Staying Healthy Today Show with Kirk Hamilton

Information to keep the indivdiual, your community and the world society living healthfully and in peace

4.3 (14)
Alternative Health
Updated Biweekly

Practicing physician assistant in nutrition, prevention, integrative and lifestyle medicine since 1983 who will discuss practical guidelines and share links and research dealing with individual, community and societal health through personal commentary and interviews. stayinghealthytoday.substack.com

Jul 18

Autoimmune Inflammation and Disease Triggered by the Covid-19 Genetic Injections (Vaccines) an Interview with Panagis Polykretis, PhD

Autoimmune Inflammation and Disease Triggered by the Covid-19 Genetic Injections (Vaccines) Panagis Polykretis, PhD “Allineare Sanità e Salute” FoundationMilano, ItalyIndependent Medical-Scientific Commission (CMSi)Milano, Italypanagis.polykretis@gmail.comDr. Panagis Substack(https://substack.com/@panagispolykretis)“Autoimmune Inflammatory Reactions Triggered by the COVID-19 Genetic Vaccines in Terminally Differentiated Tissues.”Autoimmunity 2023 Dec;56(1):2259123. (7/2026) Kirk Hamilton: Can you please share your educational background and current position? Panagis Polykretis: I earned my degree in Biology at the University of Florence (Italy), followed by a PhD in Structural Biology at the Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM) also at the University of Florence. That training gave me a solid grounding in structural and molecular biology and in biophysics. After my PhD, I stayed on at CERM as a post-doctoral researcher, and then moved to the Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara” of Italy’s National Research Council (CNR), in Sesto Fiorentino, where I worked as a researcher for four years — until, as I was told, “my views” and my publications on the COVID-19 vaccines closed off further progression in my career there. Today I work as a medical researcher at Ancestralize Ltd., a private company whose goal is to help revolutionize people’s health by addressing the drivers of chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic imbalance — caused largely by ultra-processed foods and refined sugars, which have unfortunately become the main nutritional staple across much of the Western world — through targeted diet and lifestyle interventions. Furthermore, I am a member of the Scientific Committee of the “Allineare Sanità e Salute” Foundation, a member of the independent Medical-Scientific Commission - CMSi as well as a member of the International Advisor Board of Make Europe Healthy Again. KH: What got you interested in studying the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and autoimmunity in the first place? PP: What first mobilized me was watching public health policy being implemented at the start of the pandemic without, in my view, adequate scientific grounding, and then seeing the genetic COVID-19 vaccines rolled out indiscriminately at massive scale on that basis. What struck me specifically was that their immunization mechanism intrinsically requires the body’s own cells to essentially sacrifice themselves (turning into factories that manufacture engineered viral antigen and, in doing so, becoming targets of the immune system themselves), and that this came with heightened risks tied to uncontrolled biodistribution. That is what prompted me to throw myself into this relentlessly, hoping to raise awareness within the scientific community about the potentially serious risks of autoimmune reactions against self-tissue, and about the need for thorough biodistribution studies as well as rational harm/benefit assessments. Underlying all of that was a more basic immunology question I felt was not being asked publicly. We have known for decades that any nucleated cell producing a protein the immune system does not recognize as “self” is destined to be flagged as a threat and targeted for destruction. That is not controversial, it is how we fight viral infections and screen for cancerous cells. What struck me in late 2021 was that nobody seemed to be asking the obvious pharmacological follow-up: where in the body does this happen, in which tissues, and for how long? That is a biodistribution question, standard for any new drug or gene therapy, and it simply was not being asked for these vaccines. This is what compelled me to lay out this mechanism and its associated risks to human health in a 2022 letter to the Editor of the Scandinavian Journal of Immunology entitled “Role of the antigen presentation process in the immunization mechanism of the genetic vaccines against COVID-19 and the need for biodistribution evaluations” (https://doi.org/10.1111/sji.13160). “…The ‘traditional’ vaccines generally do not induce human cells to produce viral proteins, and thus, human cells do not expose viral antigens deriving from their proteosynthetic activity. On the contrary, the genetic vaccines against COVID-19 induce human cells to produce the spike protein, relying intrinsically to an autoimmune reaction, extended to all the cells that intake the genetic material and start the protein synthesis….” KH: Can you define what an autoimmune inflammatory reaction is? What are the mediators? Can you give an example of a human autoimmune condition? PP: One nuance worth being careful about: what is described here with the vaccine-derived spike protein depends on the level at which the reaction is defined. If the determining factor is the tissue involved, the reaction can reasonably be called autoimmune, since it is macroscopically directed against a self-tissue (a cardiomyocyte, neuron, hepatocyte, or whichever cell type is affected). However, if the analysis is zoomed in to the molecular level (which is what the more modern definition actually requires), the antigen being targeted is not, strictly speaking, a self-antigen. It is a viral antigen, the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, which however exploits the cell’s own protein-synthesis machinery to be produced. Under this narrower molecular definition, the reaction does not constitute autoimmunity, since it is not directed against a native self-protein. By the more modern standards, then, it would be more accurate to describe these events as immune reactions against self-tissues, rather than as autoimmunity. As an example, multiple sclerosis is a case in point: autoreactive T cells target myelin, the insulating sheath surrounding nerve fibers in the central nervous system, causing demyelination and the neurological symptoms patients experience. This is, in fact, a condition I had worked on prior to turning to immune reactions against self-tissues triggered by genetic vaccines, specifically looking at how molecular changes to myelin antigens could make them appear foreign to the immune system. KH: What is the hypothesized component of the COVID vaccine that triggers this autoimmune inflammatory reaction — the spike protein? PP: It is not an hypothesis anymore, irrefutable histopathological evidence exist proving that mechanism. Across both the mRNA platforms (Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna) and the adenoviral- vector platforms (AstraZeneca, Janssen), the vaccine’s purpose is to get human cells to manufacture the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, so the immune system learns to recognize it. Once a cell does that, the spike protein is handled two ways: (i) the whole protein can “sit” on the cell surface, visible to B cells and helper T cells, and (ii) fragments get loaded onto MHC class I for display to CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. Both routes mark that cell as making something foreign (that’s the intended mechanism, it’s how the vaccine generates immunity). The question we’ve raised is what happens when that “marking for destruction” lands on a cardiomyocyte, a neuron, or a hepatocyte instead of a transient immune cell, and how widely throughout the body that occurs. KH: Can a SARS-CoV-2 infection itself trigger a similar inflammatory autoimmune reaction, or is it just the mRNA vaccines? PP: Both can, but through different mechanisms. With a natural infection, especially severe disease, the dominant route is what we describe in the 2026 paper (Detection of Vaccine-Derived Spike Protein “Associated with Immune Cell Infiltration in the Heart and Liver: A Report of Two Cases”, https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15110978): innate immune hyperactivation — a cytokine storm, with interleukin-6 and other mediators surging — that can activate pre-existing autoreactive B-cell clones or work through molecular mimicry, where a viral protein structurally resembles a human protein closely enough to confuse the immune system. That’s documented by studies performed before the rollout of genetic vaccines, so there’s no confounding overlap. With vaccination, the mechanism is more direct: host cells are induced to manufacture the spike protein themselves and present it as an entire protein on the cell surface or as fragments on the Major Histocompatibility Complex I (MHC I), so the cell becomes a target by design, wherever the vaccine construct reaches. KH: Do the four common coronaviruses that circulate globally and cause mild cold-like symptoms trigger any inflammatory autoimmunity? PP: This is not an issue I have worked on, and I don’t have documented evidence. Therefore, I do not feel it is right for me to give a definitive answer in this case. I am aware of some scattered findings in the literature pointing toward a possible role for a couple of these viruses in immune-mediated processes, but I have not examined this closely enough to speak to it with real confidence, and I do not think it would be right for me to overstate a conclusion. KH: Did SARS-CoV (2002) or MERS-CoV (2012) cause autoimmune inflammation in the host? PP: To my knowledge, what has been documented in humans for both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV is the innate immune hyperactivation mechanism, similar to the first mechanism described earlier from the natural SARS-CoV-2 infection. I am not aware, in this pre-pandemic literature, of any demonstration that the hyperactivation observed in these two outbreaks ever progressed to autoimmune reactions against tissues outside the respiratory tract, such as the brain for example, which by contrast, can occur following vaccination with genetic vaccines. This difference is also explainable by the distinct biodistribution that a virus can have within the organism compared with lipid nanoparticles, which were specifically engineered to optimize fusion with cell membranes and therefore have the ability to cross body compartments that a respiratory virus, largely co
Jul 9

Alzheimer’s Disease, Neurologic & Psychiatric Disorders, Covid 19 & mRNA Injections and the Benefits of Lithium Orotate as An Essential Element for Life & Human Health...

