Hi {{first_name | Phoenix friend}},
Here's a question that keeps me up at night:
How do I know if what I'm doing is actually working?
I take supplements. I exercise. I track my sleep. I've optimized my diet. I do all the things the research says should protect my brain.
But my brain doesn't come with a dashboard.
I can see my cholesterol on a blood test. My VO2 max on my watch. My HRV every morning. But cognition? Processing speed? Whether my brain is aging faster or slower than it should?
That's mostly... guesswork.
Until now.
The Feedback Loop Problem
Over the past year, we've run studies on photobiomodulation helmets and vagus nerve stimulation devices. We've tracked supplements and exercise and sleep interventions across hundreds of members.
And we keep running into the same problem.
People do interventions. They feel better. Or they don't. But "feeling sharper" isn't data. It's not something you can optimize. It's not something that tells you whether to continue, adjust, or abandon what you're doing.
We needed objective cognitive tracking. Something that could measure whether interventions actually move the needle on brain function.
That's why we're partnering with Sens.ai.
Checkout our Q&A with Sens.ai CEO Paola
What is Sens.ai?
Let me explain what this thing actually is. Because it's not what you might expect.
Sens.ai is a neurofeedback headset. But neurofeedback is just one piece. It combines five different modalities:
1. Neurofeedback (the core)
Your brain produces electrical signals. Different patterns correspond to different mental states (focused, relaxed, creative, anxious). Neurofeedback makes these invisible patterns visible.
Here's how it works: sensors on your scalp read your brainwaves in real-time. That signal gets converted into audio and visual feedback. When your brain hits the target state, you get positive reinforcement (the sound gets louder, the image gets clearer). When it drifts, the feedback dims.
It's like a hands-free video game. Your brain learns to reproduce the states that get rewarded.
The research on neurofeedback spans 50+ years. It's been used for ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, concussion recovery, and cognitive enhancement. The best clinical protocols typically cost $15,000+ for a week of treatment [1].
Sens.ai took those protocols and put them in a $1,250 headset you can use at home.
2. Photobiomodulation
Near-infrared light (810nm wavelength) delivered through the skull. This primes your brain before training. Think of it as a warm-up.
If you've followed our previous studies, you know we've been tracking photobiomodulation for a while. Sens.ai's version includes binaural beats and guided meditations during the light therapy, making the experience more immersive.
3. HRV Biofeedback
A pulse oximeter on the ear cup measures your heart rate variability. The app guides you through resonance breathing to activate your parasympathetic nervous system.
This is the foundation. You can't train higher brain states effectively when your nervous system is in fight-or-flight mode. HRV biofeedback calms you down first.
4. Binaural Beats
Audio frequencies that support state shifts. Nothing revolutionary on its own, but integrated well into the overall experience.
5. ERP Assessments (This is the key part)
Event-Related Potentials. Objective cognitive tests that measure:
P300 latency: How fast your brain processes new information and makes decisions
Peak Alpha Frequency: A biomarker linked to cognitive performance and intelligence
Reaction time and accuracy
Impulse control
These aren't subjective questionnaires. They're measurements of your brain's electrical response to specific stimuli. You can track them over time. You can see if they improve.
And here's what gets me excited: Sens.ai is developing a biological brain age clock in partnership with the Buck Institute (the largest longevity research organization in the US). Coming in April 2025.
This will tell you if your brain is aging faster or slower than expected. Not based on how you feel. Based on measurable neural signals.
The Data So Far
Sens.ai has published results from their protocols [2]:
Sleep Nirvana Mission (4-week sleep protocol):
77% reported improved sleep quality
7.5% faster reaction time
40% improvement in impulse control
7.4% faster brain processing speed (P300 latency)
Sharp Mind Mission (designed for cognitive aging):
Improvements in peak alpha frequency (typically declines with age)
Enhanced P300 markers
Better reaction time and accuracy
The company has a good track record of transparency. They publish white papers with their results. They're building a learning system that continuously measures outcomes across users.
Is it perfect evidence? No. These are company-published studies, not independent peer-reviewed trials. But the underlying science of neurofeedback is well-established [3][4], and having objective before/after measurements is a massive improvement over "I think I feel better."
Why This Matters for APOE4 Carriers
APOE4 carriers face a specific challenge: brain changes can begin 20-30 years before cognitive symptoms appear [5].
That means the window for intervention is now. Not when we start forgetting names. Not when we can't find our keys. Now.
But it also means we're flying blind. We don't have symptoms to track. We don't have obvious feedback on whether our interventions are working.
