Category: long term health

Cryptic Conditions: Some Diagnoses Are Stranger Than Fiction (Ep. 48)

Cryptic Conditions: Some Diagnoses Are Stranger Than Fiction (Ep. 48)

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This Halloween, The Med Edit Podcast brings you a spine-tingling medical special!

Join Dr. Jessica Gray and Dr. Cari Sorrell as they uncover the eerie side of evidence-based medicine — real-life conditions that inspired some of the world’s most famous myths.

From “vampires” and “werewolves” to “corpses that rise again,” these cases prove that truth can be far stranger (and scarier) than fiction.

In This Episode, We Cover:

Case 1: The Woman Who Couldn’t Step Into the Light

A modern-day “vampire”? Discover the truth behind porphyria, a rare metabolic disorder that once inspired centuries of blood-drinking folklore.

Case 2: The Corpse That Moved

A 91-year-old woman declared dead suddenly woke up in a morgue — all thanks to accidental hypothermia and the body’s shocking ability to survive extreme cold.

Case 3: When the Body Turns Against You

Meet a teenager “allergic” to water. Aquagenic urticaria is so rare that fewer than 50 cases exist worldwide — and every drop feels like fire.

Case 4: The Man of the Woods

The “werewolf” of Renaissance Europe wasn’t a monster — he had hypertrichosis, a rare genetic condition that causes excessive hair growth across the entire body.

AND MORE!

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

  • It’s spooky and smart — medical mysteries that sound like horror stories but are grounded in science.
  • Perfect for Halloween or anyone fascinated by the strange, rare, and unbelievable in medicine.
  • Real lessons in diagnosis, physiology, and how folklore and fear once filled the gaps before modern medicine.

Resources Mentioned:

Key Takeaways:

  • Sometimes, medical conditions create legends.
  • The line between myth and medicine is thinner than you think.
  • Always rewarm before you pronounce — and never underestimate the human body’s resilience.

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

Clinicians — claim your CME credit for listening!

https://cmetracker.net/TTUHSC/Publisher?page=pubOpen&nc=7120399723#/myPortal

Connect with us!

https://themededitpodcast.com/

Instagram: @TheMedEditPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/themededitpodcast/

Facebook: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/themededitpodcast/

LinkedIn: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/themededitpodcast/

LinkedIn: Dr. Jessica Gray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Jessica-gray-md/

LinkedIn: Dr. Cari Sorrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cari-sorrell-42545a7b/

Live Stronger, Think Sharper, Age Smarter: The New Science of Longevity (Ep. 47)

Live Stronger, Think Sharper, Age Smarter: The New Science of Longevity (Ep. 47)

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In this episode of The Med Edit Podcast, Dr. Jessica Gray and Dr. Cari Sorrell explore the cutting-edge science of cognitive function and healthy aging — revealing how your habits today shape your brain, body, and longevity for decades to come.

From brain plasticity to breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s research, this episode blends practical, evidence-based advice with new frontiers in neuroscience and anti-aging medicine.

Segment 1: The Aging Brain

  • Cognitive Fitness 101: Learn how neuroplasticity — your brain’s ability to adapt and rewire — protects memory and focus as you age.
  • Lifestyle Matters: The doctors unpack the research on exercise, diet, and sleep, including why aerobic movement and strength training stimulate the brain’s growth factors (BDNF).
  • Eat Smart for Brain Health: Explore the MIND and Mediterranean diets — and why reducing sugar and processed foods supports neuroplasticity.
  • Stay Sharp: Discover how lifelong learning, social connection, and creativity build your “cognitive reserve.”
  • Rest and Reset: Evidence-based sleep hygiene practices that enhance brain repair and long-term memory retention.

Segment 2: Emerging Research in Cognitive Longevity

  • New Alzheimer’s Treatments: A look at the latest FDA-approved drugs, Lecanemab and Donanemab, and how they target amyloid plaques to slow cognitive decline.
  • Cellular Senescence: The rise of senolytic drugs and their potential to reverse aging at the cellular level.
  • Creatine for the Brain: Surprising evidence that creatine monohydrate may enhance short-term memory and reasoning in aging adults.
  • Hearing and Dementia: New studies show hearing aids may reduce dementia risk by up to 50%.
  • The Music Connection: Groundbreaking work from the MIND Lab shows how music and rhythm can reactivate memory pathways in dementia patients.

Rapid-Fire Myth Busting: FACT or MIS

Dr. Gray and Dr. Sorrell bust the biggest myths on brain and bone health — from collagen powders to crossword puzzles — and remind listeners that the most powerful anti-aging tools are still movement, mindset, and connection.

Book of the Week

A Short Guide to a Long Life by Dr. David Agus

A timeless resource on building daily habits for strength, resilience, and longevity.

Key Takeaways

  • Challenge your brain with new learning, not repetition.
  • Muscle mass is your greatest longevity investment.
  • Nutrition and sleep drive long-term brain performance.
  • Relationships, laughter, and optimism fuel healthy aging.

Resources Mentioned

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

Clinicians — claim your CME credit for listening!

https://cmetracker.net/TTUHSC/Publisher?page=pubOpen&nc=7120399723#/myPortal

Connect with us!

https://themededitpodcast.com/

Instagram: @TheMedEditPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/themededitpodcast/

Facebook: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/themededitpodcast/

LinkedIn: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/themededitpodcast/

LinkedIn: Dr. Jessica Gray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Jessica-gray-md/

LinkedIn: Dr. Cari Sorrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cari-sorrell-42545a7b/