Connected Topics To Dr. Michael Nehl’s Interview with Tucker Carlson (July 3, 2026)… ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE… Alzheimer’s Disease - Precision Medicine for Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Decline..Prevention and Treatment... An Interview with Dale E. Bredesen, MD by Kirk Hamilton PA, Jun 14, 2026Alzheimer’s Disease - An Aloe Polymannose-Based Dietary Supplement (APMC) Improves Cognition in Moderate to Severe Alzheimer’s Patients After 12 Months of Treatment...An Interview with John Lewis, PhD by Kirk Hamilton PAC, Mar 30, 2026 Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Plausible Mechanisms of COVID-19 Injections Causing Cancer and Attacks on Scientific Publications and Research. June 3, 2026, Senate Dirksen Building, SD-342. Senator Ron Johnson Opening Remarks (print 2 pages) COVID mRNA INJECTION & CANCER & HEART DISEASE… Cancer Caused by mRNA Injection - ANGUS DALGLEISH, M.D. Professor Emeritus of Oncology City, St. George’s, University of London. Dr. Dalgleish Testimony (print 2 pages) Heart Disease Caused by mRNA Injections - ASEEM MALHOTRA, M.D. Consultant Cardiologist, HUM2N Clinic, London. Dr. Aseem Malhotra, MBChB, MRCP Testimon (print 2 pages). Interview… Tucker Carlson’s Interviews Michael Nehls, MD, PhD July 3, 2026 “The Secret Cure to Alzheimer’s, Depression, Anxiety and Why Big Pharma Has Kept It Hidden” 1:24:05 hr:min:sec July 3, 2026 YouTube Interview Time Line of Interview:0:00 Why Dogs Are Healthy for You, Algae Oil, and Lithium 4:48 How Lifestyle Can Affect the Risk of Getting Alzheimer’s 12:22 The Dangers and Lies of mRNA Injections 18:51 The Hidden Power of Lithium 31:24 Brain Fuel From the Sea 37:21 The WEF’s Keynote Pushback on Dr. Nehls 41:56 How Could You Create a Deficiency in People? 50:27 The Law of Minimum 54:52 The Signs of Lithium Deficiency 1:00:13 What Would Happen if US Citizens Took Lithium Every Day? 1:13:51 Are There Any Negative Effects to Taking Lithium? 1:14:53 How to See Results From Taking Lithium Daily 1:18:30 How to Get Access to Lithium 1:21:35 The Dogma of the Pharmaceutical Industry INTERVIEW OVERVIEW Throughout this interview, Dr. Michael Nehls presents a unifying hypothesis that the progressive loss of hippocampal neurogenesis is the central biological mechanism responsible for cognitive decline, depression, loss of resilience, and ultimately Alzheimer’s disease. He argues that the modern lifestyle, chronic inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, and environmental exposures, including the mRNA Covid injection, can progressively impair the brain’s ability to generate new hippocampal neurons. Dr. Nehls suggests that the prevention of neurodegeneration should focus on restoring the brain’s natural regenerative capacity by providing essential nutrients—including lithium orotate (1 mg/1000 mcg daily), omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and other critical micronutrients—rather than waiting until irreversible disease develops. (Note: In this interview Dr. Nehl’s states that the mRNA Covid injection can accelerate cognitive decline, neurodegeneration and increase Alzheimer’s disease incidence) I. THE HIPPOCAMPUS: THE CENTER OF HUMAN COGNITION The hippocampus serves as a center for: * autobiographical memory * organizer of lifelong memories * regulator of curiosity * psychological resilience * rational compassion * creativity * ability to learn * ability to adapt to new information * openness to new ideas Dr. Nehls emphasizes that the hippocampus is one of the few areas of the adult brain capable of producing new neurons every day. This is termed by Dr. Nehls as adult hippocampal neurogenesis Lifelong neurogenesis allows humans to: * continually acquire new memories * organize experiences * have adapt behavior * maintain cognitive flexibility * remain resilient throughout aging II. INDEX CELLS (INDEX NEURONS) Dr. Nehls describes the importance of the formation of “Index Neurons.” Every new experience must be indexed. Index neurons record: * WHERE something occurred * WHEN it occurred These neurons allow memories to later be reconstructed. Without continual production of these index neurons: * new memories become difficult to form * memory retrieval deteriorates * hippocampal function progressively fails Dr. Nehls states these index neurons are produced through adult hippocampal neurogenesis. III. HIPPOCAMPAL SHRINKAGE Approximately 1.4% hippocampal shrinkage occurs per year. According to Dr. Nehls progressive shrinkage results in: * loss of curiosity * reduced adaptability * impaired learning * emotional rigidity * impaired compassion * declining memory * Alzheimer’s disease Dr. Nehls describes Alzheimer’s as “Hippocampal dementia.” IV. PREVENTION OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Dr. Nehls states in this interview Alzheimer’s begins decades before symptoms appear. The primary prevention strategy should be preserving hippocampal neurogenesis. Preventive recommendations by Dr. Nehls include: * adequate lithium (as lithium orotate 1000 mcg/d) * omega-3 fatty acids * vitamin D * reduction of chronic inflammation * maintenance of oxytocin-producing relationships (pets and children are examples given) * continual learning * avoiding neurotoxic influences (alcohol, environmental toxins, heavy metals, mold toxins, etc.) V. OXYTOCIN AND HIPPOCAMPAL GROWTH Dr. Nehl’s notes research that dogs can stimulate oxytocin production in themselves and their owners. Oxytocin which is secreted by the posterior pituitary gland increases: * human bonding * maternal attachment * hippocampal growth Oxytocin acts as a “fertilizer” for hippocampal neurogenesis. This is one reason Dr. Nehs recommends dog companionship as supportive of brain health. VI. CHRONIC NEUROINFLAMMATION Dr. Nehs states that chronic neuroinflammation is a significant threat to hippocampal neurogenesis. Inflammatory cytokines discussed include: * IL-1 * IL-6 * TNF-α These inflammatory mediators: * suppress production of new hippocampal neurons * reduce curiosity * promote depression * increase anxiety * accelerate Alzheimer’s disease VII. CYTOKINE STORMS Severe COVID illness resulted largely from cytokine storms. Dr. Nehls states that lithium functions as a natural suppressor of excessive inflammatory cytokine production. Dr. Nehls believes lithium is an important regulator of excessive immune activation. In this interview Dr. Nehls states: * COVID-19 mRNA injection produces a spike protein that can cause chronic brain inflammation. * The spike protein causes persistent neuroinflammation. * The neuroinflammation from the spike protein suppresses the hippocampus’ ability to produce new neurons. * This inability to make new neurons can leads to depression, anxiety, and eventually Alzheimer’s disease. * Lithium is an “antidote” to neuroinflammation. * Dr. Nehls states: * “Lithium is the antidote.” * Lithium suppresses inflammatory cytokines. * Lithium can stop a cytokine storm in severe COVID-19. * Lithium may have prevented severe COVID. * Dr. Nehls suggests lithium treatment would have: * prevented ICU admissions, * prevented deaths, * eliminated the need for the mRNA vaccination program. * He refers to early reports and a clinical trial showing remarkable benefit. Efficacy and Safety of Lithium Treatment in SARS-CoV-2 Infected Patients”…We showed that lithium was able to reduce the number of days of hospital and intensive care unit admission as well as the risk of death, reduces inflammatory cytokine levels by preventing cytokine storms, and also reduced the long COVID syndromes. We propose that lithium carbonate can be used to reduce the severity of COVID-19…”Reduced risk of severe COVID-19 with lithium use: a large-scale comparison with valproate users and other COVID-19 patients “…Lithium use was associated with significantly lower odds of severe COVID-19, even though users were older and had more medical comorbidities…”Lithium as a candidate treatment for COVID-19: Promises and pitfalls “…Lithium has shown in vitro efficacy at inhibiting the replication of coronaviruses responsible for gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in animals. It has immunomodulatory properties that may be of additional benefit in moderating the host inflammatory response to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). There is evidence that lithium may exert a protective action against upper respiratory infections and influenza-like illnesses in patients taking it for other indications…”Case Report on High Dose Lithium Treatment for Post-COVID Depression, Recurrent Fevers, and Skin Lesions. “…This is a case of a 35-year-old woman who presented with an 18-month history of post (long)-COVID depression and exhaustion along with recurrent fevers and treatment-resistant skin boils, all of which abated with lithium treatment at a serum level of 1.14 mmol/L, and all of which worsened when the lithium serum level was lowered to 0.8…”Lithium’s antiviral effects: a potential drug for CoViD-19 disease? ”…Lithium presents a clear antiviral activity demonstrated at preclinical level, but that remains to be confirmed in clinical settings. In addition, the pleiotropic mechanisms of action of lithium may provide an insight for its possible use as antiviral agent targeting specific pathways…”Lithium salts as a treatment for COVID-19: Pre-clinical outcomes. “…These results provide pre-clinical evidence of the antiviral and immunotherapeutic effects of lithium against SARS-CoV-2, which supports an advance to clinical trials on COVID-19's patients…” Association between serum lithium level and incidence of COVID-19 infection. “…Using electronic health records of 26,554 patients with documented serum lithium levels during the pandemic, we show that the 6-month COVID-19 infection incidence was lower among matched patients with 'therapeutic' (0.50-1.00) versus 'subtherapeutic' (0.05-0.50) lithium levels and among patients with 'therapeutic' lithium
Jun 27

Mechanisms of COVID-19 Injections Causing Cancer and Heart Disease. Attacks on Scientific Publications and Research...Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, June 3, 2026, Senate Dirksen Building...