Research shows that cognitive engagement may be particularly protective for APOE4 carriers [6]. Active brain training (not passive consumption) appears to reduce amyloid deposition in carriers more than non-carriers [7].
Neurofeedback is essentially structured cognitive engagement. Your brain actively works to achieve target states. It's exercise for neural pathways.
Combined with objective tracking, this gives us something we've never had: a feedback loop for brain health.
How the Study Works
Here's the deal:
Go to sens.ai/phoenix
Use code PHOENIX for $100 off ($1,150 instead of $1,250)
Try it for 60 days (satisfied or reimbursed guarantee, no risk)
Use whatever mode works for you (Sharp Mind, Sleep Nirvana, Attention Mastery, etc.)
Unlike our previous studies, this one is open-ended. No rigid protocol. Use the device the way that makes sense for your goals.
And this is open for non Phoenix members!
If you are a member:
Opt in to the study in the Phoenix app
Log your sessions in your daily check-ins (mode, duration, experience)
Connect your wearables (Oura, Whoop, Apple Health) once our app update launches
We'll correlate your Sens.ai sessions with your sleep, HRV, and subjective wellbeing data
Practical Details
Price: $1,150 with code PHOENIX (normally $1,250)
Subscription: $29/month for the personal membership (required for the AI-guided protocols)
Family plan: Coming Q1 (~$45/month for multiple users sharing one headset)
Shipping: Worldwide (US, Canada, UK, Australia, Europe, etc.)
Return policy: 60-day satisfaction guarantee. Use it for two months. If it doesn't work for you, return it.
Best results: 8+ weeks of consistent use, 15+ minutes per session, 5 times per week
What We're Building
This partnership is part of a larger vision.
At Phoenix, we're trying to solve the measurement problem for brain health. We're building a platform where you can:
Track your interventions (supplements, devices, lifestyle changes)
Log your daily experience (energy, focus, sleep quality, mood)
Connect your wearables (continuous HRV, sleep architecture, activity data)
Upload your blood tests (we have AI analysis for APOE4-specific biomarkers)
Run structured experiments with peer accountability
And now, with partners like Sens.ai, add objective cognitive assessments to the mix.
The goal? Know what's working. Stop guessing. Optimize based on data.
I believe this is the kind of infrastructure we need.
The Bottom Line
Neurofeedback has 50 years of clinical research behind it. Sens.ai makes it accessible at home. They include objective cognitive assessments. They're building a brain age clock.
There's a 60-day money-back guarantee. Zero risk.
If you're already spending money on brain supplements, sleep trackers, and health optimizations, this is a tool that might actually tell you if those things are working.
Link: sens.ai/phoenix
Code: PHOENIX ($100 off)
Try it. Track it. Let's see what the data shows.
References
[1] Clinical neurofeedback protocols typically range from $150-200 per session, with 10-30 sessions recommended. Five-day intensive programs at top clinics can cost $15,000+.
[2] Sens.ai User Results. Sleep Nirvana Mission Protocol and Sharp Mind Mission data. https://sens.ai/results
[3] Marzbani H, Marateb HR, Mansourian M. Neurofeedback: A Comprehensive Review on System Design, Methodology and Clinical Applications. Basic Clin Neurosci. 2016 Apr;7(2):143-58. https://pubmed.gov/27303609
[4] Zoefel B, Huster RJ, Herrmann CS. Neurofeedback training of the upper alpha frequency band in EEG improves cognitive performance. Neuroimage. 2011 Jan 15;54(2):1427-31. https://pubmed.gov/20850552
[5] Bateman RJ, et al. Clinical and biomarker changes in dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease. N Engl J Med. 2012;367(9):795-804. https://pubmed.gov/22784036
[6] Berkowitz CL, Mosconi L, Rahman A, et al. Clinical Application of APOE in Alzheimer's Prevention: A Precision Medicine Approach. J Prev Alzheimers Dis. 2018;5(4):245-252. https://pubmed.gov/30298183
[7] Landau SM, et al. Association of lifetime cognitive engagement and low β-amyloid deposition. Arch Neurol. 2012;69(5):623-629. https://pubmed.gov/22271235
Dr. Kevin Tran is the founder of The Phoenix Community, a platform helping APOE4 carriers beat the odds through structured experimentation, biomarker tracking, and collective intelligence. He is an APOE4/4 carrier, Doctor of Pharmacy, and former healthcare strategy consultant.
Join the study: sens.ai/phoenix | Code: PHOENIX
Join The Phoenix Community: thephoenix.community
Questions? [email protected]
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