Can Ketogenic Therapy Help Autism and Mental Health? | Dr. Eline Dekeyster on Mechanisms & Hope

Could ketogenic therapy change the future of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) treatment?

The CDC estimates that 1 in 36 children are affected by ASD but due to the wide variety of signs and symptoms associated, it’s likely that this doesn’t account for everyone impacted. And treatment options are scarce and vary in effectiveness.

In this video, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Eline Dekeyster, Assistant Professor at Leiden University and Head of the Lifestyle Brain Interaction research group, to explore how nutritional ketosis may support individuals with autism and other brain-based conditions.

Dr. Dekeyster brings a rare blend of personal insight and scientific expertise. She opens up about her own experience with mood disorders and how ketosis helped shift her mental energy, leading her to dedicate her research to metabolic psychiatry.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• The early but promising evidence supporting ketogenic therapy in autism spectrum disorder
• The metabolic and neurological mechanisms involved
• A real-life case of a child with ASD whose symptoms improved on a ketogenic diet and the troubling response from the medical system
• The challenges and strategies around adherence to ketogenic interventions in neurodivergent populations
• Dr. Dekeyster’s vision for a collaborative, individualized care model that includes dietary, medical, and emotional support

While more research is needed to fully understand the impact of nutritional therapies for autism spectrum disorder, ketogenic therapy may offer meaningful hope to individuals and families navigating the challenges of ASD today.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Eline Dekeyster

https://www.instagram.com/lbi.research/

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

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.