David Rönnlid Podcast

🌍 How can we align our lives — and our societies — with our body clocks? Poor sleep and circadian misalignment don’t just make us tired — they impair several aspects of our metabolic health. I sat down with Jonathan Cedernaes, M.D., Ph. D., and explored what we can do about it: from personal daily habits to systemic policy reforms. Sleep quality and quantity isn’t just about recovery — it’s a pub...

Most of us think of different types of cholesterol as either “good” or “bad.” But the reality is more complex. Daniel Elías-López, Endocrinologist, Ph. D , is a Mexican endocrinologist and researcher whose work spans both clinical care and public health. After years of treating patients with obesity, diabetes, and lipid disorders, he saw a limit to what could be achieved in the clinic alone. That...

Parkinson’s disease is now the fastest-growing neurological disorder in the world — and according to Dr. Ray Dorsey, it’s not just about aging or genetics. Dr. Dorsey argues that environmental toxins — including certain pesticides, industrial chemicals, and air pollutants — are significant, modifiable risk factors for developing Parkinson’s disease. In this podcast episode, we discuss: 🔬 The evid...

Louise Hecker, PhD, is a scientist of the cellular mechanisms of aging, such as oxidative stress and endogenous antioxidant enzymes in lung tissue and how such mechanisms influence development of fibrotic lung tissue. During the early phases of this study on the effects of psilocbin on aging in human cells and mice, she was an Associate Professor at Emory University, whereas toward the final data...

In this episode, neurologist Dr. Alberto Espay shares a bold new vision for treating Alzheimer's—beyond plaques and toward personalized care. We discuss limitations of current drug strategies and the potential of the Cincinnati Cohort Biomarker Program to individualize treatments for patients with neurodegenerative disease. Find his book Brain Fables here: https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Fables-Neuro...

​Richard E. Cytowic, M.D., is a neurologist and author renowned for revitalizing the scientific study of synesthesia. His influential works, such as "Synesthesia: A Union of the Senses" and "The Man Who Tasted Shapes," have significantly contributed to our understanding of this perceptual phenomenon. ​His latest book, "Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age: Coping with Digital Distraction and Sen...

Ilya Bragin, M.D., is a double board-certified Neurologist and Interventional Pain Specialist focused on expanding neurological care and brain longevity. He specializes in stroke care, telemedicine, and neurodegenerative diseases. Connect with Ilya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilya-bragin-b8698b49/ Episode chapters: 00:00 - Introduction & Definition of Telemedicine 03:36 - Importan...

In this conversation, I speak with Matthew Wall, PhD, about the effects of psilocybin and other classic psychedelics on the human brain. Matthew Wall is a psychologist specializing in psychedelics and functional MRI (fMRI) neuroimaging. He earned his PhD in Cognitive and Brain Sciences from the University of Cambridge. Currently, he leads MRI Applications at Perceptive London and serves as an Hono...

Dag Sehlin, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Neurobiology at Uppsala University. His research focuses on Alzheimer’s disease, developing therapeutic and diagnostic tools, including engineered antibodies targeting amyloid-beta Dag has played an important role in the research behind the development of Lecanemab, an amyloid-beta antibody recently approved for Alzheimer's treatment by both the FDA in...

Dr. Mathieu Nedelec, who holds a PhD in sports science, is a researcher specializing in recovery and sleep at the French Institute of Sport (INSEP). His primary research focuses on fatigue, recovery, and evidence-based recovery strategies such as sleep, cold water immersion, and nutrition. He also offers sports science support to elite athletes across various disciplines. Link to Mathieu's book (a...

In this episode, I talk with Gabriel Baldanzi, PhD, M.D., and Koen Dekkers, Research Assistant, who work in the same research group at Uppsala University. They are both actively researching the role of the gut microbiome in human health and chronic disease. Studies discussed in this episode: ​Dekkers, K.F., Sayols-Baixeras, S., Baldanzi, G.  et al.   An online atlas of human plasma metabolite sign...

Please beware of the risks of exposing your skin to sunlight in general and UVA light in particular. A large body of evidence suggests that UVA light exposure on the skin can increase risk for various skin cancers. This podcast episode is not intended as a recommendation to increase your personal amount of time spent in the sun. The decision of how much sunlight to expose your skin to is yours to...

Study link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5859 Study reference: Nunes, J.P., et al. Placing Greater Torque at Shorter or Longer Muscle Lengths? Effects of Cable vs. Barbell Preacher Curl Training on Muscular Strength and Hypertrophy in Young Adults.  Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health   2020 ,  17 , 5859. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165859

Study link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.659990 Study reference: Chauvineau Maxime , et al. Effect of the Depth of Cold Water Immersion on Sleep Architecture and Recovery Among Well-Trained Male Endurance Runners Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. Volume 3. 2021. ⁠https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.659990⁠ Related episodes from the E...

Per Hall is a professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. He is also a senior physician at Södersjukhuset. His breast cancer research is focused on prevention and early detection. Timestamps: 00:00 Why breast cancer prevention is important 01:35 Breast Cancer Statistics in Sweden and Worldwide 03:01 Breast Cancer in Males and Age-Rela...

Practical takeaways from the study are summarized at the beginning of the episode (00:00 - 04:30). Study link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079224000194 Study reference: Guillaume Chevance, et al. A systematic review of ambient heat and sleep in a warming climate, Sleep Medicine Reviews, Volume 75, 2024, 101915, ISSN 1087-0792, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2024.101915.

Lena Flyckt is an associate professor at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. She is recognized for her research in psychiatry, including on schizophrenia and the effects of the condition on caregivers surrounding the patient. Lena also has more than 30 years of experience working clinically as a psychiatrist, including with many people who have sc...

Christian Benedict, PhD, is a sleep researcher at Uppsala University in Sweden. He is known for his ability to communicate the importance of sleep in both academic and public settings, advocating for sleep as a key factor in maintaining health and productivity. Follow Christian on InstaGram: https://www.instagram.com/sleep_advocate/ Buy Christians book (Swedish version): https://www.bokus.com/bok/...

Jonathan Cedernaes, et al. Learning and sleep-dependent consolidation of spatial and procedural memories are unaltered in young men under a fixed short sleep schedule , Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Volume 131, 2016, Pages 87-94, ISSN 1074-7427, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2016.03.012 .

Study reference: Mehl MR, Vazire S, Holleran SE, Clark CS. Eavesdropping on happiness: well-being is related to having less small talk and more substantive conversations. Psychol Sci. 2010 Apr;21(4):539-41. doi: 10.1177/0956797610362675. Epub 2010 Feb 18. PMID: 20424097; PMCID: PMC2861779.

Article Source:  Heart rate variability is enhanced during mindfulness practice: A randomized controlled trial involving a 10-day online-based mindfulness intervention Kirk U, Axelsen JL (2020) Heart rate variability is enhanced during mindfulness practice: A randomized controlled trial involving a 10-day online-based mindfulness intervention. PLOS ONE 15(12): e0243488.  https://doi.org/10.1371/jo...

Ruth K. Raanaas, et al. Benefits of indoor plants on attention capacity in an office setting, Journal of Environmental Psychology, Volume 31, Issue 1, 2011, Pages 99-105, ISSN 0272-4944, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.11.005 .

"Subjects on average generated 61% more original uses after stair-climbing." Study reference:Matsumoto K, et al. The Effect of Brief Stair-Climbing on Divergent and Convergent Thinking. Front Behav Neurosci. 2022 Jan 28;15:834097. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.834097. PMID: 35153696; PMCID: PMC8831728.