Metabolic Neurology: Fasting, Ketosis, & the Future of Brain Health | Dr. Matthew Phillips | The Metabolic Link Ep. 81

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Nov 18, 2025

Dr. Matthew Phillips, a pioneering neurologist known for his work with ketogenic diets and fasting, dives into transformative approaches for brain health. He discusses how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Phillips shares insights from his glioblastoma trial involving fasting cycles, revealing potential benefits of merging metabolic therapies with conventional treatments. He also empowers patients with actionable steps to combat cognitive decline, emphasizing the importance of diet, fasting, and lifestyle changes.

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ANECDOTE

Career-Changing Three-Year Fellowship

Matthew Phillips took a three-year break after neurology training to travel and self-educate on brain metabolism and ketogenic/fasting therapies.
That gap allowed him to design his own clinical approach and ultimately settle in New Zealand to run metabolic neurology research.

INSIGHT

Average Response Beats Anecdotes

Phillips found ketogenic and fasting therapies often help most but not all neurological patients, with striking individual variability.
He stresses average group responses matter more than isolated case reports when judging effectiveness.

ADVICE

Make Protocols Practical And Testable

Design metabolic programs around simplicity, flexibility, affordability, and taste so patients can stick with them.
Require daily blood glucose and ketone testing and troubleshoot hydration, salt, and meal timing.

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What if the key to treating neurodegenerative diseases lies not in attacking symptoms, but in healing mitochondria? Dr. Matthew Phillips, a neurologist who coined the term "metabolic neurologist," shares groundbreaking insights from his decade-long journey implementing ketogenic diets and fasting protocols for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and glioblastoma patients.

In this episode, Dr. Phillips reveals his clinical framework combining metabolic therapies with standard of care, his current glioblastoma trial utilizing 5-day fasting cycles with chemotherapy, and why he believes mitochondrial dysfunction is the root cause of neurodegeneration.

Questions Answered in This Episode:

What initially drew you to understanding brain metabolism and how did your journey begin?
How do you implement metabolic therapies in practice and determine patient candidacy?
What is the most clinically relevant mechanism of metabolic therapy?
Does your trial evidence suggest metabolic interventions are adjunctive or disease-modifying treatments?
Why aren't metabolic therapies more widely adopted for conditions where conventional options are limited?
What power do patients have to prevent or address early cognitive decline through their own actions?

Dr. Phillips challenges the medical dogma that has kept metabolic therapies on the sidelines, advocating for a merger of "germ theory" and "terrain theory" approaches that could revolutionize how we treat the most devastating neurological conditions.

Sign-up to our Live Q&A Exploring Metabolic Neurology with Dr. Phillips here.

Learn more about Dr. Phillips on his website.

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