Hello! Would you want to learn how genetic health--
can and does affect your life?
You're in the right place.
My name is Kayla Sheets and I am the found of
Vibrant Gene Consulting.   You're watching--
The Vibrant Gane talk show.
Our show airs every second and Wednesday,
at 630pm here on Cambridge Channel 9.
You can catch up with previously recorded episodes--
on our YouTube station, which is called,
"The Vibrant Gene."
If you need to contact us at any time you're welcome to do so--
through our website www.vibrantgene.com
 
In the meantime, sit back, relax and
enjoy learning about how--
genetic health can transform your life!
Welcome aboard!
Good evening!
Until recently,  your DNA was believed to be the blueprint of your future health.
Carved into stone--
the minute that you were conceived.
But not..so...fast.
According to this revolutionary book,
we have some control over our genetic health.
More than we ever realized!
Tonight, we have a very special guest with us.
Doctor Rudy Tanzi is here via Skype.
 
Tanzi is an international best-selling author,
a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School,
and the director--
of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit
at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Tanzi has published nearly 500
research papers and receive some of the
highest words in his field includin--
the 2015 Smithsonian Ingenuity Award;
he was also named  one of Time Magazine's
100 Most Influential People in the world.
In his spare time,
believe it or not,  but dr. Tanzi--
plays the keyboards with the band Aerosmith!
He is a rockstar of scientists.
Dr. Tanzi, we are so pleased to have you here tonight.
Pleasure to be here, thank you Kayla.
To start us off,
 
can you explain to us what does it mean--
to have "super genes"?
We all inherited genes from our parents--
about 23,000 genes, and they make up--
maybe three percent of all our DNA.
But there is a whole lot of DNA--
most about DNA--which is serving to
regulate those genes.
And so we talk about "super genes" we're saying is, no you can't change the genes--
that your parents gave you--
but based on how you live your life--
which habits that you keep, the choices that you make--
you are affecting the *activity* of those genes.
The activity of those genes is called--
"gene expression."
Different genes being turned on and off,
up and down, they take on different programs.
We have hundreds of genes all--
being regulated at the same time--
after you eat at McDonald's and need a terrible junk food meal.
Versus having a nice, healthy meal.
Genes activities are responding to --
how you are living your life
The point of book is that--
it's in our power; we have the ability to--
based on how we live our lives--
to let gene expression programs serve us best.
As soon as you take on certain habits--
machines go into autopilot, thanks to--
something called "Epigenetics."
(More on this later).  Thanks to Epigenetics,
 
You can program the activity of your genes.
Change your habits so that they--
make you the healthiest person possible.
Even though you can change the genes--
that mom and dad gave you,
you can have them work  *for*  you--
rather than  *against*  you.
That's beautiful.
So that is what super genes are!
So Super Genes are our handling,
or taking control of
how genes are being expressed. Right?
Right.
In your book, you mentioned that--
only 5% of disease mutations are fully penetrant.
 
Does that mean that ninety-five percent of our
disease gene mutations are not causing disease?
I've taught in this field--
literally from day one when I worked on a project--
that found the gene for Huntington's Disease.
It was the first time that a disease gene
was found.
This was at Mass General, with
Dr. Jim Gusella, at Harvard.
At that time, we were finding mutations in genes--
that would *guarantee* disease.
If you inherited it, no matter how you live your life--
you are going to get the disease.
Alzheimer's disease, for example,
I co-discovered the first--
Alzheimer's disease gene.
The first mutations we found for Alzheimer's disease--
*guaranteed*  onset under 60 years,
and there's nothing you can do about it.
Now as we look--
at heart disease, cancer, diabetes,
Alzheimer's, or age-related diseases--
And you ask,
ok how many of the mutations guarantee the disease,
if you inherit them.  Versus they just make you--
more susceptible, but you can live your life,
in a way so as to mitigate risk,
and offset that risk.
95% of the variants (mutations) that are associated with disease,
there is something that you can do about it.
With your lifestyle.
That's the good news! That is where Epigenetics comes into play.
It is a relatively new term to most people.
Right.  You mentioned Alzheimer's disease risk--
just now, that there are gene--
that can *guarantee* Alzheimer's disease.
But that's actually very small proportion
of Alzheimer's disease patients actually have these genes.
Is that right?
Yeah. Maybe 1 to 2% of Alzheimer's cases--
have mutations inherent in the disease,
where the onset is usually
under 50 or 60 years old.
I run the Alzheimer's Genome Project,
that is supported by the Cure Alzheimer's Fund.
A Boston-based foundation.
We have found hundreds of variation in the genome
variation in the genome that increases,
or decreases your risk.  We are finding both.
Some when you inherit them, they increase your susceptibility.
We've found a bunch that protect you from the disease.
We are learning from those (mutations).  Not only about how to live your life--
but to help design--
treatment to prevent or stop the disease.
What are some of the prevention measures that you've found?
 
