Mitochondria do more than power our cells: they shape how we think, feel, and experience the world. In this interview, Dr. Martin Picard breaks down his new research that illuminates how mitochondria affect brain energy, brain networks, mental health, and ultimately, our quality of life.

Dr. Picard walks us through his team's revolutionary brain mapping study, which examined over 700 sections of the human brain to uncover how mitochondria are distributed and specialized by brain region and cell type. The results have profound implications for how we understand, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disorders like depression bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why mitochondrial health is essential for brain function
How different brain regions rely on different types of mitochondria
Why people respond so differently to the same metabolic dysfunction
How future scans and biomarkers could help us measure brain energy non-invasively
What it means to think of ourselves as “energetic beings” rather than just biological machines

When it comes to metabolic psychiatry, mitochondria are a key player. This research is a huge step towards better understanding these tiny organelles and the role they play in mental health and cognitive function.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Martin Picard

x.com/MitoPsychoBio

picardlab.org

Resources Mentioned:

Three Ways to Keep Your Mitochondria Healthy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3dhmMcj17w&t=159s

A human brain map of mitochondrial respiratory capacity and diversity

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08740-6

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

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.

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