In this episode, Sarah Court and Laurel Beversdorf begin a two-part investigation into Louisa Nicola and the rapidly growing industry built around Alzheimer's prevention, brain optimization, and women's brain health. They examine how legitimate scientific concerns about dementia become transformed into highly marketable narratives, and explain the difference between what current evidence supports and what many online health personalities confidently claim.

Sarah and Laurel break down the strongest evidence on dementia prevention, including findings from the 2024 Lancet Commission, and discuss what is known about exercise, vascular health, hearing, vision, education, social connection, and other modifiable risk factors. They also introduce concepts they call mechanism theater, evidence cosplay, and the fear-to-action marketing pipeline, showing how preliminary research is often stretched into certainty to sell protocols, supplements, and personal brands. Along the way, they critically examine several of Nicola's most common claims—including that Alzheimer's starts in your 30s, that women face six times the risk, and that heavy resistance training is uniquely protective—and compare those claims with the available evidence.

Part 2 of this series will continue the investigation into Louisa Nicola's recommendations, products, and marketing strategies.

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RESOURCES

113: Debunking Menopause Grifters: Dr Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Vonda Wright [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/movement-logic-strong-opinions-loosely-held/id1614469934?i=1000731912781]

111: Make Stacy Sims Make Sense [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/movement-logic-strong-opinions-loosely-held/id1614469934?i=1000729470062]

The Lancet Commission: Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care: 2024 Report [https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(24)01296-0/abstract]

Alzheimer's Association 2025 Fact Sheet [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12040760/]

Neuro Athletics [https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/brain-code]

Narrative review on resistance training and Alzheimer's disease (co-authored by Louisa Nicola) [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38823487/]

Dr. Vonda Wright podcast featuring Louisa Nicola [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBlpfJJ4WYI]

The Diary of a CEO podcast featuring Louisa Nicola [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t_DD5568RA]

APOE4 and Alzheimer's disease research [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26969397/]

New England Journal of Medicine (2024) biomarker study on preclinical Alzheimer's disease [https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2310168?__cf_chl_f_tk=dMosN6d8_Mh905vKTRtE1jyMid6LTZZXmLoCOBoGNPo-1782867568-1.0.1.1-2Ln2R7d8VZfAUV5cnXYXZhy.SmyzsxoAjTnwfN5IJso]

134: Make Louisa Nicola Make Sense, Part 1

In this episode, Sarah Court and Laurel Beversdorf continue their conversation with Dr. Stu Phillips, one of the world's leading protein researchers. They dig into the latest ACSM Position Stand on Resistance Training, unpacking what it actually says about strength, hypertrophy, power, progressive overload, and why many of the debates happening online are driven more by certainty than by evidence.

They also explore why protein has "jumped the shark," how marketing has outpaced the science, whether menopausal women really need dramatically more protein, and why consistency—not optimization—is still the most powerful exercise strategy. Throughout the conversation, Stu explains why scientific nuance often gets lost on social media and why changing your mind when new evidence emerges is a strength, not a weakness.

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Foldable Home Barbell Rack [https://verse.fit/movement-logic] by Verse
Coupon code: MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout

RESOURCES

 * ACSM Position Stand [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41843416/] on Resistance Training
 * ACSM Health & Fitness Journa [https://journals.lww.com/acsm-healthfitness/toc/2025/09000]l special issue on power training
 * Stu Phillips — Protein Jumped the Shark [https://theconversation.com/2025-was-the-year-protein-jumped-the-shark-272614] (2025 article)

133: Dr Stu Phillips Part 2: Power, Protein, And The Science We Get Wrong

In this episode, Sarah and Laurel sit down with Dr. Stu Phillips, one of the world's most influential researchers in muscle physiology, protein metabolism, and resistance training. Together they discuss why Stu publicly challenged the idea that heavy lifting is required for bone density, what the evidence actually says about load and osteogenesis, and how newer research has changed the conversation around both muscle growth and bone health.

Stu explains why many long-held training beliefs—including the need for heavy weights for hypertrophy—have not held up under scrutiny, why good scientists must be willing to change their minds, and how concepts like effort and "progressive stimulus" may matter more than specific loading prescriptions.

The conversation also explores what researchers know (and still don't know) about bone adaptation, site-specific bone responses, impact training, mechanical loading, and the challenges of translating animal research into human recommendations. Finally, Stu shares his thoughts on protein obsession, exercise guidelines, weight loss stigma, and the importance of following the evidence wherever it leads.

