Medicine Episodes
58 episodes
Avoiding, Treating & Curing Cancer | Dr. Alex Marson
Dr. Alex Marson, MD, PhD, is a Senior Investigator at the Gladstone Institutes and a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. We discuss the biology of the immune system and cancer, and everyday choices that can increase or decrease your cancer risk, several of which are surprising but all of which are actionable. We also discuss immunotherapy, including how engineered T-cells can be used to defeat childhood and adult cancers. Dr. Marson explains CRISPR and gene editing to cure diseases, and we address the ethical questions surrounding gene editing in embryos, children and adults. This discussion is for anyone interested in avoiding cancer and/or seeking to understand the science and practical applications of immune- or gene-therapy. Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/oBv3wjv Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Huberman Lab Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hubermanlab X: https://x.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://www.hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://www.hubermanlab.com/newsletter Dr. Alex Marson Lab website: https://www.marsonlab.org Gladstone Institute: https://gladstone.org/people/alex-marson USCF profile: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/alexander.marson Publications: https://gladstone.org/people/alex-marson#publications BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/marsonlab.bsky.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-marson-65483a5 Timestamps 00:00:00 Alex Marson 00:02:21 Diseases & Current Biological Landscape; AI & Computational Tools 00:05:56 Immune System, Innate vs Adaptive Immune System 00:10:55 Thymus, T Cell Selection; B Cells & Antibodies 00:13:23 Sponsors: BetterHelp & Helix Sleep 00:16:11 Immune System Health, Sleep, Diet; Genes 00:20:56 Childhood Exposure & Allergy Prevention; Autoimmune Reactions 00:25:27 Whole Body Immune Response, Cytokines & Fever; Antibiotics 00:30:51 Cancer; Mutations & Cell Regulation; Smoking, BRCA Mutations, Sunlight 00:38:27 BRAC Mutations, Mutagens, Pesticides 00:42:33 Sponsor: AG1 00:43:57 X-Rays & Airport Scanners, Carcinogen vs Mutagen, Charred Meat, Food Dye 00:49:34 Immune-Based Cancer Treatment, Checkpoint Inhibitors, CAR T-Cell Therapy 00:59:04 CRISPR, Immunotherapies 01:02:52 Age & Cancer Risk; CAR T-Cells, Targets & Side Effects; Ketogenic Diet 01:08:27 CRISPR Discovery & Mechanism 01:17:06 CRISPR Precision, Risk & Benefit; CRISPR Technology Evolution 01:20:57 Sponsor: LMNT 01:22:17 CRISPR Cell Delivery, Clinical Trials; Treating Early Cancers & Prevention 01:33:47 Liposomes, Engineered Viruses, Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs), Vaccines 01:39:57 COVID Pandemic & Trust in Science, mRNA Vaccine 01:47:51 Sponsor: Function 01:49:39 Drug Delivery to Cancer, Immunotoxins, T-Cell Engagers; AI Protein Targets 01:55:45 CRISPR Embryo Modification, Ethics; Heritable Gene Editing, Diversity 02:05:42 Deep Sequencing Embryos, Diversity; Overcoming Adversity & Resilience 02:10:44 Upcoming Therapeutics, Autoimmunity & CAR T-Cells, CRISPR & Gene Function 02:17:55 Banking T Cells or iPSCs?, Future of Cell Programming 02:24:41 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter #HubermanLab #Science #Health Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer
Essentials: Therapy, Treating Trauma & Other Life Challenges | Dr. Paul Conti
Trauma is an experience where a person encounters something overwhelming that exceeds their capacity to process it, resulting in neurobiological and psychological changes that affect how they perceive themselves and the world
How to Overcome Addiction to Substances or Behaviors | Dr. Keith Humphreys
Addiction is shaped by both genetic predisposition and specific use patterns, with some individuals having substantially higher biological vulnerability to developing substance dependence
Essentials: How to Optimize Your Hormones for Health & Vitality | Dr. Kyle Gillett
The Big 6 lifestyle pillars (diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, social relationships, and avoiding hormone disruptors) form the foundation for optimizing hormone health in both men and women
Female Hormone Health, PCOS, Endometriosis, Fertility & Breast Cancer | Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi
PCOS and endometriosis are extremely common conditions that frequently go undiagnosed and significantly impact female fertility and quality of life
How A Doctor Cured His Own Terminal Disease | Dr. David Fajgenbaum
Many FDA-approved medications can treat diseases other than their original indication, offering hope for patients with rare and terminal conditions
Curing Autism, Epilepsy & Schizophrenia with Stem Cells | Dr. Sergiu Pașca
Autism spectrum disorder diagnoses are increasing due to better recognition and diagnostic criteria rather than solely increased prevalence, with genetic factors playing a significant role in susceptibility
Male vs. Female Brain Differences & How They Arise From Genes & Hormones | Dr. Nirao Shah
Male and female brains have structural and functional differences that emerge from genetic and hormonal factors starting in fetal development