Highlights… CANCER - COVID VACCINE - CATASTROPHE - SENATE TESTIMONY - The COVID-19 Vaccine Cancer Catastrophe. Professor Angus Dalgleish’s Senate testimony is unspeakably bad news for public health, but we are working on finding solutions. John Leake, Focal Points, Jun 07, 2026. 1) Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Plausible Mechanisms of COVID-19 Injections Causing Cancer and Attacks on Scientific Publications and Research. June 3, 2026, Senate Dirksen Building, SD-342. a) Opening Statement from Chairman Ron Johnson Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations b) ANGUS DALGLEISH, M.D. Professor Emeritus of Oncology City, St. George’s, University of London. Dr. Dalgleish Testimony The connection between mRNA COVID vaccines and cancer relapse, occurrence and aggressiveness. c) SABINE HAZAN, M.D., Chief Executive Officer, ProgenaBiome. Sabine Hazan. MD Testimony. Biasness and retractions of legitimate research by governmental agencies and medical organizations regarding the benefit of bifidobacter enhancement, vitamin C, hydroxycholoroquine, ivermectin, bovine IgG in the context of the microbiome in Covid infected patients. By correcting these microbiome imbalances (i.e increasing bifidobacter) there has been significant success in treating Covid 19 infections, Long Haul, vaccine injury and other serious chronic diseases (Alzheimer’s, Autism, Cancer, Parkinson’s, mental health disorders, etc.)d) ASEEM MALHOTRA, M.D. Consultant Cardiologist, HUM2N Clinic, London. Dr. Aseem Malhotra, MBChB, MRCP Testimony. Dr. Malhotra talks about his initial pro Covid vaccine stance and how he was a spokesperson for the UK public health system to reduce Covid vaccine hesitancy. After the unexplained heart attack and sudden death of his father, also a well known UK medical doctor, he came to believe that the Covid vaccine was the cause of his father’s accelerated coronary artery disease and subsequent death. He notes he himself is vaccine injured and suffers from an autoimmune illness with bifidobacter deficiency. He has received considerable rebuke from established medical professionals and organizations for sharing his views and concerns regarding the Covid vaccine. e) WAFIK EL-DEIRY, M.D., PH.D., Director, Legorreta Cancer Center, Brown University. Dr. El-Deiry MD, PHD Testimony. Dr. El-Diery is a physician scientist and cancer researcher for more than 30 years who has been studying the tumor suppressor protein/gene p53 and received considerable professional criticism when he started to question the natural origins of the Covid virus; that the spike protein from the vaccine and infection may increase cancer risk by reducing the ability of p53 gene to activate biological processes that result in tumor suppression. f) SASKIA MOSTERT, M.D., PH.D. Saskia Mostert, MD, PhD, Testimony. An internationally known pediatric oncology specialist who published with colleagues a study in 2024 (BMJ Public Health) showing excess mortality in 47 Western Countries between 2020-2022 of more than 3 million people suggesting the Covid infection, Covid vaccine and/or governmental/public health containment measures may have contributed to these excess deaths. This publishing of official government mortality data and call for further scientific investigation of these persistent excess deaths resulted in her resigning her position because of investigations into her “scientific integrity”. g) JULIE GRALOW, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, American Society of Clinical Oncology. Testimony of Julie Gralow, MD, FACP, FASCO. In support of Covid vaccines and vaccines in general. h) TAMIKA FELDER Cancer Survivor. Testimony of Tamika Felder, Founder and 25-Year Cervical Cancer Survivor. Cervical cancer survivor is supportive of vaccines in medicine in general and oncology. Encouraged Reading (This monograft on the spike protein complements these Senate testimonies on the concern for the mRNA vaccines increasing cancer risk, severity, and speed of progression, and, accelerated vascular disease as well): The Spike Protein Effect: Truth, Risk and Recovery. The Wellness Company BIOLABS - PENTAGON - RUSSIA - UKRAINE - They Called It a Conspiracy Theory: The ODNI Biolab Dump Proves the Gaslighting Was the Real Operation. 120+ Pentagon-funded pathogen labs in 30 countries, including an active war zone, reveal a national security apparatus that lied, smeared the truth, and outsourced gain-of-function research. Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH, Focal Points, Jun 17, 2026. CANCER - DOXYCYCLINE - Doxycycline - The anti-cancer antibiotic, Paul Marik, MD, Cancer & Metabolic Healing, Jun 15, 2026. “…Doxycycline - Tetracycline antibiotic - mitochondria targeting anti-cancer agent…” 1) inhibits mitochondrial biogenesis 2) Targets cancer stem cells 3) Alters metabolism into a more glycolytic, energy-stressed state 4) Anti-metastatic. 5) It’s anti-cancer effect is enhanced with vitamin C. Nutrition, Prevention and Integrative Medicine… AGING - FASTING - Reverse Your Biological Age: New Research Shows Fasting Could Make You Younger with Valter Longo, The Dan Buettner Podcast, April 2, 2026. (Highly recommend listening/watching. Dan Buettner is one of the worlds experts in studying the lifestyles of the Blue Zones where people tend to live the longest. Valter Longo, PhD world-renown for his work on longevity and especially fasting around cancer treatment, for longevity and reversal of chronic diseases. He is also creator of the Fasting Mimicking Diet and explains it’s benefits in chronic disease risk reduction and longevity. Worth the listen. (The reasons for taking glycerin during the Fasting Mimicking Diet…Glycerin (glycerol) prevents muscle loss and hypoglycemia on the Fasting-Mimicking Diet (FMD) by serving as an alternative energy source that fuels the brain without spiking insulin. It provides vital calories while maintaining a fasting state and spares the body from breaking down muscle for blood sugar.) ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE - PREVENTION - You Can Prevent Alzheimer’s: The New Science of Brain Health, The Dr. Hyman Show, Mark Hyman, MD interviews Richard Isaacson, MD • VUMEDI, Apr 15, 2026. Video 1:41:21 (hr:min:sec). DEMENTIA - DIABETES - PROCESSED FOODS - Consuming Processed Foods May Be Increasing Your Risk for Dementia, Type 2 Diabetes, and Cutting Your Lifespan Short. By Tim Cebula, Blue Zones. 1) Ultraprocessed Foods and the Risk of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Older US Adults: 2013–2020 Health and Retirement Study DEMENTIA - MEDITERRANEAN DIET - Why The Mediterranean Diet Isn’t Good Enough. David Perlmutter, MD, May 6, 2026. 1) Ultra-processed food intake, cognitive function, and dementia risk: A cross-sectional study of middle-aged and older Australian adults. HEALTH TRACKING INSTRUMENTS - CHINA - China-Made Fitness Trackers May Threaten US Security, Senators Warn. Lawmakers worry that wearable technology, such as smartwatches, may contain China-made components that could send Americans’ health data to the CCP. Eva Fu & Dorothy Li Epoch Times, 6/19/2026| MEMORY - ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE - COGNITIVE DECLINE - Take Control of Your Cognitive Future. Improve brain health NOW. Free tool helps you build brain healthier habits. PNEUMONIA - HEMOPTYSIS - DYING - COVID 19 VACCINATION - Hoarseness, Cough, to Hemorrhage--the Rapid Cascade Killing Healthy Men That No One Wants to Investigate. From Kyle Busch to the Hulscher Case — Healthy Men in Their Forties Are Dying After Pneumonia with Hemoptysis, and No One’s Connecting the Dots. Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH, Focal Points, Jun 11, 2026.1) Hulscher N, McCullough PA. Delayed Fatal Pulmonary Hemorrhage Following Covid-19 Vaccination: Case Report, Batch Analysis, and Proposed Autopsy Checklist. IJIRMS. 2025. 2) Parry PI, Lefringhausen A, Turni C, et al. ‘Spikeopathy’: COVID-19 Spike Protein Is Pathogenic, from Both Virus and Vaccine mRNA. Biomedicines. 2023;11(8):2287. 3) Castruita JAS, Schneider UV, Mollerup S, et al. SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA vaccine sequences circulate in blood up to 28 days after COVID-19 vaccination. APMIS. 2023;131(3):128-132. SERRAPEPTASE - MEDICAL CONDITIONS - 20 short Testimonials - cleared up skin tags, scars, varicose veins, plaque, brain fog, headaches (migraines)...William Makis, MD, Covid Intel, Jun 10, 2026. VIDEO GAMES - How China Quietly Took Over the Video Game Industry. The Josh Philipp Show, Apr-02-2026. ($5.00/month or $50/year would be appreciated for this publication) Cancer… BLADDER CANCER - IVERMECTIN - FENBENDAZOLE - 77 year old AUSTRALIAN man with Bladder Cancer (TCC) reports after 4 months: Cancer Free and Bladder “preserved”! William Makis, MD, Covid Intel, Jun 16, 2026. BRAIN TUMORS - mRNA VACCINE - 11 mRNA vaccinated Nurses working on the same maternity ward at a Massachusetts Hospital developed Brain Tumors. Harvard investigation concludes “nothing to see here”...William Makis, MD, Covid Intel, Jun 16, 2026. BREAST CANCER - IVERMECTIN - MEBENDAZOLE - 61 year old Ontario, Canada woman with Stage 4 Breast Cancer reports after 3 months: tumors shrinking!William Makis, Covid Intel, Jun 09, 2026. CANCER - BERBERINE - METFORMIN - Berberine: The Natural Metformin of Oncology. Targeting AMPK, mTOR, cancer stem cells, and the tumor microenvironment. Paul Marik, MD, Cancer & Metabolic Healing, Jun 11, 2026. “…Unlike conventional anticancer drugs that target a single molecular pathway, berberine appears to exert broad anticancer effects through simultaneous modulation of metabolism, inflammation, mitochondrial function, cancer stem cells, the tumor microenvironment (TME), and immune signaling…” CANCER - IVERMECTIN - MEBENDAZOLE - Ivermectin Plus Mebendazole: Mechanisms, Observational Outcomes, and the Case for Randomized Trials. Will the MAHA Coalition push HHS for large, prospective, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trials? Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH, Focal Points, Jun 10, 2026. CANCER RESEARC
Jun 23