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Barbell Mini Course [https://mailchi.mp/d4c544ab3a5d/minicourse] from Movement Logic



RESOURCES

Kistler-Fischbacher et al. (2021) Exercise and Bone Density [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33357834/]

Watson et al (2018) LIFTMOR Trial [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28975661/]

Currier et al (2026) ACSM Position Stand [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41843416/] on Resistance Training and Muscle Hypertrophy

132: Dr. Stu Phillips Part 1: Bone Density and Scientific Nuance

What is balance, really? In this episode of the Movement Logic Podcast, Laurel and Sarah unpack why “balance” is much more than standing on one foot, not falling, or having a strong core.

Using the motor control concept of postural control, they explore balance as a dynamic, emergent process shaped by sensory input, motor responses, cognition, confidence, fear, environment, prior experience, and social context. They discuss center of mass, base of support, stability, perturbations, sensory reweighting, and why balance is deeply context specific.

You’ll learn why steady-state, reactive, and anticipatory balance are different biological problems, why yoga may train some balance skills better than others, why strength and power matter for fall recovery, and why no single “balance exercise” prepares you for every balance challenge life throws at you.

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ABOUT [https://themovementlogic.com/power-play/] Power Play

FOLLOW [https://www.instagram.com/themovementlogic/] @TheMovementLogic on Instagram

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RESOURCES

BOOK: Motor Control: Translating Research into Clinical Practice by Anne Shumway-Cook and Marjorie Woollacott

EPISODES

128: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/128-does-balance-training-prevent-falls-or-just-improve/id1614469934?i=1000764252652]Does 'Balance Training' Prevent Falls, or Just Improve Balance?

129: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/129-sarcopenia-redefined-loss-of-strength-and/id1614469934?i=1000767538370] Sarcopenia Redefined: Loss of Strength and Power Matter More Than Muscle Mass

On motor learning - 29: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/movement-logic-strong-opinions-loosely-held/id1614469934?i=1000601062119] The Cues We Use Pt. 1, 31: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/movement-logic-strong-opinions-loosely-held/id1614469934?i=1000603256200] The Cues We Use Pt. 2, 34: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/movement-logic-strong-opinions-loosely-held/id1614469934?i=1000606398152] The Cues We Use Pt. 3

Our interview on the Capable and Worthy Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-spot-a-doctor-brand-grifter-with-movement-logic/id1660618985?i=1000769454552]



131: Basic Bitches Talk About Balance

POWER PLAY [https://themovementlogic.com/power-play/] is on sale now for $99. The price goes up after May 31st. 

Sign up here - https://themovementlogic.com/power-play/

Power training is not just for athletes. It's also not just box jumps, Olympic lifts, or kettlebell swings. Power is for everyone and it shows up all day, everyday in our daily activities. It's the ability to produce force quickly. You use power when you stand up from a chair, climb stairs, get off the floor, or react fast enough to prevent a fall.

This week on the Movement Logic podcast, Laurel and Sarah explain why they created their new course, Power Play. They discuss why power declines faster than strength as we age, why that matters for fall prevention and independence, and why so many people mistakenly conclude “my knees can’t handle that anymore” or “I’m too old for that” after being exposed to way too much impact or explosive movement too soon. They break down how power exercises can be scaled and progressed, why most group fitness classes fail to individualize this type of training, and how Power Play teaches people to start at the very beginning rather than assuming the hardest version is the entry point. They also discuss pelvic floor concerns, type 2 muscle fibers, balance, aging, reactive movement, and why just a few minutes of power training per week can make a meaningful difference in long-term physical function.

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130: Why We Created Power Play and What's Inside the Course

A lot of people think sarcopenia means age-related loss of muscle mass. But this is not what it means!

This week on the Movement Logic podcast, Laurel and Sarah unpack sarcopenia: what it actually is, why the definition has changed over time, and why losing strength and power matters more than losing muscle mass. They walk through the evolution from a tissue-focused understanding of sarcopenia to a function-focused one. Learn how the nervous system plays a major role in aging-related decline, and how this explains a far more rapid loss of strength and an even more rapid loss of power. They discuss why resistance training is essential if you want to maintain independence, reduce fall risk, and preserve the ability to do the things you love as you age. They also discuss why yoga, Pilates, walking, and cardio alone are not enough to prevent sarcopenia, and why training strength and power is non-negotiable for long-term physical function.

