Peter Attia MD363 ‒ A new frontier in neurosurgery: brain-computer interfaces, new hope for brain diseases, & more
Episode Details
EPISODE INFO
- Released
- September 8, 2025
- Duration
- 2h 9m
- Channel
- Peter Attia MD
- Watch on YouTube
- ▶ Open ↗
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Edward Chang is a neurosurgeon, scientist, and a pioneering leader in functional neurosurgery and brain-computer interface technology, whose work spans the operating room, the research lab, and the engineering bench to restore speech and movement for patients who have lost these capabilities. In this episode, Edward explains the evolution of modern neurosurgery and its dramatic reduction in collateral damage, the experience of awake brain surgery, real-time mapping to protect critical functions, and the split-second decisions surgeons make. He also discusses breakthroughs in brain-computer interfaces and functional electrical stimulation systems, strategies for improving outcomes in glioblastoma, and his vision for slimmer, safer implants that could turn devastating conditions like ALS, spinal cord injury, and aggressive brain tumors into more manageable chronic illnesses. View show notes here: https://bit.ly/46uJXlh Become a member to receive exclusive content: https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/ Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/ We discuss: 0:00:00 - Intro 0:01:17 - The evolution of neurosurgery and the shift toward minimally invasive techniques 0:10:58 - Glioblastomas: biology, current treatments, and emerging strategies to overcome its challenges 0:17:39 - How brain mapping has advanced from preserving function during surgery to revealing how neurons encode language and cognition 0:24:22 - How awake brain surgery is performed 0:29:02 - How brain redundancy and plasticity allow some regions to be safely resected, the role of the corpus callosum in epilepsy surgery, and the clinical and philosophical implications of disconnecting the hemispheres 0:43:46 - How neural engineering may restore lost functions in neurodegenerative disease, how thought mapping varies across individuals, and how sensory decline contributes to cognitive aging 0:54:40 - Brain–computer interfaces explained: EEG vs. ECoG vs. single-cell electrodes and their trade-offs 1:09:02 - Edward’s clinical trial using ECoG to restore speech to a stroke patient 1:20:41 - How a stroke patient regained speech through brain–computer interfaces: training, AI decoding, and the path to scalable technology 1:41:10 - Using brain-computer interfaces to restore breathing, movement, and broader function in ALS patients 1:47:56 - The 2030 outlook for brain–computer interfaces 1:52:35 - The potential of stem cell and cell-based therapies for regenerating lost brain function 1:57:54 - Edward’s vision for how neurosurgery and treatments for glioblastoma, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease may evolve by 2040 2:00:43 - The rare but dangerous risk of vertebral artery dissections from chiropractic neck adjustments and high-velocity movements 2:02:31 - How Harvey Cushing might view modern neurosurgery, and how the field has shifted from damage avoidance to unlocking the brain’s functions -------- About: The Peter Attia Drive is a deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing longevity, and all that goes into that from physical to cognitive to emotional health. With over 90 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including exercise, nutritional biochemistry, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more. Peter Attia is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan. Learn more: https://peterattiamd.com Connect with Peter on: Facebook: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDTW Instagram: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDIG Subscribe to The Drive: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveApplePodcasts Overcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveOvercast Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheDriveSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheDriveGoogle Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they have, and they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. I take conflicts of interest very seriously. For all of my disclosures and the companies I invest in or advise, please visit my website where I keep an up-to-date and active list of such companies. For a full list of our registered and unregistered trademarks, trade names, and service marks, please review our Terms of Use: https://peterattiamd.com/terms-of-use/
SPEAKERS
Peter Attia
hostPhysician and host of "The Drive" podcast focusing on medicine and longevity.
Edward Chang
guestNeurosurgeon and neuroscientist known for work on awake brain mapping and brain-computer interfaces, including speech decoding research.
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Peter Attia MD, featuring Peter Attia and Edward Chang, 363 ‒ A new frontier in neurosurgery: brain-computer interfaces, new hope for brain diseases, & more explores neurosurgeon Edward Chang on Brain-Computer Interfaces Restoring Speech and Treating Brain Disease Chang explains that neurosurgery has shifted from large open craniotomies toward minimally invasive tools such as catheters, laser probes, and focused ultrasound, with stroke care now resembling heart attack care.
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