How Hearing Loss and Tinnitus “Intertwine” with Cognitive Decline, Diabetes (Hyperinsulinemia), Heart Disease, Diet, Exercise and Noise Excess...An Interview with Kirsten McWilliams, Au.D.

Kirsten McWilliams, Au.D.Doctor of AudiologyThe Hearing Solution725 University Ave.Sacramento, CA 95825(916) 646-2471 office / (916) 646-2472 faxkirsten@thehearingsolution.comTheHearingSolution.com Interview Summary (Interview transcript below summarized by AI. Reviewed and edited by Kirk Hamilton PA) In this interview with Kirk Hamilton, PA, Kirsten McWilliams, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology, explains that audiology involves much more than dispensing hearing aids; a Doctor of Audiology completes a four-year clinical doctorate with training in diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance disorders, hearing technology, prevention, and patient counseling. She emphasizes that hearing care should begin with prevention through baseline testing (generally by age 60 or earlier with risk factors), protection from loud environments, safe listening habits, and early treatment because untreated hearing loss can negatively affect health, communication, relationships, and quality of life. Dr. McWilliams explains that hearing loss is becoming more common due to longer lifespans and increased noise exposure from headphones, loud workplaces, and modern environments. She stresses that headphone-related injury depends more on the “dose” of sound—the volume and duration—rather than the type of device, noting that sound above approximately 85 decibels increases risk, while over-ear noise-canceling headphones may help people listen at lower volumes. She discusses increasing hearing concerns in younger people, including teenagers and young adults exposed to unsafe personal audio devices and loud music settings, and notes that adult hearing loss is expected to rise due to aging and noise exposure. A focus of the discussion is the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline: Dr. McWilliams describes this as a possible two-way relationship where hearing loss can strain brain processing and reduce social engagement, while cognitive decline can affect neural pathways that effect hearing. Although treating hearing loss does not reverse cognitive decline, she states that hearing aids and improving hearing may reduce listening effort, improve communication, and help individuals remain socially and mentally engaged. She highlights lifestyle factors that support hearing health, including regular exercise to improve blood flow to the inner ear, a diet rich in leafy greens, berries, fish, nuts, and magnesium-containing foods, and limiting processed foods, excess sugar, and salt because cardiovascular health affects the delicate blood vessels of the inner ear. She explains that diabetes and prediabetes increase the risk of hearing loss through damage to small blood vessels and nerves and that cardiovascular disease and vision disorders such as macular degeneration overlap with hearing concerns because they share dependence on healthy circulation. She also discusses temporary hearing changes from allergies and sinus problems due to middle ear fluid and pressure, and warns that more than 200 medications can be ototoxic, including certain antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, loop diuretics, and high doses of aspirin and ibuprofen, recommending a discussion with one’s health care provider before stopping medications. Regarding tinnitus, she explains that tinnitus occurs in the brain rather than the ear and recommends evaluation by a tinnitus specialist; her clinic uses Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, combining sound therapy and counseling to help the brain habituate to tinnitus, while hearing aids may help when hearing loss is also present. She notes there is no strong, consistent evidence that supplements prevent hearing loss or treat tinnitus and instead emphasizes maintaining vascular health and blood sugar control through nutrition, blood pressure control, and physical activity. Her overall message is that hearing health should be treated proactively: prevention should begin before symptoms appear, screening should not be delayed, and early treatment with modern hearing technology can help protect physical, emotional, social, and cognitive well-being. Kirk Hamilton: What does it entail to become a “Doctor of Audiology”? What does that allow you to do in the professional and public world? Kirsten McWilliams: Becoming a Doctor of Audiology requires earning a clinical doctorate (Au.D.) in four years and involves completing coursework, supervised patient care and a full-time externship. Professionally, the clinical doctorate prepares you to diagnose and treat hearing and balance disorders, fit hearing technology and counsel patients from a holistic, medically based perspective, rather than just sell them hearing aids. In the community, the Doctor of Audiology degree positions you as a go-to expert for hearing health and hearing loss prevention. KH: First, in an ideal audiologist’s world, how do you provide “health maintenance” for the individual? When should an individual seek an audiologist for prevention…and treatment? KW: In an ideal world, hearing care starts early with baseline hearing testing and ongoing monitoring. I encourage adults to get their hearing checked by age 60, or sooner if they’re exposed to loud noise frequently or are exhibiting any symptoms of hearing loss. Hearing protection is the best way to prevent hearing loss—the earlier you start doing it, the better—and an audiologist will likely have custom-fit options for you to choose from. Hearing loss treatment isn’t something you want to put off either, as living with untreated hearing loss can impact your health, relationships and quality of life. KH: Is hearing loss in general becoming more of a problem? What are some lifestyle and environmental risk factors? KW: Hearing loss is more visible now, and a few factors are driving that. People are living longer, which naturally increases risk, and daily noise exposure has become constant—headphone overuse, loud jobs and busy environments all contribute to the problem. Many individuals don’t connect lifestyle habits to long-term hearing damage until their communication with others starts to suffer. KH: Can you elaborate for a moment on “headphone overuse”? How do you define that? Everyone has some type of hearing device, from complete ear-covering headphones to earbuds to devices that just transmit the sound through bone without getting placed in the ears. I realize earphones are probably a discussion in themselves. Can you say which kind is the least harmful to hearing? Or is it just the “loudness” and duration of their use? KW: When I talk about “headphone overuse” with my patients, I keep it simple: It’s not the device—it’s the dose of sound your ears are getting. That means how loud it is and how long you listen. You can listen safely for long periods at low volumes, or you can cause damage in minutes if the volume is high enough. Once you get above about 85 decibels, the risk rises quickly, and at very high levels—around what some headphones can produce—damage can happen in a short time. I usually tell patients that if they notice ringing, fullness or muffled hearing afterward, that’s their body telling them they’ve overdone it. As for which headphones are “least harmful,” there’s no completely safe type at high volumes, but some designs make it easier to listen safely. Over-ear, especially noise-canceling headphones, tend to be a better choice because they block background noise and help you keep the volume lower. Earbuds sit right in the ear canal and often lead people to turn things up more, especially in noisy environments. So in reality, it comes down less to the device and more to your habits—lower volume and regular breaks are what protect your hearing. KH: Are younger individuals or children having more problems with hearing impairment or hearing loss? If so, what are the causes? KW: Yes, younger patients are having more problems with hearing loss, primarily due to noise exposure. Globally, over one billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of hearing loss due to listening to personal audio devices at unsafe volumes and attending loud music venues. In the U.S., an estimated 12.5% of kids and teens—more than 5.2 million—have permanent damage to their hearing because of excessive exposure to noise. KH: In adults, are hearing loss or impairment issues increasing? KW: Yes, the number of adults with hearing loss is expected to double by 2060, according to a 2017 Johns Hopkins study. The reasons why include the growing aging population and frequent noise exposure. I recommend a baseline screening by age 60, or earlier if you have risk factors. Regular follow-up evaluations can help catch gradual hearing changes earlier so you can start treatment as soon as possible. KH: When did you become aware that cognitive decline might be associated with hearing loss? Is it something you read about, or was it just obvious in seeing patients every day that those who have hearing loss seem to have cognitive decline more frequently or progressively? KW: The correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline was first established through research, but it became more real to me through my firsthand experience with patients. Over time, I noticed that some patients with untreated hearing loss had more difficulty staying engaged in conversation and processing information. My clinical experience mirrors what some studies have shown. KH: Is it the “chicken or the egg” or “both”? Does hearing loss result in physiologic events that increase the pathophysiology leading to dementia, or does having dementia or cognitive decline increase hearing loss issues? KW: It may be more of a two-way relationship. Hearing loss can increase the strain on the brain and reduce social interaction, both of which are thought to contribute to cognitive issues. At the same time, cognitive decline can damage the neural pathways in the brain, leading the brain to slow down its p
Jun 14

