HOW CAN ALZHEIMER'S BE PREVENTED? DR. NAZARETH CASTELLANOS and AMELIA BARILI
What lifestyle changes can we make to prevent Alzheimer's disease as much as possible? How can we optimize the human experience? What does neuroscience tell us about this?
Neuroscientist Dr. Nazareth Castellanos has dedicated her life to studying these topics. In this conversation with Amelia Barili, they explore fundamental pillars of Alzheimer's Preventive Therapy.
Dr. Castellanos holds a degree in Theoretical Physics and a doctorate in Medicine from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). She also holds a Master's degree in Applied Mathematics to Biology and another in Neuroscience from the UAM Faculty of Medicine. She has taught at universities in Spain, Germany, England, and the United States. She is currently the research director at Nirakara Lab (www.nirakara-lab.com) for the Brain-Body Interaction in Meditators project. She also directs the Extraordinary Chair of Mindfulness and Cognitive Sciences at the Complutense University of Madrid.
Her research has focused on implementing mathematical methods for estimating brain networks and their reorganization in patients with brain damage and Alzheimer's disease. She is currently investigating the interaction between the brain and other organs such as the heart, gut, and lungs, measuring their electromagnetic activity and microbiota composition to study the biological mechanisms of emotional regulation and the biological mechanisms underlying meditation practices and lifestyle.
She has published three books. "The Mirror of the Brain," in which she presents research that invites us to understand the mind's obstacles and reminds us that biology allows us to shape and sculpt our own brains. "Neuroscience of the Body" takes us on a journey through the body to discover its impact on neurons. "Alice and the Marvelous Brain," in which Nazareth explains to young children how the brain works and how to care for it to help it grow.
For more information about Dr. Castellanos, please visit https://nazarethcastellanos.com
Amelia Barili, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita at the University of California, Berkeley, and teaches a course on "Meditation, Volunteering, and Positive Neuroplasticity" at the UCB Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. She received the Chancellor’s Award for Public Service in 2008 for her innovative courses that integrate volunteering to assist low-income communities.
In her undergraduate and senior courses, Amelia integrates volunteering and meditation to focus the mind and contribute to creating more inclusive communities. Amelia teaches a systematic method of academic and experiential learning for personal and community transformation. This method integrates the latest discoveries in neuroscience with local and global volunteering and contemplative practices from ancient healing traditions of India and China.
Amelia received her diploma in Yoga Therapy and Classical Yoga in 1972 from the Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute in India. She also studied Qigong for many years with old masters in China and is a disciple of Grandmaster Yang Mei Jun, in the legacy of the Taoist Medical Qigong system. Amelia has taught Yoga, Qigong, and Meditation for over 40 years.
For more information about Dr. Amelia Barili, visit
https://ameliabarili.com/