I think the prevention measures are very much--
the things you need to do--
in terms of habits.
 
I first need to explain what Epigenetics is.
If you're doing the same thing--
routine everyday (and it could be a bad habit or a good habit).
Over time, the way your genes respond--
to what you are doing can become semi permanent.
The DNA of your genes--
can actually be chemically modified.
If they behave the same way everyday,
a good habit
can lead to a good gene expression program.
A bad habit, a bad one.  And it sticks with you.
To break a habit, or take on a new one,
generally takes for 60 days.
The big areas where we focus on,
for healthy gene expression, (to prevent) Alzheimer's is diet.
We emphasize the Mediterranean diet.
Over junk food,
organic foods, fiber,
probiotics like yogurt or a supplement.
We emphasize exercise.
Exercise has never been valuable.
It helps protect parts of the brain that can be affected by Alzheimer's.
And it directly--
affect gene activity.
We emphasize sleep.
We like to say that not getting seven to eight hours of sleep every day is,
the new "smoking".
Sleep is so good for your brain, and body.
It's never been more important we emphasize the need for sleep.
That was tough for me.
But I usually (most of the time) 7 hours.
 
The biggest thing is stress.
Managing stress and emotional stability is important.
We emphasize things like learning how to meditate.
Learning how to deal with stress,
and manage expectations.
Between social media, and emails,
there is a lot of pressure on us.
Pressure due to text, emails and social pressures on the internet.
 
Isn't that the truth?
Those are some really interesting tips, thank you.
Do you live by these tips?
Well, I try to.
Anybody who tries to (like me), you have to--
remind yourself every day and every morning.
Because you are always...
In my first book, "Super Brain"
we talk about how your instinctive brain--
is constantly going to lead you in the wrong direction.
To be lazy, and just--
do the wrong things like seek fats and sugars.
Not exercise.  It is really the new parts of the brain--
the prefrontal cortex--
that creative awareness, self-awareness...
That reason to say, "Yeah,  I want to take control...."
"I want to be healthy...."
"It's in my purview to do so."
I do it, but I have to remind myself--
every single morning and everyday.
Or it will go away you.
Good habits are tough to keep.
They definitely are!
What are your thoughts about--
some newer risks that seem to be
associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Risks like viral infections,
and over-the-counter drugs used to treat allergies.
And sleep aids.
Our lab discovered the infection and viral association last month.
We had a big paper in Science and Translational Medicine.
So I guess I'm biassed on that one.(laughing)
Since it was our discovery.
We discovered that certain infections in the brain,
that don't cause symptoms
Really minor, unnoticed entry of bacteria or virusis
even yeast can trigger-
the pathology of amyloid plaques that then-
start the disease suddenly.
We have a big effort now to understand what-
types of microbes are sneaking into our brains as we get older,
unnoticed and they don't cause any problems visibly.
But then they start triggering the pathology.
So that's a big part of Alzheimer's disease.
As far as sleep aids and other allergy medications--
I don't buy it.
There is not enough evidence for that.
The main risk factors are not being healthy.
Not doing the things I just mentioned earlier--
Sleep, diet, exercise that sort of thing.
Interesting.  You mentioned sleep a bit earlier.
Can i pick your brain about sleep?
 
You mentioned in your book that getting a full--
eight hours of sleep sleep is absolutely key to optimal health.
 
