Dr. Chris Palmer | Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness | The Metabolic Link Ep. 47

More than a billion people around the world suffer from mental and neurological disorders, and the numbers are escalating rapidly. Current treatments often fail to provide relief, resulting in many patients struggling with persistent symptoms and resistance to available therapies.
In this episode, we’re sharing a full presentation by world-renowned Harvard Psychiatrist, Dr. Christopher Palmer, filmed at Metabolic Health Summit 2024. Dr. Palmer presents a novel perspective that examines the potential link between metabolic dysfunction and mental illness. His theory, Brain Energy, proposes that metabolic dysfunction may serve as a unifying mechanism underlying various mental health conditions.
Key highlights from this episode include:
* A dive into the surge in prevalence of mental disorders such as autism, ADHD, and depression
* Current limitations and challenges within traditional treatment options
* Emerging evidence suggesting metabolic dysfunction as a potential root cause of mental illnesses
* The role of the ketogenic diet and other innovative treatment
Join us for an insightful exploration with Dr. Palmer as we examine how metabolism could reshape our understanding and treatment of mental health conditions.
About Dr. Chris Palmer
Dr. Christopher M. Palmer is a Harvard psychiatrist and researcher working at the interface of metabolism and mental health. He is the Founder and Director of the Metabolic and Mental Health Program and the Director of the Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education at McLean Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. For almost 30 years, he has held administrative, educational, research, and clinical roles in psychiatry at McLean and Harvard. He has been pioneering the use of the medical ketogenic diet in the treatment of psychiatric disorders-conducting research in this area, treating patients, writing, and speaking around the world on this topic. Most recently, he has proposed that mental disorders can be understood as metabolic disorders affecting the brain, which has received widespread recognition in both national and international media outlets.
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[@SuccessfulKetoLifestyle]

Dr Palmer is amazing! We recommend his book to our Support Group members and we have many testimonials that keto and a therapeutic level of ketosis has helped improve symptoms! So grateful for Dr Palmer!

[@MetabolicHealthSummit]

We agree! And it's great to hear about your support group!

[@marilynroper5739]

Nice to see a new talk! Never can get enough. Watching from Canada.

[@MetabolicHealthSummit]

Thank you for watching, we're so glad you enjoyed it!

[@Chucanelli]

Wonderful presentation! Dr. Palmer is starting to give revival vibes and I’m here for it ☺️

[@MetabolicHealthSummit]

We're so glad you enjoyed it!

[@Sokol_]

I change my diet about 4 years ago. Beside loosing a lot of fat I become happier and more stable person mentally. My procrastination flattened, seasonal depression ( i live in north of Europe) is minimal, overall happiness and mental clarity are very noticeable. I have great contrast and good comparison because sometimes I just drink and eat whatever I want for about 1-2 weeks and then I feel mentally like I’m different sad/sick person. Metabolic health is way to have healthy brain. More people should know this.

[@chrisbrown2211]

Changed to what?

[@Sokol_]

@@chrisbrown2211 low carb on daily basis, sometimes only meat and eggs. No sugar, bread, pasta and fruits

[@oregomm]

Absolutely excellent presentation. Thanks!

[@MetabolicHealthSummit]

We couldn't agree more! Thanks for watching it!

[@stephenn3727]

I love this man!

[@MetabolicHealthSummit]

So do we!

[@Arjunanke]

This man is genius!

[@garyjagoe9541]

It’s interesting that all these disorders began to rise following the introduction of the Standard American Diet. High in carbs etc.

[@docl123]

The episode is great to share with colleagues and friends that are mental health practitioners. Even better it is a tool to present to the patients.! Great job!

[@MetabolicHealthSummit]

Please do share it with anyone who might benefit! We appreciate it so much!

[@arzusurucu]

Chris Palmer💐🌟👏 You are an amazing doctor We are so lucky to have You ❤️ #BrainEnergy🙏

[@MetabolicHealthSummit]

Agreed!

[@marynayna6327]

Thank you Dr Palmer for your hard work in this area and for.your clear explanations.🙏for your continuing help in getting this vital information out into the wider world

[@drlauramannering]

Thank you so much for doing this work and for sharing it with the public.

[@SuitedPup]

Genuinely believe this and the like are just about the most valuable information out there for people to know

[@Listen966]

Dr. Palmer: Superman, Einstein, Captain America, Moses, Socrates, Nikola Tesla, Newton, Moses, Edison, Alexander Fleming, Gegor Mendel, Francis Bacon, Werner Heisenberg, Antony van Leeuwenhoek,

[@Arjunanke]

Love it!

[@Listen966]

Thank you kindly. ​@@Arjunanke

[@lauriedeering4725]

So right on

[@sushilover1686]

I've watched quite a few presentations by Dr. Palmer. I want to keep watching his new ones!😊😊😊

[@choosehealth1658]

Incredible presentation, smartest guy in the room!

[@pascalsimonskoufos8066]

Amazing Talk! Such an important issue, I am talking from experience as I am autistic myself. Thank you so much Victoria, Angela, Dom and of course Chris!

