mental health

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 14 Issue 10

APOE4 and the history of human disease
Apolipoprotein E, discovered in 1973, is derived from a polymorphic gene called ApoE that encodes for a signaling protein on a class of fatty proteins that primarily carry cholesterol and other molecules around the body. We find ApoE primarily on VLDL, very low-density lipoproteins and HDL, High density lipoproteins. It primarily helps to shuttle cholesterol from the periphery of the body back to the liver. ApoE proteins are also involved in neuronal signaling, neuroinflammation and glucose metabolism making them especially critical for brain activity. This is becoming a critical part of the story for understanding dementia and neurodegeneration. (Williams T. 2020) ApoE is most famous for an isoform, APOE4/4, being highly associated with Alzheimer’s dementia in modernity. Unfortunately, as we do with many things in medicine, we have been focused on this genetic protein variant as a net negative in humans because we look at things as black and white. Either good or bad. A binary choice. Rubish! …..
Enjoy,
Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 14 Issue 9

Light and It’s Impacts on Health – Circadian Rhythms
Circadian comes from the latin Circa Diem or about the day
I have long believed that indoor sedentary behavior is profoundly bad for us beyond just the lack of movement and outdoor natural education. Today, we will look at another major concern: light. We will also get into a circadian rhythm post looking at Dr. Panda’s work. A final addition of a recipe of the week.
Enjoy,
Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #20 Reboot – Sandy Newmark, M.D. – ADHD Part II

ADHD without Drugs – This is a reboot of this podcast from 2022 as it aligns with the podcasts of Dr. James Greenblatt and Dr. Kate Henry
Sandy Newmark, MD is the Director of Clinical Programs at the University of California at San Francisco’s Osher Center for Integrative Health. He is an Integrative Pediatrician and a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UCSF with the title of Osher Foundation Endowed Chair in Clinical Programs in Integrative Medicine. To me, he is an amazing teacher and onion peeler in the world of attention deficit.
I met Sandy back in 2006 as he was the lead Pediatric teacher in the University of Arizona’s Integrative Medicine Fellowship. He immediately made an impact in my career as a leader in this new way of seeing the world of medicine.
His bio lists: Dr. Sanford Newmark specializes in integrative neurodevelopmental pediatrics including autism, ADHD, and related conditions. Dr. Newmark lectures widely on both autism and ADHD and has authored three chapters in integrative medicine textbooks. He is the author of the book “ADHD Without Drugs, a Guide to the Natural Care of Children with ADHD.” His online video, “Do 2.5 Million Children Really Need Ritalin? An Integrative Approach to ADHD,” has been viewed over 4.5 million times.
Know this, this is an hour of your life that you will want to dedicate to Dr. Newmark’s thoughts. Especially, if you or your child has ADHD.
Enjoy my conversation with Dr. Newmark,
Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 14 Issue 8

Literature Review
1) Cancer is now a unique risk factor for Cardiovascular disease according to recent research. This is being discussed as a point of emphasis for those that have been diagnosed with cancer as the knowledge is a wake up alarm to the biological underpinnings of these disparate immune based diseases. (Melchiori R. et. al. 2023) If you have a strong family history of cancer and heart disease as I do, this data needs to be understood for a prevention lens focus. In a few weeksx I will be discussing APOE genotypes for understanding these realities.
2) In a translational model, sulphurophane increases mitochondrial biogenesis…..Plus a continuous glucose monitor experiment and more from Alison Gopnik’s book.
Enjoy,
Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #66 – James Greenblatt, M.D. – ADHD

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Attention Deficit and Upstream Personalized Treatments
This week we sit down with Dr. James Greenblatt, a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine/psychiatry. He obtained his MD and completed his psychiatry residency at George Washington University School of Medicine. This training was followed by a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medical School. He has been studying and educating providers on functional psychiatry for 4 decades. Dr. Greenblatt has served as the Chief Medical Officer at Walden Behavioral Care in Waltham, MA for nearly 20 years, and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine and Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine.
His focus is on the scientific evidence for nutritional interventions in psychiatry and mental illness. This is the essence of going upstream to right the wrongs of the biochemical pathways of the brain. He is the author of eight books, including the best-seller, Finally Focused: The Breakthrough Natural Treatment Plan for ADHD. His updated edition of Answers to Anorexia was released in October 2021 and his newest book, Functional & Integrative Medicine for Antidepressant Withdrawal is available now.
Dr. Greenblatt is the founder of Psychiatry Redefined, an educational platform dedicated to the personalized, evidence-based treatment of mental health. Psychiatry Redefined offers continuing online education, CME-approved courses, and webinars, and boasts the most comprehensive and scientifically-based professional fellowship for mental health providers, The Psychiatry Redefined Fellowship in Functional & Integrative Psychiatry.
Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. James Greenblatt.
Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 14 Issue 7

This weeks podcast turned out to be so much more than expected when I first heard about Dr. David Clarke. His work transcends much of what I see in clinic and has given a name to the reality of puzzling chronic illness. From the PPDA website: Psychophysiologic disorders (PPD) are stress-related, brain-generated pain or illness. Even people who handle stress well can have PPD. This occurs when the stress is not fully recognized. The resulting symptoms are completely real. That is why the term we use is a blend of Psychology (the processes of the mind) and Physiology (the processes of the body)…..and a discussion on oral allergy syndrome.
Enjoy,
Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 14 Issue 6

Literature Review
1) Psilocybin is showing further signs of great promise in the fight against depression and PTSD. Psychedelic assisted psychotherapy has gained a foothold in the mainstream of treatment interventions for treatment resistant depression and PTSD. Psilocybin comes from a mushroom that has serotonergic effects on the receptor 5HT2A in the human brain. The results of the studies were net positives in reducing major mood disorder symptoms that are known to be long term in effect. (Haikazian et. al. 2023) I am very excited to see this therapeutic space expand into traumatized teens and other subsets to see outcome benefits. 2) Nanoplastics in the research in the Journal PNAS….. And a section on Antibiotic resistance.
Enjoy,
Dr. M