ABOUT [https://themovementlogic.com/power-play/] Power Play

FOLLOW [https://www.instagram.com/themovementlogic/] @MovementLogicTutorials on Instagram

WATCH [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMovementLogic] Movement Logic on YouTube

LEARN MORE [https://themovementlogic.com/] on the Movement Logic website

FOLDABLE HOME BARBELL RACK [https://verse.fit/products/verse-agile-rack-movementlogic] by Verse, use coupon code MovementLogic10%OFF at checkout

RESOURCES

GUARDIAN ARTICLE [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/may/07/do-women-need-to-exercise-differently-from-men-and-ease-up-on-cardio-after-40] - We were asked to weigh in about Stacy Sims advice

EPISODE [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-375-the-sarcopenia-deep-dive-why-its-not-just/id1199780143?i=1000738341277] - Barbell Medicine on Sarcopenia

127: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/127-acsm-says-k-i-s-s/id1614469934?i=1000761480508]ASCM says K.I.S.S.

94: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/94-capacities-for-longevity-part-2-power/id1614469934?i=1000702829207] Capacities for Longevity - Power

CLARK, 2008 - PMID: 18772470

CLARK, 2012 - PMID: 22469110

MITCHELL, 2012 - PMID: 22934016

REID, 2012 - PMID: 22016147

European Working Group position stand 2018 - PMID: 30312372

European Working Group position stand 2010 - PMID: 20392703

BHASIN, 2020 (SDOC Paper) - PMID: 32150289

TØIEN, 2023 - PMID: 37881849

WIEGMANN, 2021 - PMID: 33657752

TØIEN, 2023 - PMID: 36442699

129: Sarcopenia Redefined: Loss of Strength and Power Matter More Than Muscle Mass

In this episode, we break down what drives fall risk, and why the common advice to “just work on your balance” falls short. We explore how falls are measured, what balance tests really tell us (and what they don’t), and why improving a test score doesn’t automatically mean you’re less likely to fall in real life.

We dig into the evidence on exercise and fall prevention, and explain why simpler, consistent exercise programs often outperform more complex approaches. We also look at surprising findings, like a randomized trial where a yoga group fell more than the control group, and what that reveals about confidence vs actual capacity.

From there, we focus on what matters most: power, reaction time, and the ability to recover from instability. Most falls aren’t failures of static balance; they’re failures to respond quickly when something goes wrong.

Finally, we cover what almost no one talks about: what happens after you fall. We discuss “long lies,” why getting up off the floor is a critical independence skill, and how a small amount of targeted practice can make a meaningful difference.

Power Play Course [https://themovementlogic.com/power-play/] available soon! 

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FOLLOW [https://www.instagram.com/themovementlogic/] Movement Logic on IG

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RESOURCES

 * CDC data on falls in older adults [https://shorturl.at/QGCx6]
 * 2024 Korean study on fear of falling [https://shorturl.at/CDini]
 * 2024 JAMA / USPSTF systematic review [https://shorturl.at/ZvT1w]
 * 2025 SAGE RCT, Iyengar yoga and falls [https://tinyurl.com/v32rw6wr]
 * 2020 Sherrington et al. Cochrane      Review [https://tinyurl.com/ycsfn4m2]
 * 2017 Sherrington et al. Cochrane      Review [https://tinyurl.com/n9mkktrs]
 * 2022 Simpkins et al. power vs strength [https://tinyurl.com/ykmf3keb]
 * 2025 Zhu et al. power and fall      prediction [https://tinyurl.com/e2zb7nws]
 * 2021 Okubo et al. stepping impairments      and fall risk [https://tinyurl.com/3veunjmk]
 * 2022 Devasahayam et al. reactive      balance training [https://tinyurl.com/4ywxyz7z]
 * Sheffield Long Lies Study [https://tinyurl.com/7rnbbtpv]
 * Floor Rise Training Trial [https://tinyurl.com/2xmzsys5]



128: Does “Balance Training” Prevent Falls, or Just Improve Balance?

In this episode, we break down the new 2026 American College of Sports Medicine position stand on resistance training—and why it’s not what the internet gurus were hoping for.

Instead of doubling down on rigid rules, this update does the opposite: it expands the evidence base, loosens the prescriptions, and makes one thing very clear—there is no single “best” way to train. Most resistance training works. What matters more is consistency, effort, and aligning your training with your actual goals.

