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The Dr. Hyman Show

Brain-First or Gut-First? Rethinking Parkinson’s Disease w/ Drs. Ray Dorsey & Michael Okun

The Dr. Hyman Show

Dr. Mark Hyman

Health & Fitness, Nutrition, Medicine

4.68.7K Ratings

🗓️ 8 October 2025

⏱️ 107 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today we tackle Parkinson’s as a preventable epidemic—not an inevitable fate. I’m joined on The Dr. Hyman Show by two of the field’s top neurologists, Drs. Ray Dorsey and Michael Okun, co-authors of The Parkinson’s Plan, to unpack why cases are exploding and what we can do about it right now. We look at how toxins drive disease, why Parkinson’s goes far beyond dopamine, and the early signs most people miss—plus what you can do today to protect your brain. And we connect the dots between environmental exposures—whether from food, water, or even recreational spaces—and the growing burden of neurological disease. Watch the full conversation here or listen wherever you get your podcasts. [YOUTUBE THUMBNAIL] We also explore: • How to spot early signs—like loss of smell—long before a diagnosis • Everyday ways to cut toxin exposures in your food, water, and home • Why Parkinson’s is a whole-body disease, and what that means for prevention • The kind of exercise that protects your brain and slows progression • Simple nutrient checks that can support medication and brain health Parkinson’s isn’t inevitable. Protecting brain health starts with small daily choices. These are steps you can take right now for yourself and your loved ones. With awareness and action, you can build resilience today and help shape a healthier future. View Show Notes From This Episode Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman https://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Health https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive This episode is brought to you by BON CHARGE, PerfectAmino, Function Health, Timeline, Big Bold Health and Pique. Head to boncharge.com and use code DRMARK for 15% off your order. Go to bodyhealth.com and use code HYMAN20 for 20% off your first order. Join today at FunctionHealth.com/Mark and use code HYMAN100 to get $100 toward your membership. Support essential mitochondrial health and save 20% on Mitopure. Visit timeline.com/drhyman to get 20% off today. Get 20% off HTB Immune Energy Chews at bigboldhealth.com and use code DRMARK20. Receive 20% off FOR LIFE + a free Starter Kit with a rechargeable frother and glass beaker at Piquelife com/Hyman.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Adjusted for age, the rise of Parkinson's is going up 60% far faster than Alzheimer's disease.

0:04.8

It turns out by 2035, we should have 12 million people with Parkinson's.

0:09.3

There's a big myth about Parkinson's, and the myth is that it's just a brain disease.

0:13.8

This is a whole body disease. We have to start thinking about Parkinson's in a different way.

0:18.8

Ray Dorsey, MD, MBA is a leading neurologist

0:21.9

and Parkinson's expert. He's the director of the Center for the Brain and the Environment at Atria

0:26.0

Health and Research Institute, and he's a professor of neurology at the University of Rochester.

0:30.3

Michael Oaken, MD, is a distinguished professor of neurology at the University of Florida, and he's

0:35.0

co-founder of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurologic

0:38.0

Diseases and Medical Advisor for the Parkinson's Foundation. Both have been recognized by the White

0:42.6

House as champions for change for their dedication to advancing research, care, and advocacy

0:47.6

for people living with Parkinson's disease. There are all these symptoms that are non-movement

0:52.3

that actually appear early, and they call them pro-dromal feature. Constipation, acting out your dreams, loss of smell in your nose, those olfactory nerves, gut dysfunction and changes, and even some of the neuropsychiatric things. For all those golfers out there, is it a risk for people? Should they be worried? Should they stop golfing? What do they do to protect themselves? Individuals who lived within one mile of a golf course at a 126% increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease compared to individuals who lived six or more miles apart. Oh my. Do you know where else they find these toxins? You find them in the breast milk of nursing women. And it's all preventable.

1:27.9

Okay, you've got someone to walk in your office with Parkinson's disease.

1:30.9

What do you do?

1:36.1

Sleep is one of the most powerful tools we have for healing, and I protect mine like gold,

1:40.3

especially when I travel.

1:41.7

That's why I never leave home without my bond-charged sleep mask. It completely blocks out light, something I'm extra sensitive to after long flights or nights in new time zones. This mask helps me drop into deep restorative sleep no matter where I am. And when I'm in recovery mode, like after my back surgery, it's been an essential part of my healing. Bond Charge really understands that recovery doesn't stop when the sun

2:00.9

goes down. Their products are science-backed, travel-friendly, and built to support your circadian

2:05.2

rhythm naturally without drugs or gadgets. If you struggle with falling or staying asleep or you

2:09.9

want to support better recovery and brain health, give this mask a try. Go to boncharge.com

2:14.4

and use code DRmark for 15% off your order. That's B-O-N-C-H-A-R-G-E.com.

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