213. Nicole Bell: The Hidden Dangers of Lyme Disease—Brain Fog, Alzheimer's & Misdiagnosis

What if a negative Lyme disease test doesn't tell the whole story? And could an overlooked infection be contributing to symptoms like brain fog, chronic fatigue, or even cognitive decline?
When Nicole Bell's husband began experiencing personality changes, memory loss, and confusion, doctors diagnosed him with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. But Nicole, an engineer with a background in medical diagnostics, couldn't shake the feeling that something was being missed.
Despite initially testing negative for Lyme disease, her husband was later found to have evidence of Lyme and other infections, including Bartonella and Babesia. His decline and eventual passing transformed Nicole's life, inspiring her to become CEO of Galaxy Diagnostics and advocate for better testing for tick-borne diseases.
In this episode, Nicole joins me to explore the often-overlooked world of Lyme disease, chronic symptoms, tick-borne infections, and their potential connections to brain health and inflammation.
We discuss why Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose, the limitations of traditional antibody testing, and emerging diagnostic approaches designed to detect infections more directly.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose, especially in its early stages
• How Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections may affect the brain, joints, heart, and nervous system
• What researchers are investigating about infections, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer's disease
• Why a negative Lyme disease test doesn't always rule out an infection
• The differences between antibody testing, PCR testing, and emerging urine antigen tests
• What Bartonella and Babesia are, and why identifying co-infections matters
• Why Lyme disease doesn't always cause the classic bullseye rash
• What to know about tick bites, early symptoms, and seeking prompt medical evaluation
• How to advocate for yourself when you're experiencing unexplained or persistent symptoms
We also discuss the challenges of living with chronic illness, the importance of early detection, and Nicole's mission to make more accurate diagnostic tools accessible to patients and healthcare providers.
Nicole shares the deeply personal story behind her book, What Lurks in the Woods, and the lessons she learned navigating her husband's illness while raising a family and searching for answers.
The biggest takeaway? A negative test isn't always the end of the diagnostic process, especially when symptoms and exposure history suggest there's more to investigate.
Understanding your symptoms, asking better questions, and working with knowledgeable healthcare professionals can make an enormous difference in identifying health problems earlier.
Because longevity isn't just about treating disease once it appears. It's about recognizing warning signs, understanding potential causes, and giving ourselves the best opportunity to protect our long-term health.
Learn more about Dr. Shah:
Website: drshah.com
Clinic: next-health.com
Instagram: @darshanshahmd and @extend_podcast
Learn more about Nicole Bell:
Website: galaxydx.com
Instagram: @nicoledaniellebell and @galaxydiagnostics
Book - What Lurks in the Woods: amazon.com/What-Lurks-Woods
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