Can food allergies be treated safely without lifelong maintenance doses? In this episode of The Smartest Doctor in the Room, Dr. Dean Mitchell sits down with Dr. Moshe Ben Shoshan, Associate Professor at McGill University Health Centre, to explore the latest breakthroughs in food allergy treatment. Together they discuss low dose oral immunotherapy, the science behind desensitization, and how early exposure to allergenic foods like peanuts may actually reduce allergy risk. They also unpack real world challenges with treatment adherence, why milk allergies can be more dangerous than peanuts, and what new research is revealing about prevention, immunotherapy, and environmental factors.

In this wide ranging conversation, Dr. Dean Mitchell sits down with Professor Edward Quadros of SUNY Downstate to explore the critical roles of folate vitamin B9 and vitamin B12 in brain development and lifelong health. We unpack why some children show low cerebrospinal fluid folate despite a normal diet, how autoantibodies to the folate receptor can block folate from reaching the brain, and what the folate receptor antibody test FRAT reveals. Professor Quadros explains the research behind folinic acid leucovorin as a folate enhancer, what clinical studies show in children on the spectrum, and why earlier treatment tends to yield better outcomes. We also look at prenatal folate fortification, the potential value of screening parents, the milk and autoimmunity connection in susceptible kids, and clear up myths around the common MTHFR polymorphism. Finally, we connect B12 status, homocysteine, and the different B12 forms used in practice. If you care about evidence based insights on autism research, neurodevelopment, and smart supplementation, this episode is a must listen.

In this powerful episode, we explore one of the most important—and least understood—medical challenges of our time: how brain injury and aging impact mental health, behavior, and society. Our host is joined by renowned neuropathologist Dr. John Crary, a leading expert on brain diseases at Mount Sinai, to unpack the science and lived reality behind concussions, CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), dementia, and more.

Dr. Crary shares his early fascination with neuroanatomy, how pathology reveals the hidden stories inside every brain, and why repetitive mild head trauma—not just big hits—may be the true danger in contact sports and military service. He explains how CTE is diagnosed, why tau tangles are the “smoking gun,” and how the exact location of damage reveals the cause. The conversation digs into why certain brain regions drive memory loss, depression, and even aggression—and why some athletes and veterans develop devastating symptoms at a young age.

We also discuss:

• Sports like football, boxing, and soccer—how risky are they really?
• The biomechanical “Nestlé Crunch bar” model of brain injury
• Why CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death (for now)
• Emerging tools: PET scans, blood tests, MRI biomarkers
• How studying athletes may help unlock treatments for Alzheimer’s
• New hope in RNA-based therapies and amyloid/tau-targeting drugs
• Whether recovery is possible after multiple concussions—and when it’s too late

This episode blends science, medicine, personal stories, and societal urgency. Whether you’re an athlete, parent, physician, or just curious about the brain, this is a must-listen conversation that could change how you think about brain health forever.