Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company behind popular GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Ozempic, recently announced that its phase 3, two-year trial examining GLP-1 medications for Alzheimer's failed to produce a significant reduction in disease progression.

While these results are discouraging, they may have revealed something vital about Alzheimer’s treatment.

In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down the recent failure of Novo Nordisk’s evoke and evoke+ trials and what it teaches us about the limitations of a drug-only approach to Alzheimer’s treatment.

Key topics covered:

• Why GLP-1s may not be enough for Alzheimer’s
• The link between glucose metabolism and brain energy failure
• How ketones offer an alternative fuel for the brain
• Early research on ketogenic therapy for cognitive impairment
• Why nutritional interventions deserve more scientific attention

With Alzheimer’s affecting millions and costing billions, it’s time to shine a light on metabolic strategies that directly support brain energy, reduce inflammation, and improve cognitive function.

🧠 Explore our full playlist on ketogenic therapy for Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzWI83-NWCL4f7uVRIWUHCC2nF6t_5DLw

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #Alzheimers

Expert Featured:

Dr. Bret Scher

• Baszucki Group Medical Director
• https://x.com/bschermd

Resources Mentioned:

Novo Nordisk A/S: Evoke phase 3 trials did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in Alzheimer's disease progression

• https://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=916462#

Associations of semaglutide with first-time diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: Target trial emulation using nationwide real-world data in the US

• https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14313

Brain energy rescue with ketones improves cognitive outcomes in MCI

• https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/alz.059627

Randomized crossover trial of a modified ketogenic diet in Alzheimer's disease

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33622392/

Ketogenic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments: History, rationale, and 288 caregiver case reports

• https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/5316

Metabolic Mind Ketogenic Therapy for Dementia Playlist

• https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzWI83-NWCL4f7uVRIWUHCC2nF6t_5DLw

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

What if your diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or fatty liver wasn’t a permanent sentence, but a condition that could improve or even reverse through targeted intervention?

In this episode of the Metabolic Mind podcast, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Adam Wolfberg, Chief Medical Officer at Virta Health, to explore groundbreaking data that challenges the conventional approach to managing chronic metabolic disease. They dive into Virta’s latest annual report, which highlights powerful clinical and economic outcomes that could reshape the future of medicine.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• Why "reversal" is replacing "management" in the metabolic care conversation
• How Virta’s data shows a 56% reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, or death
• The role of carbohydrate-restricted and ketogenic nutrition in improving metabolic health
• How patients across socioeconomic backgrounds, including those in food deserts, are seeing results
• Where medications like GLP-1 fit into a lifestyle-first model
• What this model means for healthcare costs, medication reduction, and long-term patient outcomes

Virta’s annual report highlights how a shift toward value-based care and personalized, nutrition-driven approaches can drastically improve patient outcomes.

• Check it out here: https://www.virtahealth.com/reversal-report

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #MetabolicHealth #FoodAsMedicine

Expert Featured:

Dr. Adam Wolfberg

• Chief Medical Officer at Virta Health
• www.Vitrahealth.com
• LinkedIn.com/in/adamwolfberg

Resources Mentioned:

Virta’s 2025 Annual Report on Metabolic Disease Reversal

• https://www.virtahealth.com/reversal-report

Healthcare utilization and cost impact of telehealth-delivered nutrition therapy for type 2 diabetes and obesity: a retrospective claims-based study

• https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.11.09.25339829

Real-World Cardiovascular Outcomes with a Carbohydrate-Reduced Telemedicine Intervention

• https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.10.27.25338916

Reduced Onset of MASLD, MASH, and Advanced Liver Disease in patients who received Individualized Nutrition-Focused Remote Care for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity

• https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.10.24.25338753

Effectiveness of telehealth nutritional therapy in preventing chronic kidney disease among adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity: a real-world, retrospective, propensity score–matched cohort study

• https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.10.17.25338238

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

Ever wonder why your ketone levels dip after a few months on a ketogenic diet? Or how exogenous ketones compare to ketones produced naturally?

In this Metabolic Mailbag episode, Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Georgia Ede unpack the latest round of keto questions asked by the community.

💡 You’ll learn:

• What lower ketone levels actually mean
• How to know if you need to raise your ketones
• How exogenous ketones compare to ketones produced by the body
• How to troubleshoot keto-induced insomnia
• The difference between total and net carbs and which one you should be paying attention to
• How much fat you should eat on a ketogenic diet

If you’re exploring ketogenic therapy for mental or metabolic health, this episode offers expert insights on the most common keto questions to help you feel confident in your journey.