Now, gene regulation is, as I understand it,
tied to the circadian rhythm.
So do you recommend we get those hours of sleep
recommend a certain that we get those 8 hours of sleep --
during a certain time of day?
No, the important thing about getting enough sleep--
you want to cycle in and out of--
those different stages of sleep.
 
And often enough to maximize--
slow-wave sleep (or stage 4 sleep).
During slow-wave sleep, your brain cleans itself out.
 
After we are 40 years old, we make--
the pathology of Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
And it is during deep sleep that,
the brain actually cleans the itself out.
The brain is part of the lymphatic system.
As the brain physically starts to sleep, it clears out--
a lot of this gunk (so to speak.)
That can later cause Alzheimer's.
So infections can trigger that gunk to start  forming plaques.
 
In deep sleep, and during exercise--
you can help get rid of it.
A good diet affects your microbiome (your gut bacteria.)
Your microbiome can also help get rid of it.
Those areas are so big.
Diet, Exercise, Stress-control.
Wow.
 
Can sleep disturbances affect the microbiome?
Anything you don't do well can affect it.
Not enough exercise, eating the wrong food, not enough sleep, too much stress...
This causes chronic inflammation.
Chronic inflammation can offset your body chemistry, affecting your microbiome.
There's something called the gut-brain axis.
 
9 out of 10 cells in your body are bacteria and not you.
Bacteria play a big role in our body.
The bacterial cells in your gut are controlling your mood.
And they are controlling inflammation.
 
There was a discovery last week--there are bacteria that live in your gut.
The bacteria go from your gut into your brain.
They live by feeding on a neurotransmitter.
The neurotransmitter is called "GABA".
GABA is what you need to relax.
You can have psychiatric symptoms if too much of that bacteria--
is eating too much of that neurochemical.
We are just learning these things.
That's why we devote so much of SUPER GENES--
to the microbiome.
The microbiome is our second genome.
The genome of the bacteria, and how it affects the rest of your body.
I can now appreciate--
why I need 8 consecutive hours to clear out my brain every night.
But it doesn't matter whether those 8 hours--
occur during the day or at night?
So there isn't a concern for night shift workers?
 
No, not at all.
As long as you are going to sleep,
and are cycling in and out of slow wave sleep.
Enough times to clean your brain out.
There is almost nothing better you can do.
Other than maybe exercising.
Sleep has become increasingly important.
Just over the last you know couple of years.
That's why i'm saying not getting enough sleep--
is like the new smoking!
It is the new smoking, isn't it?
I always figured that sugar would be the newest smoking habit.
But you're saying it's sleep!
I say sugar the old-new smoking (laughing).
 
And sleep is new-new smoking (laughing).
We might want to address the white elephant in room.
There are some critics in our field of genetics.
They claim that epigenetics is such a new field, it is still in its infancy.
There really isn't enough evidence to show--
that we are finding permanent lasting changes.
That's actually right, it's not permanent.
You get criticisms like is it--
permanent? Is it a cause or an effect?
And, no it is not permanent.  That's the beauty of it!
If you have a bad habit,
if you have the habit long enough,
(This is not debatable, this is true science.)
The habit causes a new chemical changes on your genes.
These changes change your gene expression.
 
Schopenhauer had a quote about the evolution of science.
He says that any new idea that contradicts the old is first ridiculed.
Then it is mildly opposed.
Then it is accepted as self-evident.
A lot of the staunch Darwinian geneticists hate the idea that--
Lamarck might have been a little bit right.
Why? Because in mice we see that--
Changes in your genome brought by habits or conditioning,
can be passed on to the next generation.
This is a mind-blower!
If we assume that is what happens in humans, too,
that had changes how we think about evolution.
A lot of the
conservative geneticists are far worse on this.
But the best geneticists I know,
say this is something we need to put a lot of time into.
Epigenetics is for real.
Absolutely.
Can you tell us about the famous mouse study that,
involves electric shocks and the scent of almond?
Yeah, that was an example--
in the book we give a few examples.
They were mice that were conditioned,
to be afraid of the smell of orange blossom.
 
