How do we prevent cognitive decline before it even begins? The answer might not be what you think. I’m thrilled to share my conversation with Dr. Owen Phillips, a Stanford-trained neuroscientist and founder of BrainKey, who is helping to revolutionize brain care. His team is using AI technology to uncover subtle brain changes long before they result in disease—transforming the way we approach brain health. And here’s the kicker—Dr. Phillips reveals why protecting your brain actually starts with protecting your vasculature—No surprise when you consider it’s essential for feeding this power-hungry organ. This shift in thinking could change how we all approach cognitive health moving forward. We touch on heavy metal toxicity, long Covid, sports injuries and more, so if you’re ready to rethink brain health and prevention, this conversation will leave you with a fresh perspective. Be sure to grab a copy of the Brain Anatomy PDF and follow along for even more insights. ~DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources.

Talking with Dr. Julie Faitg was a powerful reminder of just how much we’re discovering about mitochondria and aging. When you pair an elite mitochondrial scientist with a breakthrough nutrient like Urolithin A, the insights go beyond what you’d expect. Julie gives us this incredible look into how we can actually change the course of aging at the cellular level. This conversation made me rethink what we know about supporting long-term health and resilience, and I think it will do the same for you. It’s one of those big-picture, eye-opening conversations that I can’t wait for you to hear. ~DrKF CHECK OUT THE SHOW NOTES AT https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for a full list of links and resources.

It’s not overstating it to say that I have cited Dr. Artemis Simopoulos’ work in virtually every lecture I have ever given that included the topic of omega-3 fatty acids. She is an incredible human being, indomitable NIH researcher, and absolute legend in her field. In our conversation on New Frontiers, Dr. Simopoulos reviews those essential truths about the evolution of our dietary intake of omega-3 vs. omega-6 fatty acids, the increase in ultra-processed food consumption, and how these play into our health landscape today. She also pulls on some particularly interesting threads around genetic variability in our ability to metabolize fatty acids and the implications of this for inflammatory conditions (of course, almost all chronic diseases have an inflammatory component). This is especially relevant for “rapid metabolizer” populations that tend to over-produce prostaglandins and leukotrienes, compared to resolvins, when exposed to a standard American diet. I know her insights will inform how you personalize your recommendations. - DrKF Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources. GUEST DETAILS Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D., President, The Center for Genetics Nutrition and Health https://tinyurl.com/4x2zahxk Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D., the author of The Healthiest Diet for You: Scientific Aspects (her latest book), is the Founder and President of the Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health, a nonprofit educational organization in Washington, D.C. since 1990. A graduate of Bar- nard College, Columbia University, with a major in Chemistry, and a graduate of the Boston University School of Medicine, she is a physician and endocrinologist whose research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was on the nutritional aspects of genetic and endocrine disorders; evolutionary aspects of diet and fatty acids; and the importance of a balanced ratio of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids in health and disease and in growth and development. Dr. Simopoulos is a world authority on essential fatty acids and was nutritional adviser to the Office of Consumer Affairs at the White House. She is the author of The Omega Diet; The Healing Diet and has completed a Chapter for the Encyclopedia of UN- ESCO on “Omega-3, Omega-6, Omega-9 Fatty Acids: Sources, Metabolism and Supplements.” She is currently Consulting Editor to Lifestyle Genomics. Dr. Simopoulos has edited over 60 books and journal supplements in addition to publishing over 370 scientific papers. She has received many awards, has been Visiting Professor and Keynote Speaker worldwide. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS DIAMOND Integrative Therapeutics: https://tinyurl.com/4emwj48z Biotics Research: https://www.bioticsresearch.com/ Integrative Therapeutics: https://tinyurl.com/4emwj48z GOLD OneSkin: https://tinyurl.com/ycxtw4zt TimeLine Nutrition:: https://tinyurl.com/bdzx2xms MIDROLL QUALIA: Try Qualia Senolytic at http://qualialife.com/Kara15 with code KARA15 for 15% off. DUTCH -- Learn more about DUTCH Testing https://tinyurl.com/2y24st67 CONNECT WITH DrKF: Want more? Join our newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/mrx7ykbr YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/hjpc8daz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/

