The New Frontier of Dementia Prevention with Cédric Gousseau

In this episode of the Brain Health Kitchen podcast, Annie talks with Cédric Gousseau, co-founder of BetterBrain, about what it means to be proactive about brain health before symptoms begin.Cédric came to this work personally after learning in his early twenties that he carries an APOE4 gene variant, which increases risk for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. That discovery led him deep into the science of dementia prevention and the question so many people ask: if I care about my brain health, where do I start?Annie and Cédric talk about the promise and complexity of genetic testing, why APOE4 is a risk factor but not a diagnosis, and how people may use that information to make more targeted choices. They also discuss brain health biomarkers that are not always included in a routine doctor’s visit, including homocysteine, APOB, Lp(a), B vitamins, inflammation markers, and newer tests like p-tau 217.The bigger theme is what happens after testing. Cédric explains why numbers alone are not enough, and why interpretation, coaching, and follow-through matter if people are going to turn brain health information into real-life changes.This episode is for anyone who wants to move from worry to a plan — and understand what proactive brain care may look like in the years ahead.Chapters07:07 — Discovering APOE4 in his early 20s10:56 — The emotional impact of genetic risk12:10 — Should you know your APOE4 status?17:33 — From personal risk to building Better Brain22:29 — How a personalized brain health system works25:03 — Why testing alone is not enough38:27 — APOE4 and p-tau217 testing44:52 — Brain health labs beyond a standard panel46:15 — Homocysteine and B vitamins49:11 — ApoB, Lp(a), and vascular risk52:42 — Can brain health become the next preventive cardiology?56:08 — Preventive cognitive testing1:00:30 — Personalized AI and brain health1:04:09 — The future of dementia prevention LinksBetter BrainAbout Better Brain and Cédric GousseauAPOE and Alzheimer’s Risk — National Institute on AgingConsidering APOE Testing?We are grateful to our Founding Sponsors.NeuroReserve: Use code BHKPodcast for 10% off:Relevate: a brain-specific blend of omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) and nutrients based on the Mediterranean and MIND dietsRevanta Creatine: a highly dissolvable pure-grade creatine monohydrateBHKEVOO: our recent harvest of extra-virgin olive oil—organic, high in polyphenols, and sources from family friends in Tuscany, ItalyBetter Brain: Use code AFENN50 for $50 off your assessment, which brings the cost of a full brain health biomarker panel down to $39; most people pay $0 out of pocket for the coaching sessions. Check them out at BetterBrain.com/annie.