Scientific Citations

First published peer-reviewed case studies documenting full remission of psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia using the ketogenic diet.

Children with treatment-resistant epilepsy on ketogenic diets are 3x more likely to achieve seizure freedom and 6x more likely to have 50%+ reduction in seizures.

The ketogenic diet induces mitochondrial biogenesis (creation of new mitochondria), which is part of how it prevents seizures.

Review of the multiple mechanisms by which the ketogenic diet prevents seizures, including effects on mitochondria.

Patients on the ketogenic diet showed improvement in daily function and quality of life compared to those on a low-fat diet.

The ketogenic diet reduced alcohol withdrawal symptoms in humans and reduced alcohol intake in rodents.

Analysis of almost 6 million people over 17 years found having ANY mental disorder dramatically increases chances of developing ANOTHER mental disorder, with odds ratios of 2-30x across ALL disorders in ALL directions.

Review finding strong correlations among ALL mental disorders. Not a single risk factor conferred risk for only one disorder - each risk factor increased risk for MANY disorders.

Genetic study showing common psychiatric disorders share genetic origins.

Editorial from the leading mitochondrial researcher arguing that mitochondrial dysfunction is a cause of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Found mitochondrial complex I pathology in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, with different patterns in different brain regions.

Comprehensive review of evidence for mitochondrial dysfunction in bipolar disorder.

Proposes a comprehensive model for how mitochondrial dysfunction causes bipolar disorder.

Review of how mitochondria contribute to mood disorders and potential treatments.

Neurons from bipolar patients showed hyperexcitability and mitochondrial abnormalities. Lithium reduced the hyperexcitability.

Deletion of sirtuin 3 (essential to mitochondrial health) in mice caused mitochondrial dysfunction, hyperexcitability, and seizures.

Chronic stress causes hyperexcitability in the amygdala, linking stress to anxiety and PTSD symptoms.

Rats with anxiety/depression had fewer mitochondria and lower MFN2 levels. Increasing MFN2 levels STOPPED anxiety/depression behaviors.

Found deficiency of acetyl-L-carnitine (essential for mitochondrial function) in patients with major depression.

Review of how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to depression.

67 people with major depression randomized to Mediterranean diet or social support. After 12 weeks, 32% of diet group achieved remission vs only 8% in control group.

Meta-analysis showing Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced risk of depression, stroke, and cognitive impairment.

Improvements in mood and cognition from intermittent fasting were driven by sirtuin 3 (a mitochondrial protein). When sirtuin 3 was removed, ALL benefits were lost.

Review of how intermittent fasting affects brain health through metabolic switching.

Study of 7 million people found ALL mental disorders - even mild anxiety or ADHD - shorten lifespan by 7-10 years. Cause is NOT suicide but heart attacks, strokes, diabetes.

People with serious mental disorders die 13-30 years earlier than expected from medical causes, not suicide.

People with schizophrenia are 3x more likely to develop diabetes - and this increased risk exists BEFORE taking any antipsychotic medications.

Meta-analysis showing bidirectional relationship: depression increases diabetes risk by 60%, and diabetes increases depression risk 2-3x.

Childhood insulin levels and BMI were associated with risks of both psychosis and depression in young adults - metabolic dysfunction precedes mental illness.

Impaired insulin signaling found in BOTH patients with first-episode psychosis AND their unaffected siblings - suggesting insulin resistance is a cause, not consequence.

Insulin resistance in the brain alters dopamine turnover and causes behavioral disorders in mice.

Insulin reduces brain cell excitability by activating GABA channels. Insulin resistance means loss of this inhibitory control.

Review of how stress affects mitochondria and how mitochondrial dysfunction affects stress responses.

Manipulating just 4 mitochondrial genes affected ALL stress responses: cortisol, adrenaline, inflammation, metabolism, and gene expression.

Study of 58 women found those with highest stress aged 10 years faster on biological markers.

Meta-analysis of 37 studies with 250,000+ people: ACEs increase obesity/diabetes risk 25-52%, mental illness 3-6x, suicide attempts 30x.

Six or more ACEs takes 20 years off life expectancy.

Evidence that trauma can be transmitted to offspring through epigenetic changes.

Sleep deprivation impairs mitochondrial electron transport chain function.

Circadian rhythms directly control mitochondrial function through NAD+ cycles.

Butyrate (made from fiber by gut bacteria) injected into mice increased sleep by 50-70%.

Study of 1.2 million people found exercise is associated with significantly better mental health.

Mitochondria are essential for how exercise creates new neurons in the brain.

Serotonin stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis in brain cells - may explain why SSRIs help some people.

Mitochondria store GABA inside themselves and have neurotransmitter receptors.

Dopamine metabolism occurs in mitochondria and directly activates energy production.

Lithium improves mitochondrial function and affects telomere length (aging markers).

Metformin (works on mitochondria) was associated with reduced psychiatric hospitalization and self-harm.

Review of how psychiatric medications affect mitochondria - both positively and negatively.

20-40% of children with epilepsy also have ADHD, autism, or intellectual disability.

Bipolar disorder is 6x more common in people with epilepsy.

Major depression increases risk of unprovoked seizures by 6x.