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Introduction to Dr. Cynthia Libert and Cognitive Decline Prevention in Asheville

In this episode, host Travis Richardson sits down with Dr. Cynthia Libert, a board-certified family physician, functional medicine practitioner, and cognitive decline prevention specialist in Asheville, NC. Together, they explore how to protect your brain, prevent Alzheimer's disease, and age powerfully from the inside out.

Dr. Libert trained at Loyola University of Chicago, completed her residency in Asheville, and discovered Dr. Dale Bredesen's groundbreaking Alzheimer's prevention framework in 2016 — a moment that transformed her practice. Today, she helps people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s take proactive control of their brain health before symptoms appear.

Key Takeaways:

• Why Alzheimer's has five distinct root-cause subtypes — not one
• What "Type 3 Diabetes" means and how insulin resistance drives cognitive decline
• Why midlife (ages 40–45) is your most critical prevention window
• How hormones, muscle mass, and gut health protect your brain
• What epigenetics means and how daily choices switch genes on and off
• Why community, faith, and purpose are evidence-based brain health strategies

Timestamps:

• 00:00 | Welcome & Introduction
• 01:15 | Dr. Libert's origin story
• 04:30 | Lifestyle medicine in rural Georgia
• 08:00 | Discovering the Bredesen Protocol
• 11:00 | The five subtypes of Alzheimer's
• 14:45 | Functional testing & 2.5-hour consult
• 17:30 | Fasting mimicking diet & new research
• 20:00 | What is Type 3 Diabetes?
• 24:30 | Blood sugar management strategies
• 29:20 | The three pillars of Dr. Libert's practice
• 33:30 | Midlife window & the cognoscopy
• 38:25 | Hormones, menopause & brain health
• 42:50 | Strength training as a longevity tool
• 44:15 | Rethink Aging platform & membership
• 49:30 | Rapid-fire: foods, Sabbath & books
• 54:30 | Final words: there is always hope

Episode Links:

• Be Well Asheville
• Be Well Asheville Podcast Archive
• Dr Cynthia Libert (Main Website)
• Rethink Aging with Dr. Libert — YouTube
• The End of Alzheimer's by Dr. Dale Bredesen
• Breath by James Nestor
• The Longevity Nutrient by Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson

The Wellness in Asheville podcast is produced by Be Well Asheville, your local news source covering health + wellness news + events in Asheville. Get the latest at bewellasheville.com or follow @bewellasheville.