Precision Medicine for Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Decline..Prevention and Treatment... An Interview with Dale E. Bredesen, MD

Dale E. Bredesen, MDPrecision Brain Health ProgramPacific Neuro-Science InstituteSanta Monica, CA 90404Apollohealthco.com “Precision Medicine Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: Successful Randomized Controlled Trial“Successful Pilot Project. J Alzheimers Dis. 2022;88(4):1411-1421. PDF Case Study: A Precision Medicine Approach to Multifactorial Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism. 2021;11(Suppl 5):018. Epub 2021 Aug 25. PDF ReCODE: A Personalized, Targeted, Multi-Factorial Therapeutic Program for Reversal of Cognitive Decline. Biomedicines. 2021 Sep 29;9(10):1348. PDF Neuroprotective Herbs for the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease. Biomolecules. 2021 Apr 8;11(4):543. Reversal of Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease. Aging (Albany NY). 2016 Jun;8(6):1250-8. PDF Inhalational Alzheimer’s Disease: an Unrecognized - and Treatable - Epidemic. Aging (Albany NY). 2016 Feb;8(2):304-13. PDF Hot Topics in Research: Preventive Neuroradiology in Brain Aging and Cognitive Decline. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015 Oct;36(10):1803-9. PDF ω-3 Supplementation Increases Amyloid-β phagocytosis and Resolvin D1 in Patients with Minor Cognitive Impairment. FASEB J. 2015 Jul;29(7):2681-9. Reversal of Cognitive Decline: a Novel Therapeutic Program. Aging (Albany NY). 2014 Sep;6(9):707-17. PDF __________________________________________________ Books By Dale E. Bredesen, MD The Ageless Brain: How to Sharpen and Protect Your Mind for a Lifetime by Dale E. Bredesen MD, March, 2025, 384 pages The First Survivors of Alzheimer’s: How Patients Recovered Life and Hope in Their Own Words Dale Bredesen MD, August, 2021, 272 pages The End of Alzheimer’s Program: The First Protocol to Enhance Cognition and Reverse Decline at Any AgeDale Bredesen, MD, August 18, 2020, 352 pages The End of Alzheimer’s: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline by Dale Bredesen, MD, August, 2017, 320 pages _________________________________________________________ (AI generated summary of interview transcript from Kirk Hamilton PA’s interview with Dale E. Bredesen, MD reviewed and edited by interviewer Kirk Hamilton, June 8, 2026) Precision Medicine Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease & Cognitive DeclineSummary Overview of Interview… Dr. Dale Bredesen describes Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline as a complex systems biology disorder rather than a single amyloid-driven disease. His research suggests that the brain exists in different biological “modes,” especially a connection mode versus a protection mode. In a healthy state, the brain favors synaptic growth, neuronal repair, and communication through pathways involving normal amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, balanced tau function, neurotrophic signaling, and controlled inflammation. When exposed chronically to metabolic stress, infections, toxins, inflammation, vascular compromise, poor sleep, hormonal decline, or other threats, the brain shifts into a protective survival program. In this state, amyloid beta and phosphorylated tau may represent downstream responses involved with defense mechanisms rather than isolated causes. Bredesen originally described the “36 holes in the roof” concept, meaning many biological contributors can push the brain toward degeneration. He now describes approximately 45 interacting drivers, emphasizing that successful treatment requires identifying and correcting the individual combination of contributors. The Precision Medicine model evaluates cognitive decline by asking two questions: “Is the process occurring?” and “Why is it occurring?” Bredesen compares modern blood biomarkers (P-Tau217) to a “hemoglobin A1c for the brain.” Newer testing such as p-tau217, GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein), and neurofilament light chain (NfL) may help detect early Alzheimer’s-related biology, neuroinflammation, glial activation, and neuronal injury. He recommends earlier screening because Alzheimer’s pathology may begin decades before dementia symptoms appear. Cognitive decline progresses through stages: asymptomatic risk → subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) → mild cognitive impairment (MCI) → dementia. The earlier intervention begins, the greater the opportunity to preserve function. His “cognoscopy” concept combines cognitive testing, imaging when indicated (especially MRI with volumetric analysis and cerebral blood flow measures), and laboratory investigation of metabolic, inflammatory, hormonal, infectious, vascular, nutritional, and toxic contributors. A major theme of the interview is restoring brain energy and metabolic flexibility. Bredesen explains that the brain relies primarily on glucose and ketones for fuel. With aging, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, sedentary lifestyle, and inflammation, glucose utilization may decline—especially in vulnerable brain regions involved in memory. Elevated fasting insulin and impaired glucose handling may reduce the ability to generate ketones, creating a “fuel crisis.” His dietary approach, often referred to as KetoFlex 12/3, emphasizes a plant-rich, nutrient-dense, low-glycemic diet designed to restore insulin sensitivity while allowing ketone production when needed. He highlights vegetables, fiber, healthy fats, appropriate protein intake, fasting windows, avoidance of excess sugar/refined carbohydrates, and individualized modification for frail patients who may not tolerate aggressive fasting or weight loss. Gut health is emphasized because intestinal permeability, microbiome disruption, and chronic inflammation may contribute to neuroinflammation. Treatment is presented as a personalized program involving “seven basics plus two specific interventions.” The foundational therapies include diet, exercise, sleep optimization, stress regulation, brain training, detoxification support, and targeted supplementation. Exercise improves cognition through multiple mechanisms including improved insulin sensitivity, vascular function, mitochondrial signaling, oxygen delivery, mood regulation, sleep enhancement, and increased neurotrophic factors such as BDNF. Sleep is emphasized because deep sleep supports glymphatic clearance, repair, memory consolidation, and toxin removal. Bredesen also discusses identifying hidden drivers such as infections, oral disease, toxins from mold/mycotoxin exposure, heavy metals, organic toxins, hormonal deficiencies, nutrient deficiencies, chronic stress physiology, and mitochondrial dysfunction. His goal is not a single medication solution but a comprehensive restoration of the biological environment that supports synaptic maintenance and brain resilience. Basic Cognitive Assessment at Apollo Health MyCQTEST.com Brain Scan Plasma Phosphorylated Tau 217 (p-Tau 217) - It measures a specific, altered form of the brain's tau protein that accumulates and leaks into the bloodstream when Alzheimer's-type brain pathology is present.Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) - Elevated GFAP in the blood is a strong biomarker for Alzheimer's. It tracks early accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and ongoing neuroinflammation.Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) - NfL is a structural protein found specifically in the axons of neurons. It acts as a non-specific biomarker that leaks into cerebrospinal fluid and the bloodstream when nerve cells are damaged or die. Pathophysiology of Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease — Connectivity Mode vs Protection Mode (AI generated summary, outline and key points of Kirk Hamilton’s interview transcript with Dr. Dale E. Bredesen reviewed and edited by Kirk Hamilton) Dr. Bredesen explains that cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease represent a systems biology “mode switch” in the brain rather than simply the accumulation of amyloid plaques or tau tangles. He describes two opposing biological states: a connectivity mode, where the brain is maintaining synapses and neuronal communication, and a protection mode, where the brain shifts into a defensive state in response to ongoing threats. He compares this switch to other biological state changes, such as moving from sleep to wakefulness, where many hormones, signaling pathways, and physiologic processes change together. 1. Connectivity Mode (Brain Maintenance and Synapse Support) According to Bredesen, in the healthy connection mode, the brain is actively: * Making new synaptic connections * Maintaining existing synapses * Supporting neuronal communication and plasticity He describes several molecular features of this state: Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) Processing In connectivity mode: * APP (amyloid precursor protein) is cleaved at a single site. * This produces: * sAPP-alpha * alpha C-terminal fragment (alpha CTF) These fragments signal both inside and outside the neuron that the brain should: * Build synapses * Maintain synapses * Preserve neuronal networks In this state: * ApoE4 activity is “off” the DNA * Tau remains unphosphorylated * Tau supports neurite growth and normal neuronal structure * REST and Reelin signaling are higher * NF-kappa B inflammatory signaling is lower The overall message is: “Maintain connections, grow, repair, and preserve the neural network.” 2. Transition Into Protection Mode Bredesen explains that multiple chronic insults can signal the brain that it needs to defend itself. These exposures push the nervous system away from connection and toward protection. Examples he gives include: * Pathogens * Oral microbiome changes * Chronic sinusitis * Tick-borne illness * Metabolic syndrome * Mycotoxin exposure * Other chronic biological threats When these persist, the brain interprets the environment as unsafe and changes its entire signaling program. 3. Protection Mode (Defense State Associated with Alzheimer’s) Once the brain enters protection mode these changes occurr. APP Processing Changes Instead of being cleaved once: * APP is now cleaved at three sites This pr
Jun 7

Colon Cancer and Tocotrienols Protective Role...What is the Physiology and What is the Evidence... An Interview with Ammu K. Radhakrishnan PhD, MSc...

