Brain Health MasterClass Review: Secrets You Shouldn’t Miss

People are generally unaware of how important a role the brain plays in their mental and physical health. Chances are you merely came to know about this brain health MasterClass because you were looking for something that could help memory improvement. While excellent memory is a quality of a healthy brain, that’s not the only thing we should focus on.

In this brain health masterclass course, you will learn how to improve brain health (including cognitive function), potentially prevent chronic diseases, understand the connection between the brain and gut, and more. I immensely enjoyed taking this class and am excited to share my views. Has your anticipation grown, yet? Yeah? Let’s begin the Brain Health MasterClass review.

Overview of Brain Health MasterClass

Neuroscientists Dr. Wendy Suzuki, Dr. Lisa Felman Barrett, and Dr. Uma Naidoo have done a stellar job of explaining how to slow down brain aging and prevent neurodegenerative states (for example, Alzheimer’s). Moreover, how we look at food dramatically changes once we understand its connection to the brain’s health. Ready to see this in detail? 

Brain Health MasterClass Review: The Episodes Breakdown

The information you gain from the three instructors is so packed that it’s necessary to dive into each episode to inspect how beneficial they are. The first thing I learned is that we use 30% of our brain for processing vision. That tiny nugget left me mind-boggled because I thought we use only 10% of our brains (I blame pop culture for this). That’s a myth? Yep. 

If I learned that within two minutes of watching the first episode, imagine how much more you can learn in this one-hour and thirty-five-minute series. The series is not just for myth-busting. You can learn the secrets to super-aging (more on that later in the article) and ways to boost memory and improve cognitive functions. The series is a gold mine.

Episode 1: Your Brain Vs. The Age Of Anxiety

This 35-minute episode starts with Dr. Wendy unveiling the brain. She takes way too much pleasure doing this, but it’s understandable considering she is a neuroscientist. She explains with pleasure how the 3-pound brain holds our personalities and quirks. We learn how neuroscience provides science-backed techniques to help improve life’s quality.

Then we learn a bit about how the brain acts as a predictor which is a prelude to a section in episode 3. Dr. Barrrett’s explanation is easily understandable. Her instructing style is pretty laid-back tinged with subtle humor. She also helps us understand what helps the brain stay healthy and the things that unduly tax your brain.

We all hear that good sleep and sufficient water is good for our health. The doctor states that it applies to brain health, too. The biggest threat to the brain is high levels of stress and anxiety. This explains so much about why people emphasize anxiety management and stress reduction. 

Dr. Wendy discusses the adverse effects of cortisol, a hormone that provides quick bursts of energy. You learn how it affects memory, function, and heart & respiratory rates. She also teaches you a trick to combat/prevent those adverse effects. Moreover, you gain an understanding of the power of meditation. 

Meditation for brain health isn’t just a tag, it’s backed by science. As you can see, the episode is fantastic for understanding your brain’s workings, what affects it, and what tools to use to ensure healthy brain aging. Of course, as Dr. Lisa says, major chronic illnesses like depression cannot be cured by these simple tips, but they can be prevented.

Episode 2: Your Memory Defines You

Without memories, things won’t be the same. We lose our sense of self when we lose our memories. That is why it is so hard to watch people with Alzheimer’s. In this episode, we learn how new memories are formed, preventing cognitive decline, and the secret of super-agers. 

We also learn tips for improving focus and concentration. But before all this, the instructors help us understand how the brain processes signals. Be sure to look out for ‘Reverse Inference’ when you watch the series. It is an intriguing concept. 

Your brain retains new memories because of the hippocampus. Dr. Wendy dives into the functions of various brain lobes (including the hippocampus) and where they are situated. But the part that caught my attention was the techniques she suggested to strengthen memory – repetition, association, novelty, and emotional resonance.

You must watch the series to know how to use these techniques and why they work. And, of course, the best way to combat neurodegenerative diseases is to get a good night’s sleep. Again, Dr. Wendy expertly explains how sleeping well is connected to memory consolidation and cleaning out neurotoxins.

Finally, the secret of super-agers (65-year-old adults with the memory abilities of 25-year-olds) is revealed. Apparently, you only need to engage in challenging activities. Dr. Lisa teaches precisely how challenging those activities should be.

Why is this important? Well, neuroplasticity, or brain plasticity is the brain’s ability to change, grow, and adapt. When you take up challenging activities, your brain adapts accordingly. That’s the secret. Simple yet powerful, don’t you think so? 

