by Milene Brownlow, PhD In addition to their original use as an anticonvulsant treatment (explored in Part 1 of this blog series), ketogenic diets (KDs) are increasingly viewed as a promising metabolic therapy for other neurological conditions. But first, an important question: Are KDs neuroprotective because of the reduction in glucose and insulin levels or due to the presence of ketones? Answer: Both. On the one hand, chronic consumption of refined sugar and starches results in systemic inflammation in the…

Although the ketogenic diet has been used clinically since the early 20th century, with specific therapeutic use for seizure mitigation in children with intractable epilepsy, the “keto diet” is now discussed more broadly, having even entered colloquial use. With the ketogenic diet’s recent rise in mainstream popularity and increased clinical exposure, we compiled a Q&A with Mark Kaye, DC to answer specific questions from healthcare practitioners. Does a ketogenic lifestyle work for hypothyroid patients? Contributing factors to low thyroid function…

by Milene Brownlow, PhD It is estimated that 5.7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).1 For decades, research efforts have targeted neuropathological features of the disease (amyloid plaques, tau dysregulation and tangle formation) with little success so far. Impaired brain glucose metabolism is an early hallmark of the disease.2 For instance, cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglu) utilization was found to be 13% lower in AD compared to healthy, young subjects.3 Conversely, brain ketone metabolism remains unchanged in mild…

by Milene Brownlow, PhD Nowadays, blogging about ketogenic diets hardly requires an introductory paragraph. Most of us are bombarded with newsletters, emails, and personal stories of how cutting back on carbs and increasing consumption of healthy fats yield remarkable benefits. The popularity of the diet is largely due to its effects on weight loss and improved metabolism. Yet, long before a trending topic on every social media platform, ketogenic diets were specifically, clinically used for seizure control in the treatment…

by Bianca Garilli, ND and Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Poor diet quality is common in developed countries and is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. The impact of dietary patterns and nutritional bioactives on mental health is important to understand since at least 16 million people in the US, or 7% of the population, experience at least one bout of depression per year.1 The worldwide prevalence of depression is estimated to be 300 million, with projections by the World…

Dale E Bredesen, MD, is the director of the Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is also the principal investigator in Alzheimer’s Disease at the center. Dr. Bredesen has taken a novel approach to clinical management of cognitive decline by integrating nutrition and lifestyle medicine into practice. Based on his research and clinical practice, we may be entering the era of treatable Alzheimer’s Disease. He also discusses Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)…

by Bianca Garilli, ND  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) research has grown rapidly in the past decade as awareness of the high prevalence and its potential devastating consequences have become clearer.1 TBI may result in varying degrees of paralysis, loss of consciousness, amnesia and even death. Death was the most common outcome for those diagnosed with moderate and severe TBI where severity of TBI was classified according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The two most common causes of TBI globally…

by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN We are a stressed society, and our children are not immune. Stressors originating from home life and school (e.g. academic performance concerns, peer exclusion, social pressure, bullying, etc.) can result in negative short- and long-term consequences on children’s mental wellbeing, physical health and quality of life (QOL).1 It is estimated that in the 3-17 year age group of US children: 3% suffer from anxiety; 2.1% have depression; and 3.5% have behavioral or conduct problems.2…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Every 65 seconds someone in the US develops Alzheimer’s disease (AD), resulting in approximately 5.7 million Americans currently living with this condition. These numbers are expected to rise dramatically over the next several decades with projections of nearly 14 million people living with AD by the year 2050 and an associated $1.1 trillion in healthcare costs.1 AD is the most common form of dementia, characterized by impaired cognitive capacity beyond what is considered part of “normal…

by Bianca Garilli, ND, IFMCP Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the US and a major cause of serious disability for adults.1 Up to age 75 the incidence of stroke is higher in men, and from years 75-84 both men and women’s risk are equal; after age 84, however, the risk of stroke in women surpasses that of their male counterparts.2 Overall, the lifetime risk of stroke is actually higher in women than men, with a 21% lifetime…