 
Every time they smelled this nice smell,
they got a foot shock.
The male mice, when they reproduced,
their babies were given the smell.
Those baby mice were not conditioned to be afraid of the scent.
As soon as they smell it, they cowered in a corner of the cage.
 
When they looked at the genome,
they saw that the gene that makes the olfactory receptor...
the smell receptor for that orange scent,
was actually modified in the trained mice (the fathers).
 
And the baby mice inherited the same modification.
The same has been shown for things like diet, etc.
 
These changes don't last forever.
If you inherit a modified epigenetic change,
it could probably last 5 to 7 generations.
Then it goes away.
But that means that in your reproductive age--
 
Let's say you're 15 years old, a man or a woman--
and you are going through,
some type of trauma.
 
And these epigenetic modifications are--
happening in your sperm and ovaries...
That could happen, just like in the mouse,
and we really gotta think about that.
This is where people get really upset,
and say it is controversial.
But all new science that changes paradigms,
you get those who fight it. In the end, good science wins.
The bulk of epigenetic studies that I've read,
are published in (prestigious) journals like--
Nature and Science. It's really good science.
People can squawk all they want.
We have only talked about the most validated studies in SUPER GENES.
As a scientist and as an author,
I take on the same rigor as I do as a scientist.
 
 
I work with couples that want to optimize their fertility,
and optimize their health before getting pregnant.
I often see the male partners' eyes get,
really wide when I mention that mouse study.
Because those male mice passed on their trauma,
and not just down to one generation,
but also to the second generation of pups.
Um-hm.
So does this suggest that we should recommend,
to couples that they should seek counseling if they have had trauma?
And that they do it prior to conceiving?
 
We need more data--
to see that it is happening in humans as well as mice.
Although the odds are high that what happens in mice is probably happen ing
in our genome as well.
It is circumstantial - to some some extent.
Think about a pregnant mom.
What she is going through,
if she's in a house that is full of turmoil and stress.
Then her body chemistry is going to be different from a woman who is
in a very peaceful household.
Her body chemistry would not only modify her genes,
perhaps semi-permanently,
but also the genes of the baby.
So how the husband is treating her in the house,
if he is making it comfortable for her matters.
That's another level, before getting pregnant,
that may have caused trauma and changed their genome.
It means that we have,
even have more responsibility for the next generation.
We used to think, "OK you pass on your genes, whatever."
"And now, we will bring up the baby as best as we can."
But if epigenetics holds true, like it does in mice--
and other organisms--
we could be passing on the genetic results of our conditioning
as adults as well.
It is something to consider,
and see if the data comes out to support it.
Then, genetic counseling could change.
 
I think that you and this book are--
revolutionizing genetic counseling as we speak.
I also think that we have a lot of--
catching up to do.
I cannot recommend it enough!
It also looks like it's on a bestseller's list.
The NY Times Bestseller's list.
How is it doing in comparison to your other bestseller, SUPER BRAIN?
They both started at  the  same level.
SUPER BRAIN had a very successful--
public television show.
Every time that show aired, there was additional publicity.
So SUPER BRAIN kept going strong.
SUPER GENES is still doing well,
just not quite as well as SUPER BRAIN.
We don't have a public television show this time.
But I just did a new show that's coming up in August.
And that might prop up SUPER GENES.
A lot of people i know like SUPER GENES.
I love SUPER BRAIN.
But a lot of people I know Like SUPER GENES better.
They're like my kids, I love them both.
Oh they're really incredible books.
Now we only have have about a minute more.
Is there anything else you'd like to leave us with?
Any pearls of wisdom?
Well i think another just another thing--
in terms of being good to your gene expression are--
hobbies and creativity.
Stay creative.  Do things that are fun!
Don't just work!
Success and creative outlets lead to success in your major work outlets.
There is something to be said for--
that instant gratification when you have a hobby.
When you get joy from something,
it spills over into the rest of your life.
Your family, your friends, your work.
That's another big part of keeping healthy gene expression.
Thank you so much, Dr. Tanzi.
It has been such a pleasure to have you here tonight.
You are very welcome.
It has been a pleasure for me, too.
