The Empowering Neurologist – David Perlmutter, MD, and Dr. Matthew Phillips

While there certainly are various medications that prove somewhat helpful in the treatment of symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, it’s important to recognize that these medications are not actually treating the underlying disease itself.

We now understand that one of the pivotal mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease is the compromise of energy production at the mitochondrial level. This ultimately manifests as various problems, not just in the brain but throughout the entire body. With this understanding, specifically targeting mitochondrial function makes sense as a way of addressing this fundamental and underlying abnormality in Parkinson’s.

As many of you are aware, the ketogenic diet has been demonstrated to enhance mitochondrial function. As such, it should be considered as a candidate for treating a disease like Parkinson’s. In fact, this is the subject of a recent interventional trial in which actual Parkinson’s patients were placed on a ketogenic diet, under the direction of Dr. Matthew Phillips.

Today, Dr. Matt Phillips visits The Empowering Neurologist to discuss his recently published research, in which he demonstrates powerfully positive results in Parkinson’s patients placed on a ketogenic diet. How wonderful it is that we are now seeing published research dealing with nutritional interventions, especially in these challenging situations.

And for more of the latest on Parkinsons’s disease and the ketogenic diet, visit my focus pages for both here on this website.