The centrality of gut health in total body health and aging means it’s a key topic for us to keep revisiting and updating our knowledge on. For instance, how confident do you feel about interpreting analytical indices such as phyla distribution, dysbiosis index, diversity score, as well as the myriad bacterial populations that can be resident in the GI tract? Join me and Dr. Julia Malkowski as we dive into advanced stool testing and how the insights gleaned from the GI360 test can tell us a lot about our patients’ health and lifestyle (ever wondered how the carnivore diet, long-term use of GLP-1 agonists, or chronic stress impact the gut?). We also explore keystone bacterial species and their impact on systemic health, what is better than fiber for increasing microbiome diversity, different testing methods including the impressive MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Technology and a ton of clinical pearls on tackling those report findings in clinical practice. There is something for everyone in this excellent conversation with Dr. Julia Malkowski, from the newly-minted to the seasoned functional medicine practitioner, and health-savvy consumers too. Tune in, grab your GI360 Sample Report and get ready to take notes! ~DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources.

It's important to me to include a variety of voices in the sphere of aging and longevity, and Matt Kaeberlein PhD is certainly one that I appreciate for his tempered and rational arguments. I value his insights and his work with other scientists who are tussling with the challenging questions and research interpretations in this field. We are at this extraordinary inflexion point where scientists are debating the very definition of aging itself, which has important implications for how we then measure and study it. Dr. Kaeberlein shares his thoughts on this as well as the latest on longevity interventions such as rapamycin, metformin, intermittent fasting, and caloric restriction. Find out why he thinks we'll always hit a wall with moving the needle on lifespan, and why healthspan is such an important target. I think you will find this conversation illuminating and useful. An additional note for any of my listeners/readers who have been tracking the various discussions around the utility of epigenetic clocks and other measures of aging: I personally very much believe in epigenetics, even as the field continues to evolve. The foundation of this traces back to my beginnings in this field, working under my mentor Richard Lord PhD, who taught me that as scientists and clinicians we have no choice but to embrace uncertainty. No laboratory tests are as precise as many of us would like to think they are - microbiome, organic acid, nutrient testing, those foundational tools of functional medicine that we are very comfortable using, included. This applies to standard labs too - I recently received a notification from one of the two biggest labs in the US stating that, due to a change in the testing instrument used, values for red cell indices (the oldest tests on the planet!) would be altered compared to prior results. As clinicians we have to grapple with uncomfortable uncertainty in medicine every single day - from that reality we still have to move forward and make the best clinical decisions we can. Epigenetic age testing is simply another tool in the mix that can add value to understanding a patient's picture, and we can use it even as we interpret it with a similar acknowledgement of uncertainty. If you would like to add your thoughts to this discussion, please share below. - DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources.

In this episode of New Frontiers, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald sits down with Dr. Valerie Gershenhorn, a leading expert in functional dermatology and a Clinical Team Member for Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, to explore the profound impact of the gut-skin axis and autonomic nervous system on chronic skin conditions like acne, eczema, and more. Dr. Gershenhorn shares her comprehensive approach, including the use of functional testing, targeted nutrition, and specific supplements to address the root causes of skin issues. Clinicians will gain valuable insights into how gut health influences skin conditions and practical strategies for discovering imbalances with GI-MAP testing, and how to correct these findings in clinical practice. This episode is a must-listen for those looking to deepen their understanding of the connection between gut and skin health. ~DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources.

Your thymus isn't talked about much, but this small organ in your upper chest is a key component of your immune system that is solely responsible for the essential "education" of the immune cells that protect your body from invaders. Through this action it also affects levels of inflammation (an immune-mediated process). It's also interesting to note that most of us end up dying of an immune-related dysfunction - even cardiovascular disease, as Dr. Greg Fahy points out in this New Frontiers podcast, is often caused by atherosclerosis driven by underlying chronic inflammation. I was thrilled to finally sit down with Dr. Fahy, whose groundbreaking work in aging has reshaped our understanding of what’s possible. His 2019 TRIIM study, showing clear epigenetic age reversal through thymus regeneration, was an absolute game-changer. The thinking prior to that was that epigenetic age reversal was not possible! It was exciting to read his publication as we were in the midst of our own original clinical trial. I'm sure you'll enjoy his recounting of that adventure and just how he's rejuvenating thymic function, the rationale for targeting immune rejuvenation, and the trial extensions he's currently working on now. ~ DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources.