Essentials: Psychedelics for Treating Mental Disorders | Dr. Matthew Johnson
Psychedelics including psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD work by altering perception and self-representation in the brain, with lasting therapeutic effects when used in controlled clinical settings
Health Effects & Risks of Kratom, Opioids & Other Natural Occurring Medicines | Dr. Chris McCurdy
Kratom is a Southeast Asian plant containing alkaloids that produce dose-dependent effects ranging from stimulation at low doses to sedation and pain relief at higher doses
Understanding & Conquering Depression | Huberman Lab Essentials
Major depression involves multiple biological pathways including dysregulation of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine neurotransmitters
How to Control Your Sense of Pain & Pleasure | Huberman Lab Essentials
Pain and pleasure are processed through specialized neurons in the skin and interpreted by the brain based on both hardwired mechanisms and subjective factors like expectation and context
Improving Science & Restoring Trust in Public Health | Dr. Jay Bhattacharya
Dr. Bhattacharya discusses his vision for NIH priorities and how to incentivize bold, innovative science from younger researchers and labs
Essentials: Understanding & Healing the Mind | Dr. Karl Deisseroth
Psychiatry and neurology are interconnected disciplines where understanding brain mechanisms directly informs clinical treatment approaches
How to Improve Your Vitality & Heal From Disease | Dr. Mark Hyman
Functional medicine treats root causes of disease using systems-based frameworks rather than simply managing symptoms with medications
How to Improve Your Teeth & Oral Microbiome for Brain & Body Health | Dr. Staci Whitman
The oral microbiome is a critical gateway to systemic health, influencing brain function, cardiovascular health, fertility, and cancer risk through oral-systemic connections
Improve Focus with Behavioral Tools & Medication for ADHD | Dr. John Kruse
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder with genetic and environmental factors that has seen increased diagnoses partly due to greater awareness and pandemic-related factors
How to Enhance Your Immune System | Dr. Roger Seheult
Light therapy including red light, infrared light, and sunlight enhances mitochondrial function across all body organs and strengthens immune defense
How to Safeguard Your Hormone Health & Fertility | Dr. Shanna Swan
Endocrine disruptors like phthalates, BPA, BPS, and PFAS are pervasive in food, water, cosmetics, and household products and significantly harm hormone health and fertility
Peptide & Hormone Therapies for Health, Performance & Longevity | Dr. Craig Koniver
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that can be synthesized to target specific biological functions and are increasingly used for therapeutic purposes beyond traditional pharmaceuticals
How to Improve & Protect Your Skin Health & Appearance | Dr. Teo Soleymani
Sun exposure is the primary driver of premature skin aging and skin cancer risk, making sun protection critical for both appearance and health
The Science of Hunger & Medications to Combat Obesity | Dr. Zachary Knight
The brain controls hunger and satiety through specific neural circuits and hormonal signals that regulate how much and what we eat
How to Improve Brain Health & Offset Neurodegeneration | Dr. Gary Steinberg
Brain injuries including concussions, TBI, stroke, and aneurysms can be prevented and treated through understanding key risk factors and mechanisms of neurological damage
Vaping, Alcohol Use & Other Risky Youth Behaviors | Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher
Vaping among adolescents has increased dramatically due to product design, social media influence, and misperceptions about nicotine and cannabis safety
How the Brain Works, Curing Blindness & How to Navigate a Career Path | Dr. E.J. Chichilnisky
The retina is a critical component for understanding how the brain processes information and represents a microcosm of broader neural computation
Journal Club with Dr. Peter Attia | Effects of Light & Dark on Mental Health & Treatments for Cancer
Bright light exposure at sunrise and throughout the day significantly improves mental health outcomes and can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety
Tools to Reduce & Manage Pain | Dr. Sean Mackey
Pain is a complex neurobiological experience involving sensory input, emotional processing, and memory, not just a simple signal from tissue damage.
Female Hormone Health, Fertility & Vitality | Dr. Natalie Crawford
Puberty timing and duration significantly impact long-term hormone cycles and the age of menopause, with earlier puberty potentially leading to earlier menopause
Improving Male Sexual Health, Function & Fertility | Dr. Michael Eisenberg
Testosterone levels are influenced by multiple factors including sleep, exercise, stress, and metabolic health, not just genetics or age
Curing All Human Diseases & the Future of Health & Technology | Mark Zuckerberg & Dr. Priscilla Chan
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is funding transformative biomedical projects with the goal of curing all human diseases by the end of the century.
