Two of the most costly words you can say might just be "I forgot." That's what memory expert Jim Kwik tells Dr. Katie To in this episode, and once you hear why, you won't think about your brain the same way again.

Jim Kwik has spent 14 years speaking at biohacking conferences around the world, and in this conversation with Dr. Katie, he lays out exactly what he teaches on stage: 10 practical, science-backed pillars for building a sharper, more resilient brain. Dr. Katie brings her own clinical lens into the conversation too, connecting what Jim teaches about brain health to what she sees firsthand under the phase contrast microscope, including early markers of cognitive decline that show up in the mouth years before a diagnosis ever does.

What you will learn:

• Why your brain doesn't come with an instruction manual, and what to do about it
• The 10 pillars Jim uses to build and protect a "limitless brain," from brain foods to sleep inertia to stress management
• What digital dementia is and how outsourcing your memory to your phone might be weakening it
• How oral inflammation and the mouth-brain connection show up clinically, long before symptoms appear

Key themes:

• Treating the brain like a muscle instead of a mystery
• The difference between knowledge and applied knowledge, and why most people stall out between the two
• Self-talk as a program your brain runs, whether you meant to write it or not
• Why community and purpose matter as much as diet and exercise for long-term brain health

Guest bio:

Jim Kwik is a memory and brain performance expert, keynote speaker, and host of a podcast with hundreds of millions of downloads. He's spoken at biohacking conferences for over a decade and is the author of the new book Limitless Daily.

Links for Jim:

• Jim Kwik: jimkwik.com
• Limitless Daily book and 366 challenge: limitlessdaily.com

Dr. Katie's perspective:

What struck me most in this conversation is how much overlap there is between what Jim teaches for brain longevity and what I see clinically every day. We look at patients' saliva under the microscope and we can actually see spirochetes present in people who are already deep into Alzheimer's. We wish we could catch that 20 or 30 years earlier. That's exactly why conversations like this matter so much to me, because the brain and the mouth are never as separate as people think.

For Dentists
If you're building or renovating a practice with a wellness-first patient experience in mind, this conversation gives you a real framework for getting the workflow and sensory design right from the start. Explore CORE membership to build the full system around it: wellnessdentistinstitute.com/core-membership

For Patients
Curious what a truly whole-body dental experience feels like, not just looks like? Join Dr. Katie's free webinar: https://go.drkatieto.center/register

Connect with Dr. Katie:
🌐 thewellnessdentist.com
📱 @drkatieto

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Before using any products mentioned or attempting methods discussed, please speak with a licensed healthcare provider.  This podcast disclaims responsibility from any possible adverse reactions associated with products or methods discussed.    Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests.  We do not provide guarantees about the guests' qualifications or credibility. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.