🎥Still have questions about ketogenic therapy and metabolic health? Check out our previous mailbag episodes, which cover a range of commonly asked questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m6Fm0nXaMQ

👉Do you have a question about ketogenic therapy or metabolic psychiatry? Submit your question to our team here: metabolicmind.org/questions

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #FoodAsMedicine #QuestionAndAnswer

Expert Featured:

Dr. Bret Scher

• https://x.com/bschermd?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-scher-08baaa102/

Dr. Georgia Ede

• https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiaedemd
• https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaEdeMd/
• https://www.instagram.com/georgiaedemd/?hl=en

Resources Mentioned:

Treatment Resistant Depression Series

• Part 1: https://youtu.be/q7jg6wlD6gY
• Part 2: https://youtu.be/ay4RjudumHw
• Part 3: https://youtu.be/nGTx-i42yFE

Metabolic Psychiatry for Non-Prescribers

• https://ally-academy-nw.ce-go.com/metabolic-psychiatry-for-non-prescribers-23-07-2025-503

Keto Mojo Macronutrient Calculator

• https://keto-mojo.com/mymojomacros-keto-macro-calculator/

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

What does it really look like to heal a serious mental illness with ketogenic therapy?

At Metabolic Mind, we often highlight powerful stories of individuals putting serious psychiatric conditions into remission with ketogenic and metabolic therapies. But healing isn't always linear, and it's rarely easy.

In this honest and deeply human episode, Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Georgia Ede sit down with Matt Baszucki and Lauren Kennedy West to explore the real-world challenges of using ketogenic therapies for mental health.

Together, they discuss:

• The emotional and practical realities of tapering psychiatric medications
• Navigating variable ketone levels and the effect on mood, cognition, and stability
• The stigma around diet and mental illness, and the power of self-trust
• What it takes to sustain long-term lifestyle change (and the benefits of support)
• How setbacks can become opportunities for growth, resilience, and self-discovery

Whether you're just starting a metabolic therapy or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers validation, insight, and encouragement to keep going — even when the path is hard.

👉 Subscribe to Metabolic Mind for more real conversations on metabolic psychiatry and mental health: https://www.youtube.com/@metabolicmind.

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #MetabolicTherapies #FoodAsMedicine #Schizophrenia #BipolarDisorder

Expert Featured:

• Dr. Georgia Ede
• Dr. Bret Scher

Matt Baszucki

• https://www.youtube.com/@mattbaszucki
• https://x.com/BaszuckiMatt
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbaszucki/

Lauren Kennedy West

• https://www.livingwellafterschizophrenia.com/
• https://www.youtube.com/LivingWellwithSchizophrenia
• https://x.com/LWSchizophrenia
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingwellafterschizophrenia/

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

Is the diet being promoted to “save the planet” actually based on environmental data?

In this eye-opening interview, Dr. Frank Mitloehner, air quality specialist and director of the CLEAR Center at UC Davis, unpacks the claims behind the EAT-Lancet 2.0 report, particularly the idea that cutting animal-sourced foods will drastically reduce environmental harm. Despite widespread media framing it as a climate solution, Dr. Mitloehner reveals that the Planetary Health Diet is not grounded in environmental science at all — a fact even confirmed in the report’s own glossary.

He also highlights a key finding from the UN’s FAO: shifting to plant-based diets was ranked among the least effective ways to reduce livestock-related emissions, far behind solutions like improving animal health and increasing productivity.

📌 Key topics covered:

• Why the “Planetary Health Diet” isn’t actually about planetary health
• What the data really says about livestock’s role in climate change
• The misplaced focus on animal agriculture vs. major carbon emitters
• Conflicts of interest and misleading media narratives
• Proven methane reduction strategies already working in California
• Why plant-based diets are impractical to scale — and minimally effective for emissions

💡 If you’ve ever wondered whether giving up animal foods is the answer to climate change, or if the environmental case against meat holds up to scientific scrutiny, this interview is a must-watch.

👉Subscribe to Metabolic Mind for more of the latest news and research regarding metabolic health, neurological health, and proven dietary interventions: https://www.youtube.com/@metabolicmind.

#MetabolicMind #FoodAsMedicine #PlanetaryHealthDiet

Expert Featured:

Frank M Mitloehner

• https://twitter.com/GHGGuru
• https://clear.ucdavis.edu/people/frank-mitloehner
• https://clear.ucdavis.edu/
• https://www.youtube.com/@clearcenteratucdavis
• https://www.instagram.com/ghgguru/

Resources Mentioned:

The Eat-Lancet Planetary Health Diet

https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet/the-planetary-health-diet/

FAO Pathways Towards Lower Emissions

https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a06a30d3-6e9d-4e9c-b4b7-29a6cc307208/content

Common Ground Film

https://commongroundfilm.org/

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

People living with serious mental health conditions face a dramatically higher risk of premature death, not only from psychiatric symptoms, but from the cardiometabolic complications that often accompany their treatment.