Cardiovascular disease might be the leading cause of death, but after my conversation with Dr. Mark Houston, I'm more convinced than ever that we have the power to change that narrative. We delved into the power of diet and lifestyle changes, the essential role of nitric oxide and the impressive results of innovative supplements like Vascanox HP by Calroy Health Sciences in managing blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk. Dr. Houston's passion for prevention and the practical tips he shared made me feel hopeful and empowered. From understanding key tests to making everyday changes, this episode is all about giving you the tools to protect your heart health. Let's dive in and explore how we can all live longer, healthier lives. ~DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources.

What a tour de force conversation with Dr. Terry Wahls, who is, with her groundbreaking research, changing both conventional and functional medicine's approach to multiple sclerosis and ultimately patient care. I'm very excited to see the findings of her ongoing clinical trials, which evaluate the use of several popular dietary patterns, using MRIs to measure brain volume loss, microbiome data, metabolomics, and more. And folks, if you want to be a research participant there's still time - register your interest on Dr. Wahls' website here. In the podcast we also dive into long COVID, mental health challenges, autoimmunity, and explore treatments in the longevity and biohacking space, such as therapeutic plasma exchange, stem cells, and exosomes. Dr. Wahls has her finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the MS community, and you’re definitely going to want to listen to this one. Enjoy! ~DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources.

*Save the date! Join me and Dr. Alessandra Zonari for a free webinar on July 25th 2024 and get your questions answered on all things OS-01 peptide and biological aging. Register at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/webinars/

I'm thrilled to be joined by Dr. Alessandra Zonari to take a deep dive into a breakthrough in skincare science that has caught my attention—OneSkin's OS-01 peptide. This episode explores how OS-01 targets cellular senescence, the core of aging, potentially transforming skin health - preserving function, not just aesthetics. I'm particularly impressed by OneSkin's commitment to rigorous research and evidence-based results. Their approach rejuvenates skin function in addition to enhancing its natural radiance, elasticity, and even its microbiome. This could be a significant advancement for individuals managing aging skin or conditions like atopic dermatitis.

Throughout our discussion, we explore the scientific foundation behind OS-01 and its clinical implications and uncover how this peptide may redefine skincare protocols, offering new possibilities for healthier, more radiant skin. Whether you're a practitioner seeking innovative solutions for patients for ultrasensitive skin or dermatitis, or someone passionate about maintaining skin health, this episode promises insights that could reshape your approach to skincare. And if you’re using OneSkin, I'd be curious to hear from you. You can post a comment wherever you're listening to this or email me directly at DrKaraFitzgerald.com. ~DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources.

Practitioners, if specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) aren't already on your radar, you'll be a convert by the end of this New Frontiers episode.

In functional medicine, we excel at addressing inflammation through nutrition and lifestyle. However, brilliant researchers like Dr. Charles Serhan from Harvard have shown us that resolving inflammation requires a two-phase approach. We need to shift gears, rally the cleanup crew, start the repair process, and turn down the volume on the immune system. This transition from inflammation to resolution is exactly what our guest, Ashley Koff, RD, will discuss.

We'll explore why SPMs, discovered by Dr. Serhan, are crucial for healthy inflammation resolution and how Metagenics has developed a product using the patented Serhan method that has numerous clinical applications, from managing inflammation and pain to addressing neurodegenerative conditions, autoimmunity, and even infertility. We'll also delve into factors that influence our ability to convert omega-3 and -6 fatty acids into these superstar molecules, such as diet, genetics, inflammatory bias, and poor vagal tone. This conversation is packed with clinical pearls for your practice and personal use. Enjoy. ~DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources.