03/08/2024

Friends of Franz Podcast S3 E14: Weathering the Brain Storm with Neuro-Oncology NP Joon Myung

There is a saying that goes, "The mind is the Devil's playground." Though this particularly refers to thoughts, mindsets, and emotions, the organ that houses the mind also seems to be an abode to nefarious diseases that have long been regarded as death sentences. Brain tumors and cancers, like meningioma and glioblastoma, are the most-feared adversaries of the nervous system, but there is an array of brain diseases that also creep up over time and claim their power over someone's life, its quality, and even the people around them. Memory loss has long been regarded as the hallmark presentation of Alzheimer's Disease and dementia. and it leads to the question of how possible it is to evade the malady that wipes the mental records of love and happiness clear. Can one surpass the ultimatum set by brain cancer? How can one ease their mind in the face of imminent demise? Can memory loss be prevented? What does "brain health" mean? Is social interaction really necessary to keep our brains safe?

We are joined today by Joon Myung, a neuro-oncology nurse practitioner, Alzheimer's disease and dementia educator, and brain health and mental health advocate. Joon has been a nurse practitioner for almost two decades, spending the bulk of her advanced provider role in Internal Medicine and Urgent Care. Over the past six years, she has been diagnosing and treating brain cancers and providing treatment plans for post-surgical patients. Online, Joon generously shares her passion for brain health education, focused on brain-boosting, activities, meditation, mindsets, and supplements. She also shares her advocacy for Alzheimer's disease and dementia prevention, rooted in her own journey with her mother, who had the progressive brain disease.