Death by Disinhibition: The Surprising Role of Executive Function in Impulse Control, Sleep, Diet, and Disease

About this episode

🏋️In this essential episode of the Managing Mental Health Podcast, host Jamie welcomes back Dr. Jerrod Brown to explore the deep, reciprocal link between executive functions (the brain's self-regulation skills) and physical health. They explain that strong cognitive control (which includes skills like inhibition, planning, and abstract reasoning) is key to making beneficial life>neuroplasticity, which reinforces the ability to practice delayed gratification and successfully weigh the future consequences of our present decisions.

🧠The conversation also highlights the reverse effect: how poor physical health can profoundly impair executive function. Factors such as untreated hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic depression, and physical inactivity are shown to negatively impact cognitive health. They examine the role of chronic inflammation (often linked to obesity) and hormonal imbalances (like ghrelin and leptin) in cognitive control, particularly in individuals with a history of trauma. To improve both mental and physical well-being, Dr. Brown recommends practical strategies, including effective stress management, prioritizing sleep health (getting checked for issues like sleep apnea), adopting the Mediterranean diet over the Western diet, and learning about holistic approaches such as Life> and Therapeutic Life>. The concept of Executive Function impairment is also important to those with ADHD, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), Organizational Deficits, Overtraining Syndrome, and Circadian Rhythm Misalignment.

Dr. Jerrod Brown

6-part series on executive functioning

1. Executive Function: Introduction and Overview

2. Executive Dysfunction: Clinical and Forensic Considerations

3. Executive Dysfunction: Implications for Poor Health Outcomes

4. Executive Dysfunction: A Neuroscience Perspective - Neuroplasticity

5. Executive Function: Self-regulation

6. Executive Function: Healthy Life>

Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals by Dr. Jerrod Brownhttps://www.amazon.com/Forensic-Mental-Health-Source-Professionals/dp/154713237X

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