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The Hidden Link Between Vestibular Health and Alzheimer’s Disease in Women

In this episode, May Bagnell, IHP and Dr. Michael Bagnell explore the surprising connection between the vestibular system in the inner ear and cognitive decline, particularly Alzheimer's disease in women. They discuss how the vestibular system influences memory, spatial navigation, and overall brain health, and why maintaining its function might be key to preventing dementia.

Main topics include:

• The heightened risk of Alzheimer's in women and the lesser-known role of the vestibular system
• How the inner ear communicates directly with the brain’s memory centers
• The vestibular system’s function as the brain’s GPS for spatial orientation and navigation
• Emerging technology for assessing and improving vestibular health
• The impact of aging on vestibular function and ways to strengthen it
• The connection between sleep, vestibular health, and cognitive performance
• Personal stories illustrating vestibular episodes and their effects on cognition and balance
• Practical steps for assessing and training vestibular function to support brain health

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Linking vestibular health to women’s risk of Alzheimer's
01:01 - Why women are nearly twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's and the vestibular system's role
02:26 - Understanding the vestibular system as the brain’s guidance system
03:01 - The connection between vestibular function, memory, and cognition
03:56 - Dementia types, prevalence in women, and early signs like balance issues
04:25 - The potential link between early vestibular decline and future cognitive issues
05:21 - Advances in technology for deep investigation into vestibular function
05:47 - The importance of strengthening the vestibular system and its impact on neuroprotection
06:46 - Preventive health strategies: biohacking and neurological optimization
07:16 - Real-world example of vestibular dysfunction linked to cognitive symptoms
07:47 - Personal story of a vestibular episode and its cognitive and physical aftermath
08:56 - Woman's perspective on the fear and acceptance of aging and cognitive risk
11:08 - Sleep’s role in brain health and its correlation with vestibular and cognitive functions
13:28 - How sleep disruptions can worsen vestibular problems and cognitive decline
15:26 - Vestibular testing in darkness and light and its implications for sleep quality
16:44 - The importance of symmetry in vestibular function for overall brain health
17:22 - Integrating sleep, diet, and vestibular training for optimal neuroprotection
20:30 - Personal experience with vertigo and its impact on cognition and stability
21:42 - Recognizing subtle vestibular issues as a factor in cognitive decline
22:15 - Taking proactive steps: brain health audits and vestibular training opportunities
23:09 - Closing thoughts: The brain’s adaptability and the power of training the vestibular system

Resources & Links:

• www.Bagnell Brain Center.com
• Aura Ring (Sleep tracker)

Connect with May & Dr. Michael Bagnell:

https://www.instagram.com/bagnell_brain_center/

https://www.tiktok.com/@bagnellbraincenter305

Take Action:
Schedule a brain health audit to assess your vestibular and cognitive function and start personalized training to support your brain health!

For more information, visit us at www.bagnellbraincenter.com.

You CAN Heal! We CAN Help!!

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Most cases of dizziness, anxiety, and exhaustion are dismissed as separate issues—what if they're all signs of a deeper, interconnected problem?

What if your body's signals of imbalance are really a breakdown in communication between your vestibular system and autonomic nervous system? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Michael Bagnell & May Bagnell, IHP reveal how conditions like POTS, long COVID, concussion, and chronic dizziness may all stem from a hidden connection — and that understanding could transform the way you approach treatment and healing.You’ll discover how the vestibular system, housed in the inner ear, plays a crucial role beyond balance — influencing blood pressure, heart rate, and even mood through its connection to the brainstem and autonomic nervous system. Dr. Bagnell breaks down how dysfunction in this system can amplify anxiety, cause sensory overload, and lead to symptoms like blackouts, tachycardia, and depersonalization.

We break down:

• The anatomy of the vestibular system and its surprising links to neurochemistry
• How aging, injury, or inflammation weaken this system, creating a cascade of dysautonomia symptoms
• The powerful concept of system integration — when sensory signals are out of sync, it worsens dizziness, anxiety, and brain fog

Why diagnosing dysautonomia involves looking at the bigger picture, rather than just treating symptoms with pills

• Practical strategies for neural rehabilitation, emphasizing neuroplasticity and system retraining instead of medication fixes

Imagine addressing the root cause instead of just managing symptoms — offering hope to those stuck in a cycle of uncertainty. This episode is essential listening for anyone experiencing unexplained dizziness, chronic stress, or anxiety that resists conventional treatments. Discover how the brain’s adaptability and functional neurology can help restore balance, health, and quality of life. Whether you're a patient, caregiver, or healthcare provider, understanding this interconnected system unlocks new pathways to healing. It's not about treating in isolation — it’s about training, retraining, and upgrading the body's communication networks to function harmoniously again.