Efforts & Challenges in Promoting Public Health | Dr. Vivek Murthy
Social isolation is a major public health crisis comparable to smoking and obesity, requiring systemic interventions to rebuild community connections and mental health
Dr. Paul Conti: How to Build and Maintain Healthy Relationships | Huberman Lab Guest Series
Healthy relationships require understanding both conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind and how they influence relationship dynamics
Journal Club with Dr. Peter Attia | Metformin for Longevity & The Power of Belief Effects
Metformin is a commonly prescribed diabetes drug that has been studied for potential longevity benefits, but the evidence for healthy individuals remains limited and mixed
Improving Sexual & Urological Health in Males and Females | Dr. Rena Malik
Pelvic floor dysfunction affects both men and women and can be restored through proper exercises, physical therapy, and understanding neural and vascular supply to genitals
Ketamine: Benefits and Risks for Depression, PTSD & Neuroplasticity | Huberman Lab Podcast
Ketamine causes rapid rewiring of brain circuits through glutamate and endogenous opioid pathway modulation, providing relief for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD
How to Improve Your Eye Health & Offset Vision Loss | Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg
Corrective lenses like readers can be used strategically without creating dependency, and periodic eye strain breaks help maintain natural focusing ability
The Science of MDMA & Its Therapeutic Uses: Benefits & Risks | Huberman Lab Podcast
MDMA works by increasing serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin release in the brain, which elevates mood, empathy, and social engagement while reducing threat detection
Adderall, Stimulants & Modafinil for ADHD: Short- & Long-Term Effects
Stimulant medications like Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse work by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels in brain circuits responsible for focus and attention
The Science of Psychedelics for Mental Health | Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris
Psychedelics like psilocybin induce sustained changes in brain connectivity and adaptive neural wiring that can treat major depression, OCD, anorexia, and addiction
Neuralink & Technologies to Enhance Human Brains | Dr. Matthew MacDougall
Neuralink develops neural implant technologies and brain-machine interfaces to restore movement in paralyzed patients and treat neurodegenerative movement disorders like Parkinson's and Huntington's disease
The Science of Healthy Hair, Hair Loss and How to Regrow Hair
Hair growth is controlled by stem cells in hair follicles that cycle through growth, regression, and resting phases, with blood flow and hormones playing critical roles in maintaining healthy hair
Improve Vitality, Emotional & Physical Health & Lifespan | Dr. Peter Attia
The four leading causes of death worldwide are cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic dysfunction, each requiring different prevention strategies
How to Stop Headaches Using Science-Based Approaches
There are distinct types of headaches including tension, migraines, sinus, cluster, and hormone-based headaches, each with different underlying mechanisms and treatments
How to Optimize Female Hormone Health for Vitality & Longevity | Dr. Sara Gottfried
Female hormones fluctuate throughout life stages including puberty, menstrual cycles, perimenopause, and menopause, each requiring tailored health strategies
Tools for Hormone Optimization in Males | Dr. Kyle Gillett
Optimize testosterone through specific supplements like tongkat ali, fadogia agrestis, and creatine combined with strategic exercise and behavioral interventions
Diet & Nutrition for Mental Health | Dr. Chris Palmer
The ketogenic diet and low-carbohydrate nutrition are evidence-based treatments for mental health conditions including depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder through metabolic and mitochondrial mechanisms
The Science of Learning & Speaking Languages | Dr. Eddie Chang
The brain's speech production system involves distributed networks across multiple cortical regions, not just Broca's area, with recent neuroscience overturning classical textbook models of language localization
Psychedelics & Neurostimulation for Brain Rewiring | Dr. Nolan Williams
Neural circuits underlying self-identity, mood regulation, and stress control can be precisely mapped and therapeutically targeted
The Effects of Cannabis (Marijuana) on the Brain & Body
Cannabis contains THC and CBD with different mechanisms of action on dopamine, glutamate, and GABA systems in the brain
Biology & Treatments for Compulsive Eating & Behaviors | Dr. Casey Halpern
Deep brain stimulation can effectively treat binge eating disorder and other compulsive eating behaviors by targeting specific brain circuits involved in loss of control eating
The Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme fluctuations in mood and energy, involving both manic and depressive episodes that reflect underlying brain biology rather than simple emotional states
The Science & Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD involves repetitive thought-action loops where compulsions paradoxically strengthen obsessions rather than relieving them
Therapy, Treating Trauma & Other Life Challenges | Dr. Paul Conti
Trauma is a neurobiological condition that occurs when overwhelming experiences exceed the brain's capacity to process them, with far-reaching effects on mental and physical health
How to Optimize Your Hormones for Health & Vitality | Dr. Kyle Gillett
Hormone optimization requires a foundation of six pillars including sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress management, social connection, and purpose
Psychedelics for Treating Mental Disorders | Dr. Matthew Johnson
Clinical research demonstrates psilocybin and MDMA show significant therapeutic potential for treating depression, addiction, PTSD, and other mental health disorders
Understanding & Treating Addiction | Dr. Anna Lembke
Addiction arises from dopamine dysregulation where the brain's reward system becomes imbalanced through repeated exposure to superstimuli that flood the brain with dopamine
Understanding & Healing the Mind | Dr. Karl Deisseroth
Dr. Deisseroth bridges clinical psychiatry with neuroscience research to develop cures for mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, and OCD