Colon Cancer and the Protective Role of Gamma and Delta Tocotrienols (Vitamin E Components) …What is the Physiology and What is the Evidence Ammu K. Radhakrishnan PhD, MSc Food as Medicine Research StrengthJeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health SciencesMonash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Malaysia Ammu.radhakrishnan@monash.edu Insights into the Anticancer Mechanisms Modulated by Gamma and Delta Tocotrienols in Colorectal CancersNutr Rev. 2025 Mar 1;83(3):e1295-e1310.” (6/2026) Interview Summary… In this interview, Dr. Ammu K. Radhakrishnan, Professor of Immunology at Monash University Malaysia, discusses her research on the anticancer potential of gamma- and delta-tocotrienols, lesser-known members of the vitamin E family, particularly in relation to colorectal cancer prevention and adjunctive therapy. Unlike the more commonly recognized alpha-tocopherol form of vitamin E, tocotrienols possess an unsaturated side chain that may allow them to interact differently with cell membranes and biological pathways, potentially explaining their stronger anticancer effects seen in experimental models. Dr. Radhakrishnan explains that gamma- and delta-tocotrienols demonstrate multiple cancer-modulating mechanisms, including inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis (programmed cancer cell death), promotion of cell-cycle arrest, suppression of angiogenesis (tumor blood vessel formation), inhibition of metastasis, possible effects on telomerase activity, and modulation of inflammatory and immune pathways. Dr. Radhakrishnan and colleague’s review paper “Insights into the Anticancer Mechanisms Modulated by Gamma and Delta Tocotrienols in Colorectal Cancers,” analyzed research from the past two decades, including 26 cell studies, 9 animal studies, 2 randomized clinical trials, and 1 scoping review. The accumulated evidence suggests these compounds may influence key cancer pathways such as Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, tumor-stromal interactions, inflammatory signaling, and noncoding RNA regulation, making tocotrienols of interests as supportive compounds in cancer research rather than standalone treatments. Dr. Radhakrishnan emphasizes that tocotrienols appear especially promising because they act through multiple biological targets rather than a single pathway, which is important given the complexity of colorectal cancer, treatment resistance, recurrence, and cancer stem cell behavior. Some research suggests possible effects on the gut microbiome, with delta-tocotrienols shown in animal studies to increase potentially beneficial bacteria such as Lactococcus and Bacteroides while reducing inflammatory changes associated with carcinogenesis. (Note: While non-toxigenic strains of Bacteroides fragilis (NTBF) are normal, harmless, and beneficial parts of the human gut microbiome, Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) carry a specific gene (bft) that produces a harmful pro-inflammatory protein known as Bacteroides fragilis toxin (BFT) that can increase cancer risk). Human clinical evidence remains preliminary but encouraging: an early trial combining delta-tocotrienol with FOLFOXIRI chemotherapy suggested safety and a possible neuroprotective effect, although definitive effectiveness has not yet been proven. Rich dietary sources of tocotrienols include annatto oil, palm oil, and rice bran oil, with the natural balance of vitamin E compounds varies greatly among foods. Refining, oxidation, storage, and high-temperature processing can reduce tocotrienol content. Dr. Radhakrishnan notes for the treatment of cancer and other acute conditions a dose of tocotrienols between 200-400 mg of a tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) in a dietary supplement (75% tocotienols/25% tocopherols) can be practically obtained. These doses are not possible through dietary means or taking the free form oils (rice bran, annatto seed or palm oils). Dr. Radhakrishnan concludes that while gamma- and delta-tocotrienols (especially delta) show strong preclinical anticancer potential, they should currently be viewed as investigational adjunctive agents rather than solo cancer treatments. Further research is needed to determine optimal dosing, absorption, biomarkers, and clinical effectiveness, but their broad mechanisms, favorable safety profile, and ability to influence cancer biology provide a strong rationale for future human trials. (AI summary of this print interview reviewed and edited by Kirk Hamilton PA) (Kirk Hamilton PA’s print interview with Dr. Ammu Radhakrishnan several weeks prior to the above video interview regarding the paper: Insights into the Anticancer Mechanisms Modulated by Gamma and Delta Tocotrienols in Colorectal Cancers )Kirk Hamilton: Can you please share with me your educational background and current position? Ammu K. Radhakrishnan: I am a Professor of Immunology at Monash University Malaysia. My academic training includes a BSc (Hons) and MSc from the University of Malaya, and a PhD in Immunology from the University of Cambridge. My research focuses on cancer immunology, cancer immunotherapy, nutritional immunology, natural product therapeutics, and immune modulation. KH: What got you interested in studying tocotrienols in the first place and why the special interest for colon cancer? AKR: My long-standing interest is in how natural bioactive compounds can modulate immune and cancer pathways. Tocotrienols are particularly interesting because they are lesser-known vitamin E compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Colon cancer is important because it remains common worldwide, treatment resistance is a major challenge, and diet, inflammation, microbiota, and tumor microenvironment all influence disease progression. KH: Can you describe what are tocotrienols, the different forms of tocotrienols and how they “balance” tocopherols in the vitamin E molecule? AKR: Vitamin E has two main families: tocopherols and tocotrienols. Each has four isoforms: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Tocopherols have a saturated side chain, while tocotrienols have an unsaturated side chain with three double bonds. This structural difference may help tocotrienols enter tissues and membranes differently and may explain some of their stronger biological effects. To date, alpha-tocopherol is the officially recognized essential vitamin E form. However, gamma- and delta-tocotrienols appear to have stronger anticancer activity than alpha-tocopherol in several experimental systems. Interestingly, alpha-tocopherol may sometimes reduce delta-tocotrienol uptake and weaken its anticancer effect, so “balance” here means the relative proportions of tocopherols and tocotrienols can influence biological activity. KH: In “whole foods” are tocopherols and tocotrienols in a particular balance/ratios? Does this balance very from food to food? And how does food processing alter tocotrienol content and balance in foods? AKR: There is no single natural ratio of tocopherols to tocotrienols in foods. The balance varies considerably depending on the source. For example, olive and sunflower oils are dominated by tocopherols, whereas palm oil, rice bran oil, and annatto are much richer in tocotrienols. Food processing can significantly affect this balance because tocotrienols are sensitive to heat, oxygen, and refining procedures. Extensive refining, prolonged storage, and repeated high-temperature cooking can reduce tocotrienol content and alter the natural vitamin E profile. From a health perspective, this is important because emerging evidence suggests that the different forms of vitamin E may interact biologically, and some studies indicate that high levels of α-tocopherol may reduce the cellular uptake of certain tocotrienols. Therefore, obtaining vitamin E from minimally processed foods may provide a broader spectrum of bioactive compounds than relying on a single isolated form. KH: Can you tell us about your study and the basic results? AKR: Our paper was a narrative review of evidence from the past two decades on gamma- and delta-tocotrienols in colorectal cancer. We identified 38 relevant studies: 26 cell-based studies, 9 animal studies, 2 randomized clinical trials, and 1 scoping review. Overall, the evidence suggests that gamma- and delta-tocotrienols can inhibit colorectal cancer cell proliferation, induce apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest, suppress metastasis and angiogenesis, affect telomerase, interact with immune and inflammatory pathways, and sometimes synergize with established anticancer agents. KH: You list multiple mechanisms of how tocotrienols might work as adjunctive therapies in colon cancer treatment; cell apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, telomerase inhibition, suppression of metastasis and angiogenesis, synergize with anti-cancer agents, modify immune function, tumor-stromal interaction and regulating noncoding RNAs, etc..Can you specifically comment on their role in suppressing cancer stem cells and how they might alter the gut flora? AKR: Cancer stem cells are important because they may drive recurrence, metastasis, and therapy resistance. However, the evidence of cancer stem cells in colorectal cancer is limited. In colorectal cancer, CD133 is one commonly discussed cancer stem cell biomarker. The direct evidence for tocotrienols regulating CD133 in colon cancer is still limited, so this remains an important research gap. However, gamma-tocotrienol has been shown to suppress cancer stem cell markers in other cancers, which gives us a rationale to study this more deeply in colorectal cancer. For gut flora, the evidence is more direct but still preclinical. For instance, delta-tocotrienol and its metabolite have been reported in animal models to modulate gut microbiota, including increasing potentially beneficial bacteria such as Lactococcus and Bacteroides, while reducing inflammatory changes linked to carcinogenesis. This is exciting because colon cancer is stron
May 30

"Killed To Order" - China's Forced Organ Harvesting Program of Religious and Ethnic Minorities. Why the U.S. and Free World Must Act Now! An Interview with Jan Jekielek, NYT Bestselling Author...