We unpack what the ACSM looked at (including 137 systematic reviews and over 30,000 participants), what’s changed since 2009, and what the evidence actually says about strength, hypertrophy, power, endurance, and physical function. We also break down why “optimization” is often overhyped, why going from nothing to something is still the biggest win, and how power training may play a bigger role in real-life function than you think.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting fitness advice—or like you’re doing it “wrong”—this episode will simplify what actually matters and what you can safely ignore.

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Resources:

ACSM 2026 Position Stand [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12965823/]

ACSM 2009 Position Stand [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19204579/]

POST [https://www.instagram.com/p/DQpGRRvjcl3/?igsh=d3dxM3cxdGp1czFq] about “strength span” from Stronger by Science

(Nuzzo, 2024) PMID: 38781472 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38781472/]



127: ACSM says K.I.S.S.

In this episode, Sarah looks at two broad pain patterns, people who tend to push through pain and people who tend to avoid it, and explains how each one can shape your relationship with exercise. Before getting into those categories, she lays out a key foundation of modern pain science: pain is not a simple one-to-one signal of tissue damage. Instead, pain is a subjective experience shaped by the brain’s interpretation of threat, context, past experiences, beliefs, and emotions. She also explains why the common zero-to-10 pain scale is often misunderstood, what it is useful for, and why phrases like “I have a high pain tolerance” or “my pain is a 10 out of 10” may not communicate what people think they do.

From there, the episode walks through the fear avoidance model, pain catastrophizing, and the avoidance-endurance model to explain why some people stop moving the moment something feels wrong while others ignore pain until it becomes a much bigger problem. Sarah breaks down the strengths and liabilities of both patterns, including how pain avoiders can become deconditioned by steering clear of normal exercise discomfort and how pain endurers can blow past clear warning signs and delay recovery. She also talks through how these patterns show up in real life, how to tell which direction you tend to lean, and how better pain literacy, gradual progression, and thoughtful exercise programming can help you recalibrate your response to pain without swinging all the way to the opposite extreme.

FOLLOW [https://www.instagram.com/themovementlogic/] @themovementlogic on Instagram

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Sign up here [https://mailchi.mp/d4c544ab3a5d/minicourse] for the Movement Logic Free Barbell Mini Course



RESOURCES

Fear Avoidance Model revisited [https://journals.lww.com/pain/fulltext/2016/08000/the_fear_avoidance_model_of_pain.5.aspx]

Pain Catastrophizing Model [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7772183/]

Avoidance-Endurance Model [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20664333/]

Pain Catastrophizing Scale [https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/dsi-pmc/PainCareToolbox/Pain%20Catastrophizing%20Scale.pdf]

Avoidance-Endurance Questionnaire [https://eprovide.mapi-trust.org/instruments/avoidance-endurance-questionnaire#need_this_questionnaire]

126: Are You a Pain Avoider or a Pain Endurer?

Dr. Vanessa Komarek, PsyD joins Laurel for a conversation about strength training, trauma myths, gymtimidation, training through pregnancy, and what it actually means to be trauma informed as a coach. They talk about how lifting can support mental health, why fear-based messaging can backfire, where coaching ends and therapy begins, and which evidence-based PTSD treatments deserve more attention than social media trauma narratives.

FOLLOW @TheMovementLogic [https://www.instagram.com/themovementlogic/] on Instagram

WATCH @TheMovementLogic [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMovementLogic] on YouTube

Sign up for our Free Barbell Mini Course HERE [https://mailchi.mp/d4c544ab3a5d/minicourse]

RESOURCES

Dr. Vanessa Komarek, PsyD

Instagram @HeavyLiftingPychologist [https://www.instagram.com/heavy_lifting_psychologist/]

Website www.weightsforwellbeing.com [https://www.weightsforwellbeing.com/]

125: Trauma-Informed Coaching with Dr. Vanessa Komarek, PsyD

Welcome to the Movement Logic Podcast, with yoga teacher and strength coach Laurel Beversdorf, and physical therapist Dr. Sarah Court. With over 30 years combined experience in the yoga, movement and physical therapy worlds, we believe in strong ideas, loosely held – which means we’re not hyping outdated movement concepts. Instead, we’re here with up-to-date and cutting-edge tools, evidence and ideas to help you as a mover and a teacher. Music: Makani by Scandinavianz & AXM

Laurel Beversdorf

Shows