5 Ways to Reverse Biological Age: Neurofeedback & Brain Optimization Insights
From Dr. Andrew Hill's Neurofeedback & Chill livestream, featuring HEG demonstration and evidence-based aging interventions
Dr. Andrew Hill explored five research-backed methods for reversing biological aging in this week's livestream, while demonstrating passive infrared hemencephalography (PIR HEG) - a neurofeedback technique that measures and trains blood flow in the frontal cortex.
HEG Neurofeedback: Training Brain Blood Flow
Hill opened by demonstrating HEG training, wearing a small infrared camera that measures heat fluctuations from his frontal lobe. Unlike other neurofeedback approaches, HEG targets neurovascular coupling - the brain's ability to match blood flow with neural demand.
"What you're seeing is metabolic loading," Hill explained as heat signatures fluctuated on screen. "There's good evidence that migraines, brain fog, and post-COVID symptoms involve neurovascular coupling problems - when neurons need fuel but blood flow can't provide it efficiently."
The technique involves voluntary control over brain blood flow through concentration and positive emotions. The response is delayed 1.5-2 seconds after mental effort, reflecting the actual speed of vascular changes. Hill notes this approach particularly helps migraines, brain fog, and post-concussion symptoms.
The Aging Brain: Maintenance vs. Building
Before diving into the five interventions, Hill emphasized a critical distinction: peak aging focuses on maintaining existing brain resources rather than building new ones. "A lot of aging follows a trajectory of decline and compression," he noted, making prevention strategies more effective than remediation.
Five Evidence-Based Aging Interventions
While the transcript cuts off before detailing all five methods, Hill mentioned these would be "recent studies from the past couple weeks" showing behavioral and lifestyle interventions that produce measurable changes in aging biomarkers.
The approach emphasizes interventions with documented biological impact - not just subjective improvements, but actual changes in measured features of aging.
Neurovascular Health and Aging
The HEG demonstration connected directly to aging research. Hill explained how healthy neurovascular coupling becomes increasingly important with age. When this system works optimally:
- Neurons efficiently signal their fuel needs
- Blood vessels respond appropriately with increased flow
- Metabolic waste gets cleared effectively
- Cognitive performance remains stable
"The visual cortex particularly shows cortical depression during migraines," Hill noted. "You get that migraine aura with visual distortions because of neurovascular mismatch."
Technical Insights: HEG Setup and Equipment
For practitioners interested in HEG training, Hill demonstrated his setup using BioExplorer software with either a Pocket Neurobics amplifier or the Neurobit Optima from Europe. The technique requires:
- Passive infrared camera (no light emission)
- Simple amplifier with auxiliary input
- Software that can average signals over 500-millisecond windows
- Proper scaling to capture 5-10% blood flow changes
"I sample more than twice as often as the information changes," Hill explained. "That lets me capture the fluctuating metabolic information without over-smoothing the signal."
Clinical Applications
Hill's experience teaching gerontology at UCLA for over a decade informs his approach to brain aging. HEG training shows particular promise for:
- Migraine prevention and treatment
- Post-concussion recovery
- COVID-related brain fog
- Sleep-related headaches
- General cognitive maintenance in aging
Key Takeaways
- Neurovascular coupling becomes increasingly important for brain health with aging
- HEG training offers a direct way to improve brain blood flow regulation
- Voluntary control over brain blood flow is possible through concentration and positive emotions
- Equipment barriers for HEG are decreasing, making home training more accessible
- Timing matters: blood flow responses lag mental effort by 1.5-2 seconds
Note: This livestream was cut short in the transcript. For Hill's complete analysis of the five aging interventions, check future streams in the Neurofeedback & Chill series.
Dr. Andrew Hill is founder of Peak Brain Institute and former UCLA instructor in gerontology and peak brain aging. His weekly livestreams combine practical neurofeedback demonstrations with evidence-based brain optimization strategies.