzheimer’s & Learning She Has the ApoE4 Gene 05:10 Researching Alzheimer’s & Treatment Options 07:20 Finding Positivity After Learning About ApoE4 09:25 Diet, Exercise & Alcohol and Brain Health 12:38 Fat, Glucose & Entering Ketosis 17:50 Phoenix Community Health Tracking App 20:18 Managing ApoE4 and Breast Cancer Together 22:08 How to Choose the Right Health Interventions 24:21 Cognitive Testing, Brain Training & Placebo Effect 31:37 How Dr. Behan Evaluates Supplements 39:10 Lithium Research & Final Thoughts

  7. Aug 12

    Ex-Intelligence Analyst's APOE4 Protocol (After 13 Years)

    She spent 30 years as an intelligence analyst — investigating biological weapons, briefing senators, training a generation of researchers. Then she found out she carries APOE4. This is what she did next. In this episode, I sit down with Robin P. Shwetzer (NBC-HWC, FMCC, ReCODE Certified Coach) to walk through how she went from a 23andMe result 13 years ago to running a precision health coaching practice for APOE4 carriers and people in early cognitive decline. 🔬 About Robin: Robin spent three decades as a U.S. intelligence analyst, including work on biological and chemical weapons programs. She's now a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, a Functional Medicine Certified Coach, and a ReCODE Certified Coach (Dr. Bredesen's protocol for cognitive decline reversal). She lives in Tampa, Florida. 🧬 About Phoenix: Phoenix is the first precision health platform built for APOE4 carriers. If you carry APOE4 (or suspect you might), you don't have to figure this out alone. 🔗 RESOURCES: → Join the Phoenix Community: https://apoe4.link/Robin → Free APOE4 Guide: https://apoe4.link/RobinG → Weekly Newsletter: https://apoe4.link/RobinN 📱 Instagram: @dr.kevintran 🎙️ New episodes every week. We cover: 00:00 Introduction 01:08 Trailer 02:21 Meet Robin (and why this conversation is different) 04:06 Robin's Father & the Origin of Her Health Journey 05:09 Discovering ApoE4 – First Reactions & Early Community 07:45 Finding Dr. Bredesen when the protocol was still called MEND 08:56 Brain Fog, Pre-Diabetes & How Keto Changed Everything 11:12 The Fasting Mimicking Diet (Dr. Valter Longo's protocol) 15:13 Tips for Getting Into Ketosis Without the Struggle 20:32 What Is Keto Flu & How to Prevent It 24:41 From Intelligence Analyst to Health Researcher – The Methodology 30:46 What It's Like to Work With Robin as a Coach 38:31 How to Read a Medical Study & Spot Bias in 60 Seconds 40:31 Robin's Personal Protocol – Diet, Exercise & Supplements 43:49 Robin's Experience With the Phoenix Community 47:30 Advice for Newly Diagnosed ApoE4 Carriers #APOE4 #BrainHealth #Bredesen #Longevity #Keto #FastingMimicking #PrecisionHealth #PhoenixCommunity

  8. Aug 12

    72 and Cognitively Sharp: How This APOE4/4 Carrier Beat the Odds | Donna's Story

    Donna found out she carried two copies of the APOE4 gene (APOE4/4) almost 10 years ago during a research study at Yale. She was 62. Nobody was talking about it. There was almost no support. Today she's 72, cognitively sharp, and actively managing her health through diet, supplements, exercise, and community support. In this Phoenix Member Stories episode, Donna shares: → The moment she got her results (and the shock that followed) → Why she's glad she got tested → How she told her kids (and how they reacted) → The lonely early years before communities like Phoenix existed → Her full supplement and intervention stack (including what she dropped and why) → How she uses AI to optimize her protocol → What she spends monthly on her health ($400+) → Her advice for anyone who just got the APOE4 result → Why it's never too late to start If you carry the APOE4 gene (or suspect you might), this conversation is for you. Timestamps : 0:00 Introduction and Donna's Journey 04:03 Navigating Family Dynamics and Gene Testing 08:57 Navigating Information and Resources Online 14:48 Lifestyle Interventions and Experiences 27:00 Donna's Experience with The Phoenix Community 34:24 Donna's Advice for ApoE4 Carriers 40:07 Conclusion 📚 RESOURCES → Join the Phoenix Community: https://apoe4.link/Donna → Free APOE4 Guide: https://apoe4.link/DonnaG → Weekly Newsletter: https://apoe4.link/DonnaN

  9. Aug 12

    APOE4/4 and in the Best Shape of Her Life at 55. Here's What Changed.

    She found out she was APOE4/4 on her anniversary in Hawaii. In the shower. She collapsed crying. Then she opened her laptop and started searching. That was 2021. Five years later, Deb Blum is lifting heavier than most folks at her gym, coaching other women through the overwhelm of APOE4, and living proof that your genes don't write the ending. In this conversation, we get into the real stuff: the family pushback (it took 5 years), the sugar addiction she's still working through, why women especially struggle to prioritize their own health, and the caregiving lesson from her dad that everyone needs to hear. This one hit different for me. Deb says something I keep coming back to: "APOE4 is not your identity. It's just one part of you. Vote for future episodes topics and ask your own questions directly in the Phoenix Community. Not a member yet? Join us here: https://apoe4.link/Deb 📚 RESOURCES → Join the Phoenix Community: https://apoe4.link/Deb → Free APOE4 Guide: https://apoe4.link/DebG → Weekly Newsletter: https://apoe4.link/DebN TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Trailer 00:53 Introduction & Background 03:18 Dementia Journey & Caregiving Lessons 10:50 Discovering APOE4 16:50 Lifestyle Changes & Real-Life Implementation 31:04 The Impact of Healthy Choices on Relationships 46:43 Current Interventions and Lifestyle Changes 56:06 The Power of Self-Compassion in Health Journeys #APOE4 #BrainHealth #APOE4Carrier #Longevity #MemberStory #PhoenixCommunity

  • 9 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

If you carry APOE4, you have probably heard plenty about risk and far less about what to do next. I am Kevin Tran, a pharmacist and the founder of The Phoenix Community. I carry APOE4/4. Each week, I turn research on Alzheimer's risk, biomarkers, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and emerging interventions into clear actions you can understand and discuss with your healthcare team. This podcast is for carriers and families who want evidence, context, and a practical way forward.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Kevin Tran
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Kevin Tran
  • Show Website
    APOE4: Beat the Odds