About this episode
What if the most powerful predictor of your lifespan has nothing to do with your genetics, diet, workouts, or supplements? In this groundbreaking episode, neuroscientist Louisa Nicola sits down with bestselling author Shawn Stevenson to reveal the real missing piece in the longevity equation. Drawing from a massive 148-study meta-analysis of 300,000+ people and Harvard’s 80-year longitudinal study, Shawn explains why the quality of your social relationships is the strongest determinant of how long you’ll live — outperforming exercise, nutrition, and even quitting smoking. This episode features highlights from our full conversation, which premiered July 7th, 2025. Watch the full episode here → https://youtu.be/FXWvyU21ILs *** Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey. *** I’m Louisa Nicola — clinical neurophysiologist — Alzheimer’s prevention specialist — founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain — reducing Alzheimer’s risk — and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_ *** Topics discussed: 00:00 – Intro 00:20 – Why Food, Exercise & Sleep Aren’t Enough 00:50 – Relationships Cut Mortality by 50% 01:41 – Harvard’s 80-Year Longevity Study Findings 02:49 – Why “Warm Social Bonds” Outperform Diet & Exercise 03:26 – How Relationships Improve Stress Metabolism 04:40 – The Real Impact of Chronic Stress on Disease 06:09 – 80% of Doctor Visits Are Stress-Related 07:25 – Why We Aren’t Taught How to Build Healthy Relationships 08:52 – How Your Environment Shapes Your Health Behaviors 10:38 – Social Isolation, Aging & Cognitive Decline 11:16 – Why Loneliness Accelerates Alzheimer’s and Disease Progression Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices