This Molecule Might Be the Key to Beating Addiction

Can adenosine and a ketogenic diet help treat addiction? New research explores the powerful role of adenosine, dopamine, and metabolic health in addiction, and how dietary strategies could support recovery.

In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Susan Masino, a neuroscience and psychology professor at Trinity College, about her groundbreaking work on adenosine and its potential to regulate addiction through metabolic pathways. They dive into:

• The dopamine-addiction connection
• The role of adenosine in addiction and how it balances dopamine activity
• The role of ketogenic diets in boosting adenosine
• Other mechanisms supporting keto for treating addiction
• Why food, sugar, and even phone addiction may share common roots
• How metabolic therapies could support recovery from addiction, depression, and more

Dr. Masino also shares insights on how habits, stress, inflammation, and neuroplasticity all intersect with metabolic health—and what that means for mental health and addiction treatment going forward.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Susan Masino

• https://internet3.trincoll.edu/facprofiles/default.aspx?fid=1117011

Resources Mentioned:

Ketogenic diet, adenosine, and dopamine in addiction and psychiatry

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1492306/full

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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.