The #1 Risk Factor for Dementia You’re Ignoring with Dr. Kellyann Niotis

In today's episode of The Root Cause Medicine Podcast, Dr. Carrie Jones sits down with Dr. Kellyann Niotis to discuss brain health and neurodegeneration prevention. What You’ll Learn: Why brain health should be a priority starting in early adulthood How neurodegenerative diseases begin decades before symptoms appear The role of lifestyle factors in maintaining brain health New blood-based biomarkers and traditional imaging methods The relationship between hormones and brain health Dr. Kellyann Niotis is the first and only fellowship-trained preventive neurologist specializing in early detection and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. As a leading expert in brain health and preventative neurology, she brings extensive experience in movement disorders and Parkinson's disease to her practice. Through her work at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Florida, Dr. Niotis focuses on identifying and addressing neurological health concerns decades before symptoms appear. She is dedicated to transforming how we approach brain health, combining cutting-edge diagnostics with personalized prevention strategies. Labs Mentioned FDG PET Scan Amyloid PET Scan Lumbar Puncture Blood Biomarkers Lipid Panel Advanced Lipids Vitamin B12 Thyroid Panel Fasting Insulin Inflammatory Markers Hemoglobin A1c Homocysteine Guest Details: Dr. Kellyann Niotis’ Website , LinkedIn , Instagram Rupa Health Details: Rupa Health's Website , LinkedIn , Instagram , YouTube Rupa Health Reference Guide & Magazine Dr. Carrie Jones Website , Instagram , Facebook & YouTube Timestamps 00:18 - What Is Brain Health and Why Does It Matter? 02:42 - The First Preventive Neurologist 04:45 - What Are Neurodegenerative Diseases? 05:50 - Common Misconceptions About Brain Health 10:00 - The Preclinical Stages of Neurodegeneration 14:48 - How Lifestyle Influences Cognitive Longevity 16:28 - Why Untreated Hearing and Vision Loss Significantly Increase Dementia Risk 23:16 - The Role of Cerebral Blood Flow in Brain Function 26:34 - The Lancet’s 14 Modifiable Risk Factors 30:13 - The #1 Brain Health Lever 35:29 - Cutting-Edge Lab Tests for Brain Health 36:34 - Menopause, Estrogen, and Brain Fog 45:03 - The “Basic” Lab Tests Most Doctors Overlook 49:34 - Testosterone and Cognitive Function in Men 51:35 - The Hormone Replacement Therapy Debate 57:43 - Final Takeaways on Brain Health 58:46 - Where to Find Dr. Kellyann Niotis