This Veterans Day, as we honor the service and sacrifice of military veterans, we must also confront the unique and complex health challenges they face after returning to civilian life. Veterans often begin their service with strong physical and mental resilience, but...
Science
Autism: Disorder, Disability, or Just Different?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to spark debate—not only among clinicians but also within the autistic community. Is autism a disorder requiring treatment, a disability that calls for accommodations, or simply a different way of being in the world? This...
Chronic Sinus Infections and Mental Health: A Two-Way Street
Chronic sinus infections, medically termed chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), affect roughly 12% of the U.S. population, manifesting as a persistent inflammation of the sinuses for over 12 weeks. Beyond the congestion, facial pain, and difficulty breathing, a...
Neurodegeneration and Metabolism: Seeing Beyond Symptoms to Root Causes
Neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington’s disease (HD) are typically distinguished by their hallmark clinical features—memory loss in Alzheimer’s, motor difficulties in...
Rising Mortality in the US: The Role of Chronic Disease and the National Conversation on Health
The United States is facing an alarming rise in mortality, and it’s not COVID-19 driving this trend. While the pandemic initially captured headlines, a deeper health crisis has been unfolding for decades—non-COVID deaths, especially from chronic diseases, are surging....
Ultra-Processed Foods: A Culprit in the Global Mental Health Crisis?
As we navigate the growing challenges of the global mental health crisis, one potential culprit has increasingly emerged from the shadows: ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Often maligned for their role in obesity and physical health issues, these foods may also be...
Addressing the Root Cause of Mental and Chronic Disease: A Paradigm Shift in Health Care
In my recent speech delivered before Senator Ron Johnson, Mr. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and distinguished guests, I explored the pressing need for a paradigm shift in how we view and treat chronic diseases, including mental health disorders. Drawing on years of research...
The Liver-Brain Connection: A Commonly Overlooked Cause of Dementia Symptoms
Dementia is a complex condition that significantly impacts both patients and their families, and finding effective treatments remains a challenge. However, a recent study highlights that not all cognitive impairments labeled as dementia are irreversible. In fact,...
Carnitine and Mental Health: Exploring Its Role, Benefits, and Risks in Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Carnitine, a compound derived from amino acids, plays a critical role in energy production within the body. It acts as a key transporter of long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria, where these fats are oxidized to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s...
Light: A Metabolic Intervention with Broad Therapeutic Potential
In recent years, light therapy has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological treatment across a wide range of conditions, from chronic pain and dermatological disorders to vision problems, post-stroke depression, and cognitive decline in dementia. While light is most...