Pre-order Brain Defenders from Neurologist and New York Times-bestselling author, David Perlmutter, MD

A Healthy Brain Changes Everything

The most trusted neurologist in America is on a mission to help you take control of your health by repairing and protecting your cognitive function.

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Brain Defenders

The new book from Dr. Perlmutter, coming August 2026 and now available for pre-order.

At the center of this book is a revolutionary discovery: microglia, the brain’s immune cells, are key to brain health. When balanced, they protect and repair; when dysregulated, they drive inflammation and accelerate degeneration, often long before classic markers like beta-amyloid appear.

Brain Defenders shows you how to calm this hidden inflammation, protect your brain’s future, and take action now.

Through the emerging science of immunometabolism, we now know that microglia are governed by their metabolic state. When metabolism is balanced, microglia remain supportive (M2). When disrupted, they turn destructive (M1). Because microglial metabolism mirrors our own systemic metabolism, our daily lifestyle choices directly determine their fate.

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Brain Defenders provides readers with both the science and a detailed action plan. It identifies the threats, including poor diet, environmental toxins, polluted air, lack of restorative sleep, and shows how to counter them with practical, evidence-based strategies. It also explores cutting-edge research and technologies that target microglial function to protect and restore brain health.

This book is about empowerment: enabling each reader to become the architect of their brain’s future. Written by neurologist David Perlmutter, MD, six-time New York Times bestselling author and Fellow of The American College of Nutrition, Brain Defenders charts a path toward vibrant cognitive longevity. 

Brain Defenders will be published in 16 countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, United Kingdom, South Korea, Brazil, China, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Croatia, and Australia.

Claim Your Pre-Order Bonuses

Already have your copy? As a special bonus, you’ll receive:

Bonus #1. Brain Defense Video Mini-Course

FOUR MODULES. FIVE MINUTES EACH. FREE. Dr. Perlmutter walks you through the most essential ideas in Brain Defenders, distilled into 4 short video lessons. Each module gives you a clear, actionable lens for understanding what's happening in your brain right now, and what you can do about it today. Ready to go deeper? The mini-course is your first step into the Brain Defenders Immersion.

Bonus #2. Expert Audio Series

CURATED CLIPS FROM DR. PERLMUTTER, READY WHEN YOU ARE. Because this information shouldn't have to wait until you're sitting at a desk. These audio lessons meet you where you are, on a walk, in the car, in the middle of a busy day, so the science gets in and stays in. Audio goes where books can't: into your commute, your kitchen, your morning walk, the ordinary moments where the most important shifts actually happen.

Bonus #3. Everyday Environmental Toxins Checklist

A PRACTICAL DAILY REFERENCE FOR YOUR BRAIN'S MOST IMPORTANT YEAR. This isn't a vague wellness list. It's the specific, evidence-based checklist of the things that actually move the needle for your brain health, 365 days a year. Print it. Post it. Use it.

Bonus #4. Private Q&A with Dr. Perlmutter

YOUR QUESTIONS. ANSWERED DIRECTLY. This live event is reserved exclusively for Brain Defenders readers. Dr. Perlmutter answers your questions in real time, and every moment is captured: full replay, transcript, and worksheets included, so nothing gets lost and you can return to it as many times as you need.

Bonus #5. Brain Defenders First Chapter, Glossary + Partner Offers

BEGIN DEFENDING YOUR BRAIN TODAY. This PDF opens Brain Defenders right where it matters, with the full first chapter, so you can start understanding your brain's remarkable defense system today. You'll also find a clear glossary that makes the science approachable, along with carefully chosen offers from partners I trust. Everything you need to take the first meaningful step, all in one place.

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about me

Hi, I’m Dr. David Perlmutter, and I’m so happy you’re here.

I have spent my life helping people understand how their brain impacts the quality of their lives. As a board-certified Neurologist and a practicing clinician for over 40 years, I specialize in Dementia and Alzheimers, but I have also conducted years of research dedicated to how our brain health impacts every system of the body.

I have published six New York Times-bestselling books about these topics, and the most recent is Brain Defenders, which is the first book dedicated to the brain’s immune cells. These books create a strong foundation for learning, but there is new research being conducted all the time, and a very loud corner of the internet spouting misinformation.