Broadcast on KSQD, Santa Cruz on 7-24-2025:

• An emailer from Israel asks about mouth taping for sleep benefits, prompting Dr. Dawn to review a comprehensive study examining social media claims. She discusses the limited evidence base for most purported benefits like better sleep, oral health, and reduced snoring. The research reveals only mild sleep apnea showed meaningful improvement, while most other claims lack scientific support despite widespread promotion on social media platforms.
• Dr. Dawn reports on American scientists fleeing to France due to research funding cuts and political pressures. She describes how 300 American researchers have applied to just one French university, citing eliminated grants and demands to justify their basic science work. The brain drain parallels Europe's post-WWII exodus to America, but now affects climate research, gender studies, biology, and even NASA astrophysics programs.
• She introduces Salsalate, an aspirin-related drug from 1876 being reconsidered for diabetes treatment. Dr. Dawn explains how this salicylate works through anti-inflammatory pathways to reduce insulin resistance. Recent trials show promising results for glucose control and metabolic improvements, potentially offering an older, affordable alternative to newer diabetes medications.
• Dr. Dawn describes breakthrough surgical robot technology that successfully removed organs without human guidance. The system uses dual AI components for vision and instrument control that communicate with each other to correct mistakes. She notes the progression toward live animal testing as the next development phase.
• She explores revolutionary nanobots based on tiny algae cells that can navigate the human body for targeted drug delivery. These microscopic robots use flagella for movement and can be guided by magnets and ultrasound to reach specific organs like kidneys. The technology offers potential for precise chemotherapy delivery while avoiding healthy tissues.
• An emailer questions gabapentin's connection to cognitive decline after being prescribed the medication for sleep. Dr. Dawn challenges the study's methodology, noting that early dementia symptoms include insomnia, which leads to sleep medication prescriptions. She argues the correlation may reflect pre-existing cognitive decline rather than drug-induced impairment.
• Dr. Dawn presents alternatives to knee replacement surgery for patients hesitant about major procedures. She details innovative nerve ablation techniques that rewire pain signals by connecting sensory nerves to motor nerves, potentially providing permanent relief. Additional options include radio frequency ablation and blood vessel embolization to reduce inflammation-related pain.
• She highlights Alice Walton's new medical school in Arkansas focusing on preventative medicine and whole-person care. The curriculum emphasizes lifestyle factors, community service, and includes art training to develop empathy and observation skills. Dr. Dawn praises this approach as addressing the gap between medical education's biological focus and the behavioral causes of premature death.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 7-17-2025:

• Dr. Dawn interviews Dr. Drew Richard, a first-year resident at Dominican Santa Cruz Family Medicine Residency. Dr. Richard discusses his motivation to bridge socioeconomic health disparities and his experience creating educational cooking episodes featuring cultural dishes from medical students. He explains his philosophy that medicine should help people cultivate compassion and his belief in the fundamental capacity for human goodness.
• The conversation explores the evolution of medical training and communication skills. Dr. Dawn contrasts today's team-based collaborative approach with the hierarchical, authoritarian medical culture of the past. They discuss how modern medicine emphasizes interprofessional collaboration, with Dr. Richard noting improved learning environments where faculty are more forgiving of mistakes while maintaining high standards for patient safety.
• A caller asks about functional medicine's approach to intangible factors like intention, purpose, attitude, energy, and alternative therapies like sound healing. Dr. Dawn explains the functional medicine matrix that places mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects at its center, discussing how these factors influence disease response and treatment outcomes. She describes the body's electrical field and energy medicine principles from her acupuncture practice.
• Dr. Richard addresses the caller's question about sound healing, suggesting that practitioners frame these concepts in familiar terms rather than using unfamiliar terminology. He recommends starting conversations about therapeutic music by asking patients about their favorite songs rather than immediately introducing concepts like sound baths, making these healing modalities more accessible and less intimidating.
• The discussion shifts to music's neurological benefits, with Dr. Dawn citing research showing that singing and music-making promote brain health and neuroplasticity. Studies demonstrate that piano practice increases gray matter, improves cognitive flexibility, and enhances auditory working memory in older adults. They explore how music engagement, whether through listening or active participation, releases dopamine and provides emotional regulation benefits.
• Dr. Richard shares his personal musical background as a drummer and discusses the bonding effects of group music-making. Dr. Dawn describes her experiences with choral singing and four-part harmony, explaining how shared musical vibrations create feelings of communion and connection. They explore how music affects the body's vibrations and blood flow, touching on everything from opera to movie soundtracks.
• The conversation turns to Dr. Richard's surfing experiences as part of his residency cohort's wellness activities. He describes overcoming ocean fears and discovering unexpected joy in the sport, noting how the entire residency class has embraced surfing as both exercise and bonding experience. Dr. Dawn mentions the conductor paradox - how orchestra conductors live longer than expected despite their lifestyle habits, attributing this to the cardiovascular benefits of continuous arm movement.
• In a concluding segment. Dr. Dawn presents research from the University of Pittsburgh showing how exercise protects against cancer through microbiome effects.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 7-10-2025:

• Dr. Dawn responds to an email about lion's mane mushroom blood thinning properties. Lion's mane contains hericenones that inhibit platelet aggregation but promote nerve cell growth. People on blood thinners like Eliquis or those with bleeding disorders should stop these supplements before surgery. She recommends lion's mane for cognitive preservation effects despite bleeding risks, emphasizing the need to balance benefits versus risks.
• An emailer asks about Fatty15 (C15:0 pentadecanoic acid) supplements marketed for longevity. Dr. Dawn finds promising research, however, most studies are in animals with limited human data. She warns against over-supplementation and recommends food-first approaches, suggesting cheaper alternatives like berberine may provide similar benefits.
• A visiting guest asks about continuing L-arginine after blood pressure normalized. Dr. Dawn recommends continuing L-arginine as it helps produce nitric oxide and prevents age-related arterial stiffening. She explains how blood vessel elasticity decreases with age, creating feed-forward cycles leading to permanent hypertension. The guest also asks about iodine safety - Dr. Dawn confirms 1mg daily is safe, noting Japanese populations consume up to 4mg daily without problems.
• Another visiting guest inquires about memory-boosting supplements (nootropics). Dr. Dawn identifies nicotine and caffeine as effective options, mentioning she uses nicotine patches for test-taking focus. She discusses lion's mane as effective for cognitive enhancement and coffee blends combining both ingredients.
• A caller asks about tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight loss at age 73, concerned about muscle loss. Dr. Dawn emphasizes the importance of branched-chain amino acids and 20-30 grams of protein before exercise for older adults to build muscle protein. She explains younger people can build muscle while fasting, but older adults need circulating protein during exercise to activate muscle-building DNA. She recommends alternating upper and lower body workouts and checking testosterone levels.
• Another caller asks about rapid resting pulse rate (80-100 bpm) at age 74. Dr. Dawn suggests checking blood pressure, as low blood pressure can cause compensatory heart rate increases. She explains age-related changes in blood vessel reflexes that can cause blood pooling in legs and orthostatic changes. The caller also complains about pharmaceutical advertising, prompting Dr. Dawn to criticize direct-to-consumer drug marketing for creating artificial needs through emotional manipulation.
• Dr. Dawn warns against P-Tau217 blood testing for Alzheimer's screening, calling it inadequate for general population screening. The test has poor predictive value below level 10, creating many false positives in low-risk populations. She criticizes associated drugs like donanemab (Kisunla) for severe side effects including brain swelling and hemorrhage. Instead, she recommends lifestyle interventions: exercise, stress control, adequate sleep, reduced alcohol and sugar intake for memory concerns.
• She criticizes FDA approval of a new blood test for colon cancer screening with 83% sensitivity for detecting existing cancers but poor sensitivity for precancerous polyps. Dr. Dawn criticizes this as inadequate screening since it detects cancer after "the horse has left the barn" rather than preventing it.
• In closing remarks with her impromptu guests, Dr. Dawn addresses a question about intermittent fasting and exercise timing. She explains that exercising while fasting provides cardiovascular benefits but won't build muscle mass in older adults. She recommends bioimpedance analysis testing to track lean body mass annually in seniors and emphasizes the importance of progressive resistance training to prevent age-related muscle loss.