Jan Jekielek Senior Editor, Epoch TimesWashington D.C. Bureauwww.JanJekielek.com www.KilledtoOrder.comJan’s Book: Killed to Order: China’s Organ Harvesting Industry & the True Nature of America‘s Biggest Adversary (March, 2026) (AI generated summary of transcript reviewed and edited by Kirk Hamilton PA) In this interview on the Staying Healthy Today Show, Kirk Hamilton interviews Jan Jekielek about his 2026 book Killed to Order: China’s Organ Harvesting Industry and the True Nature of America’s Biggest Adversary. Jekielek explains that his investigation into China’s alleged forced organ harvesting program began nearly twenty years earlier, after whistleblowers and transplant specialists presented evidence suggesting that prisoners of conscience—particularly Falun Gong practitioners—were being killed for their organs on an industrial scale. He describes how reports of scheduled heart transplants within days or weeks raised major ethical concerns because “normal” transplant systems depend on unpredictable accidental deaths and extensive compatibility testing. According to Jekielek, the Chinese Communist Party created a “kill to order” model by detaining large populations of Falun Gong practitioners, medically screening them, and building a database of potential organ matches for paying transplant recipients. He states that recent years have brought increased public awareness due to additional evidence, survivor testimony, international medical scrutiny, and growing recognition of the CCP’s authoritarian methods during the COVID-19 period. Jekielek also discussed his personal background and how it shaped his interest in human rights and Communist China. Born to parents who had lived under communism in Poland, he later studied evolutionary biology and pursued doctoral work before developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, a serious autoimmune neurological condition that disrupted his academic career. During his recovery he encountered Falun Gong through a friend who believed the practice had helped with chronic fatigue syndrome. Jekielek explained that the meditation exercises, spiritual teachings, and principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance helped restore his health and changed the direction of his life. He later met Falun Gong practitioners who had escaped persecution in China and described a pivotal moment when he realized that the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution campaigns depended on coercion, ideological conformity, and the creation of “black classes” — groups dehumanized through propaganda and treated as enemies of the state. He connected this system directly to the growth of the forced organ harvesting industry, arguing that Falun Gong practitioners became uniquely vulnerable because of their large numbers, refusal to renounce their beliefs, and mass incarceration. A major theme of the interview was Western complicity and the broader geopolitical implications of engagement with Communist China. Jekielek argued that American and Western institutions entered into relationships with China believing economic integration would liberalize the country, but instead became entangled in systems that concealed human rights abuses. He states that transplant organizations, hospitals, universities, and researchers often accepted reassurances from Chinese officials without independently verifying reforms, gradually becoming financially and institutionally invested in maintaining cooperation. He compared this dynamic to broader patterns seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, where international organizations and Western experts frequently relied on Chinese government narratives despite contradictory evidence. Jekielek further warned that the CCP views relationships instrumentally and strategically rather than as genuine partnerships, and he connected the organ harvesting issue to larger concerns about national security, technological espionage, propaganda, and ideological influence. He also discussed utilitarian bioethics and euthanasia policies in some Western nations, warning that prioritizing collective outcomes over individual human dignity can weaken traditional medical ethics and create dangerous moral precedents. The interview concluded with discussion of cultural resistance, public awareness efforts, and proposed legislation. Jekielek spoke positively about Shen Yun Performing Arts, describing the organization as an effort to preserve traditional Chinese culture independent of Communist Party ideology. He noted that many Shen Yun performers practice Falun Gong and that the company has faced threats, sabotage attempts, and pressure campaigns from Chinese authorities because it portrays pre-communist Chinese civilization and highlights ongoing human rights abuses. Hamilton and Jekielek also reviewed recent bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Congress, including the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act and the Falun Gong Protection Act, both intended to impose sanctions, expand reporting requirements, and restrict U.S. involvement in unethical transplant practices. Jekielek encouraged grassroots action, public education, and support for legislative efforts, emphasizing that understanding the CCP’s treatment of prisoners of conscience is important not only as a human rights issue but also as a broader warning about authoritarian systems and the consequences of ignoring them. Kirk’s Comments… This is a topic that is so hard to believe because it is so horrific. Forced organ harvesting when a person is still conscious with minimal, inadequate or no anesthesia is just head-shaking, or better said “soul shaking”. You have to come in contact with this topic on multiple occasions and for years sometimes to have it sink in. But Jan in this interview feels that momentum is building for individuals and countries to respond in a louder and more forceful fashion to call-out the Chinese Communist Party for these genocidal actions. That is one of the reasons why he chose to write his book “Killed to Order” now even though he has been aware of this genocide for almost two decades. Questions to Ask… A question to ask if this program of “Killed to Order” in China is allowed to continue is what value does this put on human life’s ending in other “civilized” societies? Is the “Utilitarian” view for the good of the collective (or elite) more important than the individual living out the rest of their life with the highest dignity and support. Or will those in “free societies” be at risk in critical care or near end-of-life situations in hospitals for “early” organ harvesting whether for humanitarian need and/or for profit? Are we sliding towards this utilitarian approach on a governmental scale for end-of-life care for serious conditions so governments can save money? Or depopulate? Look at the MAID Program in Canada paid for by the government (Medical Assisstance in Dying Program). “…Eligibility for MAID for persons suffering solely from a mental illness has been delayed until March 17, 2027…” How does that feel? Compassionate? Feel something else? If China gets away with this massive forced organ harvesting program will this become acceptable in other totalitarian/authoritative countries to attempt to exterminate a minority for their religious beliefs (Falun Gong) or a particular ethnicity (Muslim Uyghurs, Tibetan Buddhists)? Will organ harvesting of young injured soldiers or those injured in war become more normalized and industrialized? The time for the world to act is now while disclosure, momentum and pressure is building against the Chinese Communist Party and ALL those who are in the supply chain to make this horrendous force organ harvesting and transplant industry work. U.S. Complicitness in the Development and Maintenance of China’s Organ Transplant Business? A big question for me as an American is how complicit are the U.S. government, U.S. business and industry leaders, and medical educators/societies/ and academic institutions in allowing this organ harvesting industry to be established and fostered in China? The irony is by U.S. complicitness in “helping” Communist China build this forced organ harvesting and transplant industry, “knowingly or unknowingly”, we are assisting in the “killing” of a truly non-violent people (Falun Gong) that is challenging the Chinese communist party’s authoritarian stranglehold on the Chinese people to becoming a free society while at the same time the CCP is our number one adversary. If we leave out the obvious humanitarian issue for the moment of forced organ harvesting, we (U.S.) should be doing all we can to support the Falun Gong who are really “non-violent freedom fighters” within communist China who are taking on all the “casualties”. On moral grounds and for our on preservation of freedom here and abroad the U.S. Government and its people should be supporting the Falun Gong by bringing facts to light and calling on the Chinese Communist Party to stop this evil practice. It would help the Falun Gong, other persecuted religions/ethnicities, it would help the United States and it would help the world. About the Falun Gong…A Main Target of the Chinese Communist Party… * Falun Gong was introduced to the public in May 1992 in Changchun, Jilin Province, China, by its founder, Li Hongzhi. A combination of Buddhist and Taoist tradition 1. Core Principles: The practice revolves around cultivating three primary virtues in daily life: * Truthfulness: Being honest, speaking the truth, and acting with sincerity. * Compassion: Showing kindness, putting others first, and developing empathy. * Forbearance: Practicing patience, tolerance, and enduring hardships without resentment * Mind and Body Cultivation * Physical Exercises - These five exercises are a form of Qigong * In the mid 1990s the Chinese Communist Party was supportive of this practice.In 1999 approximately (70-100
May 26

Is Coffee An Anti-Aging Food? If So What Are the Mechanisms? The Role of Polyphenols and Orphan Nuclear Receptor 4A1 (NR4A1)... An Interview with Stephen Safe, PhD, Bioorganic Chemistry, Texas A&M...