[@MetabolicHealthSummit]

We appreciate you too - thank you so much for watching!

[@JohnBrocato-ol5lq]

he's doing such important work. you come to a realization that science hasn't done a whole lot for people with SMI. once you get these conditions they are set in. there are common lifestyle strategies people can implement to improve outcomes but science needs to get moving and help people for god sakes. the situations are extraordinarily complex and you listen to Dr. Palmer and realize nothing really has been done about these issues. He is always such an inspiring and powerful speaker but treatments need to come out...yesterday!

[@CaptainSteve777]

Excellent talk. Thank you!

[@MetabolicHealthSummit]

Thank YOU for watching! Please share!

[@mariden7860]

Brillant. ❤❤❤

[@hans-joachimschmid3783]

Hi Chris, Watching your presentation from Germany. Being a follower of yours from the very beginning and having read your insightful book I'd like to thank you for the work you're doing ....

[@user-ov3ux5wl2i]

Thank you for this information. My autistic grandson will benefit! I've read so many books on autism, many speak of mitochondrial issues but I did not understand till now. Omg. Thank you so much.

[@joiceife]

Amazing! Thanks so much for showing the light in the end of the tunnel 🙏

[@kaychesnut2898]

This makes so much sense and is so exciting for the field of psychiatry!

[@lauriedeering4725]

God bless you dr palmer. We need you more than you know. All my love to you

[@notlrac123]

Awesome

[@juanescorza7281]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@MetabolicHealthSummit]

We hope you enjoyed the episode!

[@ZoubidaTouimer]

Amazing!! Hello from Algeria

[@worththefight1096]

Great info!!

[@benikramer5115]

Hepatic encephalopathy m u s t unfortunately result in mental decline But the problem starts with the small intestine and disautonomia (the cells of the hind brain/autopilot require more energy than any other cell type)

[@AndreasFroehlich1985]

🤗💝

[@MetabolicHealthSummit]

Thanks for watching!

[@cr-iv1el]

37:00 metabolism

[@ninawildr4207]

❤❤❤

[@jeanpaultongeren125]

the last slide, I see Avocado, Eggs, Brocolli, Salmon, A nighsthade, and Beef. All healthy foods

[@hoppechr]

"mental neurological disorder" - aham?

[@ClareBoyd-f8c]

Gonzalez Sandra Allen Angela Harris Steven

[@montycora]

I love his work, but I have a HUUUUUUGEEEE problem with him calling ADHD and Autism mental illness. We have neurological differences, we are not ill, we just function in a different way from neurotypical people. There is no cure for us because we are not sick in the first place!

[@JohnBrocato-ol5lq]

I agree adhd and autism aren't exactly mental illnesses, but they can be. As he has stated, the kid severely disabled bashing his head against the wall or a billionaire...it can be a blessing to a curse. What Palmer is specifically detailing is metabolic dysfunction, saying that all mental illnesses are more interrelated than not. Autism can open the door to other mental illnesses like bipolar, alcoholism, later even schizophrenia for instance in rare instances

[@montycora]

@@JohnBrocato-ol5lq - I understand his point of view, however, as someone with both autism and ADHD I don't see myself as an ill person and even though I do keto 100% of the time and I am metabolically healthy, I ma still autistic and still have ADHD, so I think that he should remove those 2 from his list... There are severe cases, YES, however, it is still not an illness that you can cure...

[@JohnBrocato-ol5lq]

@@montycora and Dr. Palmer would agree I imagine. What he has written about in his book is that for some people having autism can lead to other more severe psychiatric illnesses like bipolar or schizophrenia...for a rarer than not few and with other factors like environments, drugs, alcohol, stress. I think he would agree how you're born is how you're born but that diseases like schizophrenia or bipolar or alcoholism are mitochondria dysfunction issues

[@Poecilia1963]

I don't think of them as mental illnesses, but I have watched conversations with people with ADHD who said things got better for them on a carnivore diet.

[@montycora]

@@JohnBrocato-ol5lq - sure, but that is not my point. Just remove autism and ADHD from this list. It's just trendy to keep naming autism and ADHD. It is just on the rise because people are learning to screen it better. When my dad and mom were growing up, no one cared to screen for these disorders like they do now, but it doesn't mean they didn't exist, people just were not talking about it.

[@TheRadischen]

why is he talking at 0.5x speed tho? wwww

[@ematise]

I guess that is better for live presentations. I fixed it by increasing the video play speed 😉

[@ClareBoyd-f8c]

Wilson Sandra Davis Shirley Jones Jason

[@HabilUddine-u4i]

Taylor James Jackson Jeffrey Lee David

[@amandaszampias5006]

He is either the president or vice president. Definitely a male president

[@jayparmar2322]

High fat not realistic quite dangerous can result in clogged arteries cholesterol heart disease heart attack stroke so be aware make sure your getting blood tests regularly and often

[@david11803]

Incorrect. This was merely a theory based on no solid evidence which has been subsequently debunked.