Episode 3: The Science Of Aging Smarter

Building on the last episode’s ending, we explore brain plasticity more here. Instead of looking for ‘anti-aging for the brain’ techniques, watch this series to age better. Brain aging is a natural phenomenon. You can slow down the process, but you can’t prevent it. 

Dr. Lisa explains pruning and tuning – the dying and strengthening of neural connections – in a digestible way. It helps understand the difference between adult and infant brains. So, how can one take advantage of this brain plasticity? Exposing yourself to new things helps a lot. The experts help us understand how the brain reacts to them, and why it’s beneficial.

Next up are some brain-boosting strategies. First, let’s focus on memory. I am hyping this up because the Memory Palace is explored in this section. Have you watched Hannibal (the TV series)? Hannibal Lecter’s memory palaces are legendary. I am awed by how he used a simple mnemonic technique to live in his head for years!

Evocative storytelling is another strategy to boost memory. Another way to improve brain plasticity is by engaging in physical activities. It results in neurogenesis – the growth of new brain cells. Whoa, I just had a flashback to Genesis in The Wrath of Khan. Fortunately, these newborn cells are stable, unlike that planet.

Workouts are great, but is there something else for couch potatoes like me? Dr. Wendy recommends 10 minutes of walking every day. Again, the connection between stress and the brain is emphasized and how walking reduces stress and anxiety levels is discussed. Different activities have different impacts on your brain.

So, switching it up is good. Wendy recommends Inten Sati workouts. It was hilarious to watch but is an effective technique. Finally, the importance of face-to-face, real-time, social interactions is delved into. In other words, this series is a must-watch for anyone who wants their brain to be in the best condition it can be in.

The Gut-Brain Connection

The vagus nerve connects the gut and the brain. If you take care of your gut, it means you’re taking care of your brain, too. That’s the gist of what Dr. Uma says. Her sections in the class are segregated and shown in the three episodes. I figured it would be better to dedicate this portion of this article to gushing about how well she teaches to give a sense of continuity.

She encourages you to eat food with fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 for brain health. Fortunately, she doesn’t leave us hanging and works alongside Chef Gregory Gourdet when he creates masterpieces generally known as food. The first recipe we learn is the Jerk Cauliflower.

It contains pre-biotic fibers that are a great food source for microbes. We are happy if our gut microbes are happy. The next recipe is eggs & greens. It may sound simple, but the food is jam-packed with nutrients our body and mind needs. If you are not a fan of eggs, you can try the tofu version Dr. Uma provides.

The last recipe is for crispy-skin salmon with spinach, mushrooms & quick pickle. I was salivating until I read beyond crispy-skin salmon. For heaven’s sake, why do we need to eat spinach and mushrooms? I hate green things, but they have the most nutrients. At least, the salmon looked fantastic after cooking. Oh, well. 

What is great about these recipes is that the Doctor explains what nutrients each ingredient provides. That is not something other recipe videos have. Knowing why we eat something helps us stick to that diet. The chef is awesome; I loved the vibe he gave. So, you will have fun the entire time you watch the recipes being prepared.

Two-Faced Dopamine

Dopamine is released (that is, it transmits signals to the brain) when we do things that please us. Exercise, compassionate acts, interacting with pets, etc. release dopamine. That’s good for the brain, right? To a certain extent, yes. Since dopamine makes us feel a kind of high, there are chances for being addicted to dopamine. 

Dopamine has been known to cause drug and social media addictions. What was a simple pursuit of pleasure can quickly turn into a nightmare. That is why Dr. Wendy calls dopamine two-faced. I remember reading the book ‘Dopamine Detox’ and going wow, I really must follow these tips. However, dopamine release is generally good for memory and focus.

Architecting Emotions

The instructors explain how learning to architect your emotions, that is control what emotion you feel at the moment, helps aid brain health and helps you be productive. This control over your emotions is known as emotional intelligence. Dr. Lisa rightly says once you understand you are a speck of dust in this vast universe, your problems seem manageable.

Expectations for the Future

What does the future of neuroscience and brain health hold? Dr. Wendy shares some of her expectations such as gaining control over brain plasticity, providing personalized medication, and helping people age as gracefully as possible. What leaps and bounds do you think there will be in the fields of neuroscience and neurobiology?

The series ends with a summation of everything you can do to improve your brain health. I hope this Brain Health MasterClass review convinced you to watch the series. For better results, start practicing the techniques today, guys. In case you are wondering, I plan to do that, too. In fact, I am going to meditate right after I complete this article. What about you?