The Impact of Stress on the Brain with Dr. John Medina

What should we be focused on in our childhood and youth to decrease risk of chronic disease as we age? Dr. Rhea brings back Dr. John Medina for part 2 of their discussion on factors that affect memory and overall health. This time, they focus on stress and the brain-body connection.

Dr. Medina is a developmental molecular biologist focused on the genes involved in human brain development and the genetics of psychiatric disorders. He has spent most of his professional life as a private research consultant, working primarily in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries on research related to mental health. Medina is an affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Medina was the founding director of the Talaris Research Institute, a Seattle-based research center originally focused on how infants encode and process information at the cognitive, cellular, and molecular levels. Medina is also the author of the New York Times bestseller “Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work” and the national bestseller “Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five”.

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

Jon Kabat-Zinn – Mindfulness 8-week Course

Bodrova, Elena & Leong, Deborah. (2019). Tools of the Mind: The Vygotskian-Based Early Childhood Program.

Mediterranean Diet

Brain Rules