Despite decades of awareness, this critical issue remains under recognized and under treated. In this episode of the Metabolic Mind podcast, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with two leading experts who are changing that:

• Dr. Margaret Hahn, Clinician Scientist in the Schizophrenia Division at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
• Dr. Sharmili Edwin Tharanajah, Physician and Research Associate at the University Hospital Frankfurt’s Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy.

Together, they unpack groundbreaking research on the metabolic consequences of psychiatric care, including antipsychotic-induced glucose dysregulation, obesity, and insulin resistance and explore how clinicians can better prevent, detect, and manage these risks.

💡Their conversation covers:

• Why people with severe mental illness lose up to 20 years of life due to cardiometabolic disease
• How antipsychotic and antidepressant medications affect glucose metabolism, even without weight gain
• Practical strategies for psychiatrists to monitor and manage metabolic side effects
• The growing role of metformin, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and ketogenic therapy in psychiatric care

This conversation is essential for clinicians, researchers, and anyone affected by mental illness who wants to better understand how metabolism and mental health are deeply interconnected, and what can be done to protect both.

👉Stay up to date with the latest news, insights, and research on metabolic psychiatry by subscribing to Metabolic Mind: https://www.youtube.com/@metabolicmind

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #MentalHealthCare

Expert Featured:

Dr. Margaret Hahn

• CAMH: https://camh.ca/en/science-and-research/science-and-research-staff-directory/margarethahn
• University of Toronto: https://psychiatry.utoronto.ca/faculty/margaret-hahn

Dr. Sharmili Edwin Thanarajah

• Goethe-Universität — Medizin: https://www.unimedizin-ffm.de/einrichtungen/kliniken/zentrum-fuer-psychische-gesundheit/psychiatrie-psychosomatik-und-psychotherapie/team/assistenzaerztinnenassistenzaerzte/dr-med-sharmili-edwin-thanarajah

Resources Mentioned:

Antipsychotic Drugs and Dysregulated Glucose Homeostasis Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2837755

An Overview of Links Between Obesity and Mental Health:

• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13679-015-0164-9

INTEGRATE: International guidelines for algorithmic treatment of schizophrenia

• https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(25)00031-8/abstract

Clinical management of major depressive disorder with comorbid obesity

• https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(25)00193-2/fulltext

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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/

In this episode of the Metabolic Mind podcast, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with L.J. Amaral, a registered dietitian, certified in nutrition oncology, and PhD student researcher at Cedars-Sinai, about where ketogenic therapy may fit into cancer care. Together they emphasize a crucial point: in oncology, we’re not just treating the tumor, we’re treating the whole person. The quality of life, physical strength, and day-to-day function of patients matter in prognosis.

L.J. covers:

• How shifting fuel toward ketones may influence metabolism, inflammation, fatigue, and even muscle preservation during treatment.
• Why many tumors crave glucose, and why that matters for dietary strategies.
• The potential of ketogenic therapy used alongside standard of care (surgery/chemo/radiation), with early signals around feasibility, daily living, and patient well-being.
• The real-world nuance of responders vs. non-responders, and why personalized coaching is key.
• How some patients pair fasting windows with treatment, and the practical safeguards to consider.
• What’s next: details on an NIH-funded, multi-center phase 2 trial comparing a ketogenic approach to an American Cancer Society–style diet.

Ketogenic therapy in oncology is early but advancing. If you’re curious about science-backed nutrition strategies that support both treatment and daily life, this conversation is for you.

👉Interested in learning more about metabolic health and ketogenic therapy? Subscribe to Metabolic Mind for the latest research, expert interviews, and updates: https://www.youtube.com/@metabolicmind.

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #CancerTreatment #FoodAsMedicine

Expert Featured:

L.J. Amaral

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljamaral/
• Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lj-Amaral

Resources Mentioned:

A phase 1 safety and feasibility trial of a ketogenic diet plus standard of care for patients with recently diagnosed glioblastoma

• https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06675-6

Successful application of dietary ketogenic metabolic therapy in patients with glioblastoma: a clinical study

• https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1489812

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

Thinking about reducing or stopping psychiatric medication? It may not be the right approach for everyone, but for someone considering it, there's much to keep in mind.

For instance, many individuals who adopt ketogenic therapy and other metabolic strategies often find themselves in need of reducing medication. But how can they do it safely and with minimal risk?

In part 2 of our 2-part series on med tapering, Dr. Bret Scher and ‪@GeorgiaEdeMD‬ dive deep into how to safely and effectively taper psychiatric medications, offering guidance, caution, and hope for those exploring this path.

