A New Hope for Depression: The Power of Ketogenic Therapy

Can a ketogenic diet help with depression when other options have failed? Emerging suggests the answer may be yes.

In this video, Dr. Bret Scher shares the latest clinical data on ketogenic therapy for depression, including two new studies showing meaningful improvements, even remission, in people with moderate to severe symptoms. For individuals struggling with treatment-resistant depression, these findings offer real hope and open the door to a new therapeutic pathway: metabolic interventions that target brain energy.

In this video, you’ll learn:

1. How ketosis may support brain function and mental health
2. What two new pilot studies reveal about keto for depression and anhedonia
3. How researchers are beginning to rethink the metabolic roots of mood disorders

🔍 Explore more and dive into the research on our Depression Topic Page: https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/topics/keto-for-depression/

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🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #Depression #MetabolicPsychiatry

Expert Featured:

Dr. Bret Scher

1. Baszucki Group Medical Director
2. https://x.com/bschermd

Resources Mentioned:

A pilot study examining a ketogenic diet as an adjunct therapy in college students with major depressive disorder

1. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03544-8

Medically supervised ketogenic diet as an adjunctive treatment for moderate to severe depression: A pilot study

1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.121079

Keto For College Depression Blog

1. https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/library/blog/perspectives-in-metabolic-psychiatry/new-research-a-ketogenic-diet-improved-depression-in-college-students/

Depression Topic Page

1. https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/topics/keto-for-depression/

THINK+SMART Page

1. https://www.metabolicmind.org/thinksmart/

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, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, 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.