by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an urgent public health concern affecting approximately 1 in 59 US children.1-2 This complex neurodevelopmental syndrome is 4x more common in boys than girls and impacts all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, although ASD is more common in white > black > Hispanic children.1 Other developmental, psychiatric, neurologic, chromosomal, and genetic diagnoses are known to co-occur with ASD,3-4 however, the genetic and epigenetic factors that impact autism pathogenesis are…

by Lewis Chang, PhD Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in which the immune system attacks and damages the myelin sheaths of nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord.1 Common symptoms include cognitive difficulties, vision problems, fatigue, pain, motor problems, bladder dysfunction, and sexual problems. However, symptoms and their severity vary greatly from patient to patient depending on the location of affected nerve fibers. What triggers MS is still unknown, but a…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Physical inactivity prevalence among adolescents aged 11-17 years was estimated to be 81% globally in 2010, where insufficient physical activity (PA) was measured as < 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA daily per WHO guidelines.1 As part of the 60 minute/day exercise recommendation, the US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that aerobic activity should be incorporated at least 3 days/week, muscle-strengthening at least 3 days/week, and bone-strengthening activities at least 3 days/week.2 It is well…

by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), AKA “concussion,” results from an impact to the head (e.g. bump, blow, jolt) that disrupts normal brain function or consciousness.1 Concussions in youth are more common than you may think. In 2016, 19.5% of US adolescents reported at least 1 diagnosed concussion during their lifetime, with 5.5% reporting >1 concussion.2 In addition to competitive sports participation (particularly contact sports), other characteristics associated with a higher concussion rates include being…

by Christopher Moulton, PhD Depression is one of the most common mood disorders in the US and worldwide. In 2016 an estimated 16.2 million adults, or 6.7% of US adults, suffered at least one major depressive episode,1 while globally more than 300 million are afflicted.2 Further, depression is comorbid with numerous chronic disease states including cardiovascular disease,3 type 2 diabetes,4 inflammatory bowel disease,5 and cognitive decline.6 Current frontline therapies such as psychotherapy and antidepressant medications present challenges related to treatment…

by Bianca Garilli, ND For women, the pre- and post-menopausal years represent a time of major change in many aspects of life including spiritual, emotional, and physical. From a physical perspective, shifting levels of sex hormones such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone, and estrogen play critical roles in the transition in and through menopause. It’s during this chapter of a woman’s life that the number of ovarian follicles begin to decline. Their eventual depletion cause the ovaries to no longer respond…

by Lewis Chang, PhD Ketosis is the metabolic state in which ketone bodies—alternative energy substrates to glucose—are produced from fat and utilized as the main energy source for the body. An important study found that nutritional ketosis induced by consumption of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil helped increase the redox NAD+/NADH ratio in the brain of healthy young adults.1 Disturbed glucose metabolism and the resulting inadequate energy supply to the brain contributes to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s…

by Bianca Garilli, ND A reduction in muscle mass, strength, and function reduce the independence and health of aging adults. Sarcopenia, the loss of muscle tissue typically associated with the natural aging process, also increases the risk for morbidity and mortality through its association with chronic illnesses including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. The greater the degree of sarcopenia, the higher the risk of these disease processes.1-2  Sarcopenia can be slowed through routine engagement in exercise, including strength or resistance…

by Lewis Chang, PhD The Mediterranean diet (MED), characterized by a high consumption of plant-based foods, less red meat, and using olive oil as the main source of fat, is one of the healthiest diets. A study found that MED might also prolong brain health and function in cognitively healthy middle-aged individuals.1 According to an earlier systematic review of cohort studies and randomized controlled trials, adherence to MED was associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Body mass index (BMI) is frequently utilized in clinical practice to assess for risk of cardiometabolic disease (CMD). High BMI measurements are associated with insulin resistance along with other markers of CMD such as elevated blood glucose and triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure.1 By way of review, a BMI > 30 indicates obesity, which is linked to increased risk of chronic illness, particularly CMD; a BMI 25-29 is considered overweight, and a BMI…