Tapering antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers can be one of the most complex challenges in mental health care and it can come with serious risks. Dr. Ede breaks down what most clinicians miss about withdrawal, and why “slow and steady” isn’t just advice, it’s a necessity. She also explains how strategies like ketogenic therapy and other lifestyle interventions can support brain stability during the process.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ Why individuals are looking to reduce or remove medication

✅ The potential risks of not safely tapering

✅ The “no sudden movements” rule and the concept of hyperbolic tapering

✅ Tools and resources for safer dose reductions (compounding pharmacies, taper strips, and more)

✅ How to increase your chances of feeling better with no or less medication

✅ The role of metabolic health, nutrition, sleep, and stress management in effective tapering

✅ What to do if your doctor is hesitant or resistant to adjusting your medication

✅ Why you may want to consider avoiding supplementing during a taper

🎥 To learn more about the importance of safe tapering and why it needs to be personalized, check out part 1 of this 2-part series: https://youtu.be/RVMvi-vU5E8

Experts Featured:

Dr. Bret Scher

• X: https://x.com/bschermd

Dr. Georgia Ede

• Website: https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/
• Book: https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/change-your-diet-change-your-mind
• YouTube: ‪@GeorgiaEdeMD‬
• X: https://x

Resources:

The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines

• https://a.co/d/5WWskZs

Crossing Zero: The Art and Science of Coming Off - and Staying Off - Psychiatric Drugs

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/8797625906?

Taper Clinic

• https://taperclinic.com/

Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring’s free Taper Clinic program

• https://taperclinic.com/our-program/

Outro Health

• https://www.outro.com/

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

The EAT-Lancet Commission recently released their updated "Planetary Health Diet" and preemptively labeled a number of health experts who pushed back as “mis-influencers.”

Dr. Georgia Ede was one of those health experts labeled and in this episode of the Metabolic Mind podcast, she joins Dr. Bret Scher to unpack the many flaws of the EAT-Lancet 2.0 report.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• The deep flaws in claiming a one-size-fits-all solution to diet and planetary health.
• EAT-Lancet’s heavy reliance on weak epidemiological data
• Its open acknowledgment of nutrient deficiencies in the EAT-Lancet diet and who is most at risk
• Why animal-sourced foods are beneficial for our health—especially for brain health
• How ideology and influence may be driving public health messaging
• Dr. Ede’s response to being labeled a “mis-influencer”

At Metabolic Mind, we believe optimal human nutrition begins with asking the right scientific questions—starting with what’s healthiest for the brain and body, then considering sustainable solutions.

Human and planetary health are too complex for one-size-fits-all solutions—and if such a diet existed, we wouldn’t uncover it through untested epidemiological guesswork.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Georgia Ede

• Website: https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/
• Book: https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/change-your-diet-change-your-mind
• YouTube: ‪@GeorgiaEdeMD‬
• X: https://x

Resources Mentioned

• Eat Lancet

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

Psychiatric medications have become a standard of care for many mental illnesses. For some, these medications can be life-changing. For others, they may offer little relief, cause intolerable side effects, lose effectiveness over time, or even worsen symptoms.

Regardless, many individuals eventually seek to reduce or discontinue psychiatric medication use—often without adequate support. Unfortunately, most clinicians receive limited training in how to guide patients through safe, personalized tapering protocols and the existing guidelines often fail to reflect real-world experiences.

In part one of our new two-part series, Dr. Bret Scher and psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede delve into a critical yet under-discussed topic: how to taper psychiatric medications safely.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why people consider tapering (side effects, loss of benefit, life changes, etc.)
• Why safe psychiatric medication tapering is important
• How the brain adapts to meds (homeostasis) and how that impacts taper speed
• Why personalization in medication management is important
• How to tell the difference between withdrawal and a true relapse
• How to prepare: education, team support, and trusted resources

Almost everyone will need to adjust the dose of a medication at some point, even if only to try a different medication. Some will want to try to come off psychiatric meds entirely. It’s not a journey to take alone. Safe tapering is not a DIY process. We strongly encourage working with a knowledgeable healthcare provider who can help you personalize the approach, choosing the right pace, plan, and monitoring strategies to protect your health. In addition, we recommend resources below that can help.

The goal isn’t simply to stop a medication, it’s to feel and function at your best. And the safest route is the one that’s tailored to you.

📆 Stay tuned for episode 2 of our two-part series on psychiatric medication tapering—airing October 15.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Bret Scher

• X: https://x.com/bschermd

Dr. Georgia Ede

• Website: https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/
• Book: https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/change-your-diet-change-your-mind
• YouTube: ‪@GeorgiaEdeMD‬
• X: https://x.com/GeorgiaEdeMD
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/georgiaedemd/

Resources Mentioned:

Medication Tapering Hub

• Coming Soon! Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when new resources are available: https://www.metabolicmind.org/about-us/newsletter/

The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines

• https://a.co/d/5WWskZs

Crossing Zero: The Art and Science of Coming Off - and Staying Off - Psychiatric Drugs

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/8797625906?

Inner Compass Initiative

• https://www.theinnercompass.org/

Surviving Antidepressants

• https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/

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.