For more information, visit us at www.bagnellbraincenter.com.

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Most cases of dizziness are mistaken for inner ear problems, but the reality is far more complex—and most doctors are missing crucial clues that could resolve decades of suffering.

In this episode, Dr. Bagnell and May Bagnell, IHP expose the unseen factors behind chronic dizziness that traditional tests overlook—like sensory imbalances, brain compensation, and neural performance. Discover how advanced functional neurology tools are opening a new window into the true root causes, beyond what MRI scans or ENT visits can reveal.
You'll learn:

• Why longstanding dizziness often stems from systemic sensory mismatches—not just inner ear disruptions
• How asymmetries in the vestibular and visual systems can go unnoticed with standard testing but are key to resolution
• The role of stress, emotional regulation, and neurological networks in balance and anxiety, and why they shouldn't be ignored
• Concrete protocols for retraining the brain’s response to motion—restoring stability by using precise, personalized rehab strategies
• Real stories of patients who recovered from decades of imbalance through targeted, cutting-edge assessments and therapies

This episode is perfect for anyone tired of managing symptoms and ready for actual healing. If you've experienced chronic dizziness, unexplained balance issues, or emotional distress linked to imbalance, this is your critical next step.
Understanding the true causes of dizziness can unlock the potential for complete recovery—don’t settle for just managing your symptoms when science now offers a pathway to true balance.

Join us to see how shifting the focus from structural guesses to performance-based assessments illuminates the root and rapidly accelerates healing.
Your journey to a life without limits starts here.
#dizziness #vestibularmigraines #anxiety #functionalneurology

For more information, visit us at www.bagnellbraincenter.com.

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Most people think vision happens in the eyes, but the truth is that vision is a brain function.

In this episode of the Inside the Brain Series, Mae Bagnell,IHP explores the fascinating role of the occipital lobes, the brain's primary visual processing center. Learn how your brain transforms visual information into the experience of sight and why healthy visual processing is essential for focus, attention, balance, cognition, and emotional well being.

Discover how excessive screen time and constant visual stimulation can contribute to brain fog, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, sensory overload, and poor concentration. Mae also explains the important connection between the visual system and conditions such as concussions, vestibular disorders, ADHD related attention challenges, migraines, and reading difficulties.

This episode also provides practical strategies to help support the visual brain, reduce visual stress, and improve overall brain function through the power of neuroplasticity. From changing visual distance throughout the day to spending more time outdoors and reducing visual clutter, you'll gain actionable tools you can begin using immediately.

If you've ever experienced overwhelm, difficulty focusing, dizziness, or mental exhaustion, this conversation will help you better understand the role your visual system may be playing.

Your eyes collect information, but your brain creates the experience of sight. When you intentionally support your visual brain, you can improve the way you think, feel, move, and experience the world around you.

Remember, you can heal and we can help.

For more information, visit us at www.bagnellbraincenter.com.

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What if one part of your brain quietly shaped your memories, emotions, identity, and even the meaning behind your life experiences? In this episode of our Inside the Brain series, Dr. Michael and May Bagnell,IHP take a fascinating journey into the temporal lobes — the brain’s powerful “meaning makers.” Discover how this incredible region helps you decode the past, understand the present, and connect to the future, while influencing everything from memory and language to music, mood, and emotional regulation.

Have you ever heard a song that instantly transported you back to a specific moment in your life? Or wondered why certain memories carry such deep emotional weight? Dr. Michael and May unpack the science behind how the temporal lobes shape your personal story and why memory isn’t simply stored — it’s continuously rewritten and reshaped. They also discuss signs that your temporal lobes may need support, including brain fog, anxiety, sound sensitivity, sleep struggles, emotional overwhelm, and memory changes.

Episode Highlights:
• Why the temporal lobes are called the brain’s “meaning makers”
• The powerful connection between memory, identity, and emotion
• How music can unlock forgotten memories
• Signs of temporal lobe dysfunction to watch for
• The impact of chronic stress and inflammation on brain health
• Strategies for healthy aging: movement, sleep, nutrition, and nervous system regulation
• Functional neurology approaches that help optimize brain performance

Your brain carries your story — your memories, your experiences, and the connections that make you who you are. Join us as we explore how caring for your brain today can help preserve meaning, memory, and human connection for years to come.

For more information, visit us at www.bagnellbraincenter.com.