Is Coffee An Anti-Aging Food? If So What Are the Mechanisms? Stephen Safe, PhD(Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Oxford) Department of Veterinary Physiology and PharmacologyCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TX 77843, USAssafe@cvm.tamu.eduBrewed Coffee and Its Components Act Through Orphan Nuclear Receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) Nutrients 2026, 18(6), 877.” “Health Benefits of Coffee Consumption for Cancer and Other Diseases and Mechanisms of Action.” Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jan 31;24(3):2706.5/2026 (AI generated summary and outline of transcript reviewed and edited by Kirk Hamilton PA - See “Kirk’s Comments” on coffee’s possible side effects BELOW this article summary and outline) Interview Summary Kirk Hamilton PA interviews Stephen Safe, PhD about evidence that coffee may function as a anti-aging food through activation of the orphan nuclear receptor NR4A1, a stress-responsive gene involved in inflammation, metabolic regulation, tissue repair, and cellular resilience. In Dr. Safe’s 2026 paper in the journal Nutrients titled “Brewed Coffee and Its Components Act Through Orphan Nuclear Receptor 4A1 (NR4A1)” he explains that coffee’s health benefits likely extend beyond stimulation from caffeine alone. Dr. Safe emphasizes that epidemiologic studies have repeatedly associated coffee intake with lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers, but until now the biologic mechanism behind those associations remained unclear. His laboratory has demonstrated that multiple compounds within brewed coffee—including caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, kahweol, and cafestol—bind directly to the NR4A1 receptor and enhance its activity. NR4A1 functions as a “nutrient sensor” that becomes activated during tissue stress and injury, helping suppress inflammation and reduce cellular damage. A major theme of the interview is that coffee is chemically far more complex than most people realize, containing well over a thousand biologically active compounds. Dr. Safe states while caffeine may have health enhancing effects, NR4A1 alone and interacting with coffee’s polyphenols and polyhydroxy compounds has considerably greater beneficial effects than caffeine alone. This may explain why both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee show similar associations with longevity and reduced disease risk in population studies. The interview also explores the broader implications of NR4A1 biology for aging and chronic disease prevention. Dr. Safe describes NR4A1 as an adaptive survival receptor that helps organisms recover from stress, regulate immune responses, and maintain tissue integrity during aging. Declining NR4A1 function may contribute to inflammaging, impaired tissue repair, metabolic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration. By identifying coffee-derived compounds that naturally activate this receptor, the research opens the possibility that dietary polyphenols could serve as low-level daily modulators of healthy aging pathways. Dr. Safe notes that his group is now investigating synthetic NR4A1-targeting compounds with stronger binding affinity that could eventually become therapeutic agents for cancer, inflammatory disease, or metabolic disorders. Dr. Safe emphasizes that the current findings are mechanistic rather than definitive clinical proof and should not be interpreted as evidence that coffee alone prevents disease or reverses aging. Instead, the work provides one biologic explanation for why habitual coffee consumption consistently correlates with improved healthspan and longevity across multiple large observational studies. Coffee and Healthy AgingWhat New Research Says About Coffee, Longevity, and Cellular Protection Overview Recent research suggests that coffee may do more than simply improve alertness and energy. Scientists are now studying coffee as a potential “healthy aging” food because many large population studies consistently show that regular coffee drinkers often have: * Lower rates of cardiovascular disease * Reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease * Better metabolic health * Lower levels of chronic inflammation * Reduced overall mortality in some studies * Lower rates of cancers * Coffee may act as an anti-aging food through activation of the orphan nuclear receptor NR4A1. * NR4A1 regulates: * Inflammation * Tissue repair * Metabolism * Cellular stress responses * Aging-related resilience * Regulates immune system signaling * NR4A1 is sometimes called an “orphan nuclear receptor.” It acts like a cellular switch that helps the body respond to stress and injury. * Coffee contains over 1,000 biologically active compounds. * The major active anti-aging compounds identified include. They may act as ligands binding to the NR4A1 receptor and enhancing its activity: * Caffeic acid (polyphenol) * Chlorogenic acid (polyphenol) * Ferulic acid (polyphenol) * p-coumaric acid (polyphenol) * Kahweol (diterpene) * Cafestol (diterpene) * Polyphenols appear more biologically important than caffeine for NR4A1 activation. * Both regular and decaf coffee may provide benefits because polyphenols remain present in both. * Experimental findings showed coffee compounds: * Bind directly to NR4A1 * Reduce inflammatory signaling * Reduce cellular damage * Slower cancer cell growth in laboratory models * Dr. Safe describes NR4A1 as a “nutrient sensor” responsive to dietary compounds. * Coffee’s health effects are likely multifactorial and involve numerous pathways beyond NR4A1 alone. * The research is mechanistic and does not yet prove direct cause-and-effect in humans. * Future therapeutic implications include development of synthetic NR4A1 agonists for: * Cancer * Neurodegenerative disease * Metabolic dysfunction * Chronic inflammatory disorders * This study helps explain why long-term coffee consumption repeatedly correlates with increased healthspan and longevity. How Much Coffee Appears Beneficial? Most studies showing benefit involve: * Approximately 1–4 cups daily Benefits often appear strongest with moderate intake rather than excessive consumption. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee may provide benefits. Important Cautions… Coffee is not appropriate for everyone all the time. Some individuals may experience: * Anxiety * Palpitations ***** * Insomnia ***** * Acid reflux * Chest pain or tightness (esophageal spasm)***** * Elevated blood pressure * Headaches (especially daily, not just rebound) ***** * Digestive upset, lower abdominal pain * IBS, loose stools ***** * Frequent urination, especially at night ***** * Nocturnal leg cramps***** * Skin rash***** * Prostate pain/ache People who are pregnant, highly caffeine-sensitive, or who have certain medical conditions should discuss coffee intake with their healthcare provider. Coffee should not replace: * Healthy nutrition * Exercise * Sleep * Stress reduction * Medical treatment Current research does NOT prove that coffee prevents aging or cures disease. The findings simply help explain why coffee consumption has repeatedly been associated with better long-term health outcomes. Tips for Healthier Coffee Consumption To maximize potential benefits: * Choose high-quality brewed coffee * Limit excessive sugar and flavored syrups * Avoid excessive artificial creamers * Consider filtered coffee when appropriate * Avoid drinking coffee late in the day if it affects sleep * Pair coffee with a nutrient-dense diet * Consume coffee with a meal if GI effects on empty stomach Take “coffee breaks” periodically for 5-7 days to really see how this daily habit may be effecting you. There can be a withdrawal phase for the first 1-4 days then from day 5-7 a clearing to see how you really feel off coffee. Key Takeaway Emerging research suggests that coffee may support healthy aging through activation of cellular pathways involved in inflammation control, metabolism, and stress resilience. Compounds in brewed coffee appear to interact with the NR4A1 receptor, which may help explain why moderate coffee consumption is repeatedly associated with improved healthspan and longevity. While more human clinical research is still needed, moderate coffee intake may be part of an overall healthy lifestyle for many individuals. KIRK’S COMMENT: Coffee is a “Jekyll and Hyde” food with regards to wellness and longevity for me and to many people. I envy Dr. Safe that he can consume 5 shots of espresso in the day without any side effects. I really love the bitter coffee taste of espresso but my body couldn’t take the 5 shots of espresso. It’s not all “espresso” that keeps Dr. Safe vibrant, incredibly productive, coherent and brilliant as an 87 year-old active researcher running a busy lab. He eats a balanced diet with lots of vegetables, has a great relationship, takes vitamins, vitamin C and an aspirin daily for 50 years and continues to work full time at something that he enjoys doing and is constantly “brain challenged” in a good way. I don’t know what his exercise and sleep routines are but he’s got a sense of purpose and reason to get up in the morning. Health Recommendation: “Just keep doing what you are doing!” and have gratitude for his life which he has. Kirk: The Flip Side of Coffee on Body Symptoms: As much as I like the espresso taste if I didn’t know where these symptoms came from (******) when I drink between 1-2 cups of coffee (black) daily, usually when I am tired from driving distances and or working late/ getting up early, I could have easily seen 5 or so specialists over the years for coffee related symptoms if I didn’t know better. 1) Esophageal spasm - (cardiologist, gastroenterologist) - feels exactly like a heart attack; 2) Severe nocturnal leg cramps (PCP); 3) Migraine headaches (PCP, neurologist); 4) Palpitations (cardiologist); 5) IBS, lose stools (gastroenterologist); 6) Po

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4.3

out of 5

14 Ratings

Awesome Podcast

10/13/2017

Brooke Craven

Dr. Hamilton host of Staying Healthy Today Show highlights all aspects of health in this can’t miss podcast. The host and expert guests offer insightful advice that is helpful to anyone that listens!
Staying Healthy Today

09/12/2015

REOExpress

Great to see these excellent short podcasts from Kirk Hamilton. Definitely worth subscribing to! 👍🏻😃

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Information to keep the indivdiual, your community and the world society living healthfully and in peace
Years Active

2015 - 2026
Episodes

66
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Clean
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Staying Healthy Today Show with Kirk Hamilton

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Staying Healthy Today Show with Kirk Hamilton

Episodes

Autoimmune Inflammation and Disease Triggered by the Covid-19 Genetic Injections (Vaccines) an Interview with Panagis Polykretis, PhD

Alzheimer’s Disease, Neurologic & Psychiatric Disorders, Covid 19 & mRNA Injections and the Benefits of Lithium Orotate as An Essential Element for Life & Human Health...

Mechanisms of COVID-19 Injections Causing Cancer and Heart Disease. Attacks on Scientific Publications and Research...Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, June 3, 2026, Senate Dirksen Building...

How Hearing Loss and Tinnitus “Intertwine” with Cognitive Decline, Diabetes (Hyperinsulinemia), Heart Disease, Diet, Exercise and Noise Excess...An Interview with Kirsten McWilliams, Au.D.

Precision Medicine for Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Decline..Prevention and Treatment... An Interview with Dale E. Bredesen, MD

Colon Cancer and Tocotrienols Protective Role...What is the Physiology and What is the Evidence... An Interview with Ammu K. Radhakrishnan PhD, MSc...

"Killed To Order" - China's Forced Organ Harvesting Program of Religious and Ethnic Minorities. Why the U.S. and Free World Must Act Now! An Interview with Jan Jekielek, NYT Bestselling Author...

Is Coffee An Anti-Aging Food? If So What Are the Mechanisms? The Role of Polyphenols and Orphan Nuclear Receptor 4A1 (NR4A1)... An Interview with Stephen Safe, PhD, Bioorganic Chemistry, Texas A&M...

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