Can ketogenic therapy improve both cardiovascular and mental health? A new study at Mayo Clinic is exploring that question—and during Mental Health Awareness Month, it's especially exciting to see one of the world’s most prestigious medical institutions investigating the connection between ketogenic therapy and psychiatric care. This research marks a powerful full-circle moment: the ketogenic diet was first used to treat epilepsy at Mayo Clinic over 100 years ago.
In this episode, we sit down with two leading physician-scientists from Mayo Clinic: Dr. Mark A. Frye (Psychiatry) and Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez (Preventive Cardiology). Together, they explore how nutrition—particularly ketogenic therapy—can play a role in treating bipolar disorder, improving cardiovascular health, and addressing shared metabolic pathways that impact both heart and brain health.
In this interview, you'll learn:
- Why Mayo Clinic is investing in research on ketogenic interventions for bipolar disorder
- The potential shared mechanisms between mood disorders and cardiovascular disease
- What "precision nutrition" really means and why one-size-fits-all diets may not work
- How Mayo researchers are using advanced cardiovascular testing to monitor safety
- Why implementation science is key to bringing dietary interventions into clinical care
This conversation bridges disciplines and opens the door to new, integrated approaches to mental and metabolic health. Watch now and discover how this groundbreaking research is challenging old paradigms and paving the way for better care.
Expert Featured:
- Mark Frye, MD
- Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, MD, MS
Other Resources Mentioned:
Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope
Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness
Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.
Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/
About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.
Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.