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In this episode of The Neuro Collective Podcast, Dr. Michael and May Bagnell,IHP continue their Inside the Brain series with a fascinating deep dive into the parietal lobes — the brain regions responsible for sensory processing, body awareness, spatial orientation, attention, and sensory integration. Discover why some people feel easily overstimulated, overwhelmed in busy environments, disconnected from their body, or mentally exhausted after sensory-heavy experiences like crowded stores, concerts, airports, or loud restaurants.

Learn how the parietal lobes act as your brain’s internal mapping system, helping you understand where your body is in space through proprioception, movement, touch, and coordination. Dr. Bagnell explains how these brain regions influence everything from clumsiness and coordination to focus, filtering information, visual processing, and emotional overwhelm. The episode also explores how conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia, concussion, stroke, apraxia, and sensory processing challenges may involve parietal lobe dysfunction — and how functional neurology can help retrain and strengthen these systems.

You’ll also discover practical ways to support your brain naturally, including reducing sensory overload, improving nervous system regulation, using intentional movement and cross-body exercises, creating visual calm, and strengthening body awareness through activities like yoga, stretching, grounding, and water therapy. Whether you’re a neuroscience enthusiast, a parent navigating sensory challenges, or someone trying to understand why your brain feels overloaded, this episode offers powerful insight into how the brain processes the world around you — and how healing and regulation are possible.

Highlights from this episode:

• What the parietal lobes actually do
• Why busy environments can feel exhausting
• The connection between sensory overload and anxiety
• How the brain maps the body through proprioception
• Clumsiness, coordination, and brain function
• Parietal lobes and ADHD, dyslexia, concussion, and sensory issues
• Functional neurology approaches for brain retraining
• Simple ways to support sensory regulation and brain health

Because when the brain processes the world differently, life can feel overwhelming — but understanding the brain is the first step toward healing.

For more information, visit us at www.bagnellbraincenter.com.

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Welcome back to The Neuro Collective Podcast
as Dr. Michael and May Bagnell,IHP continue their Inside the Brain series with a deep dive into the brainstem — the powerful control center responsible for breathing, heart rate, balance, stress regulation, sleep, swallowing, and autonomic function. Although small in size, the brainstem plays a massive role in your daily health and survival.

In this episode, they explore how stress, concussion, aging, nervous system overload, and lifestyle habits can impact brainstem function and contribute to symptoms like dizziness, anxiety, migraines, chronic fatigue, POTS, sleep disturbances, and sensory overload. They also discuss the fascinating role of the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and the vagus nerve in focus, attention, emotional regulation, and nervous system balance.

You’ll also learn practical ways to support your brainstem through regulated breathing, sleep rhythms, movement, vagal stimulation, and nervous system regulation strategies — helping you better understand your brain and optimize your health from the inside out.

For more information, visit us at www.bagnellbraincenter.com.

You CAN Heal! We CAN Help!!

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What happens when your emotions feel bigger than your thoughts? Why does stress affect your body so intensely? And why can a memory, smell, or song instantly transport you back to another moment in time?

In this powerful episode of The Neuro Collective Podcast, Dr. Michael and May Bagnell,IHP continue the Inside the Brain Series by exploring one of the most emotionally influential systems in the brain — the Limbic System.

Often called the brain’s “emotional center,” the limbic system plays a major role in stress responses, emotional regulation, memory formation, survival instincts, attachment, and nervous system activation. Together, they break down complex neuroscience into practical, relatable insight that helps you better understand why you feel the way you do.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How the amygdala acts like the brain’s internal alarm system
• Why stress and trauma can become deeply wired into the nervous system
• The connection between the hippocampus, memory, and emotional experiences
• How chronic stress impacts sleep, digestion, focus, hormones, and immune function
• Why some people feel emotions more deeply as Highly Sensitive People (HSPs)
• How the frontal lobe and limbic system work together for emotional regulation
• Practical ways to support your brain through nervous system regulation, sleep, movement, and emotional safety

Dr. Michael also shares fascinating insight into how the limbic system influences the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems, while May opens up about her own experience as a highly sensitive person and the importance of learning how to regulate an overwhelmed nervous system.

This episode is filled with compassionate education, real-life examples, and empowering reminders that:

You are not your anxiety.
You are not your overwhelm.
You are not your stress response.

These are nervous system states — and states can change.

If you’ve ever struggled with emotional overwhelm, chronic stress, anxiety, burnout, trauma responses, or feeling “too sensitive,” this conversation will help you understand the deeper neurological “why” behind what you’re experiencing.

Tune in as we continue uncovering the incredible connections between the brain, body, emotions, and healing.

And remember:

You can heal. And we can help.

For more information, visit us at www.bagnellbraincenter.com.

You CAN Heal! We CAN Help!!