An Evidence-Based Summary of 20 Years of Keto Medicine
Eric Westman, MD, MPH

Carbohydrate restriction has received considerable scrutiny in clinical trials over the last 20 years, and is now regarded as a viable option for the treatment of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. In this lecture, Dr. Westman will review the highlights of research regarding carbohydrate restricted diets using the principles of evidence-based medicine.

Dietary Approaches for Neuroimmune Symptoms
Terry Wahls, MD

Multiple sclerosis and neuroimmune conditions have sharply increased over the last 50 years in the US. Anxiety, depression, fatigue, and brain fog are common comorbid symptoms in neuroimmune patients and are associated with more aggressive disease course. Dietary approaches for reducing these symptoms and improving quality of life for the neuroimmune patient will be reviewed.

The Ketogenic Diet for Refractory Mental Illness: Unprecedented Improvements in 28 Inpatients
Georgia Ede, MD

Ketogenic diets have been used to treat serious neurological diseases for over a century, so it is perhaps not surprising that emerging science over the past decade suggests that ketogenic diets hold promise for the treatment of psychiatric diseases as well. In the largest study conducted to date, 31 patients with chronic, treatment-resistant major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder were admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Toulouse, France and placed on a ketogenic diet under close medical and psychiatric supervision. Unprecedented improvements in mental health and metabolic health were observed in all 28 patients who were able to follow the diet for two weeks or more. This safe and well-tolerated intervention is a strategy well worth considering in the care of people with psychiatric illness, particularly those who experience metabolic side effects of psychiatric medications or do not respond adequately to psychiatric medication.

When Is a Diet not a Diet?
Bret Scher, MD

A keto diet is often seen as another in a long line of “fad diets.” But in truth, it is so much more than that. A keto diet can be used as a therapeutic medical intervention that changes our metabolism and physiology. As a medical intervention, therapeutic nutritional ketosis has the potential to reverse type two diabetes, stop seizures, and possibly help reverse psychiatric or neurodegenerative conditions. So maybe a keto diet isn’t a diet after all.

Demystifying PANS/PANDAS: A Functional Medicine Guide to Basal Ganglia Encephalitis
Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP

PANS & PANDAS are complex autoimmune diseases that require a multi-system approach. PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep) involves antibodies from a strep infection reacting with brain tissue (specifically the basal ganglia in the brain) and triggering an abrupt onset of immune dysregulation and movement, learning and behavioral problems including OCD, anxiety and tics. With PANS (Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome), other infectious etiologies besides strep (yeast, viruses, other bacteria, parasites), toxic exposures, and metabolic abnormalities are among other potential triggers for the immune dysregulation resulting in an abnormal autoimmune reaction and negative behavior, physical, and cognitive changes. Lyme Disease and co-infections may cause or contribute to an acute or subacute presentation and also need to be assessed and treated appropriately. Dr. O’Hara will discuss the latest research in the assessment and treatment of these devastating but recoverable illnesses. Participants will learn the research-based functional medicine approach to the care, diagnosis and treatment of these children.

• The participant will be able to understand the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of PANS, PANDAS and Basal Ganglia Encephalitis
• The participant will be able to differentiate causes of anxiety, OCD and tics, as it relates to autoimmune encephalitis.
• The participant will be able to define the triad of treatments for PANS and PANDAS.

Women & Lyme: An Integrative Guide to Better Health
Jaquel Patterson, MD

In this presentation, integrative approaches to Lyme disease treatment for women, children, and other demographics will be discussed at length, as well as for other tick-borne infections, based on the unique demographic implications. Provider bias in treatment and appropriate assessment and evaluation will also be presented.

Microdosed Psilocybin in the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Lyme Disease
Dan Kinderlehrer, MD

Lyme disease may result in severe neuropsychiatric symptoms that can be resistant to treatment. The pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric Lyme disease is associated with autoimmune induced neuroinflammation, and requires a trimodal approach: psychopharmacological medications, antimicrobials and anti-inflammatory agents. This presentation will discuss the manifestations of neuropsychiatric Lyme, the underlying pathophysiology, and the evidence that sub-hallucinogenic doses of psilocybin may be a useful adjunct to treatment.

Long COVID and Beyond: A Natural Medicine Approach to Recovery
Jaquel Patterson, MD

This presentation will cover the impact of long-term COVID symptoms and the reactivation of dormant infections as a result of the virus. It will focus particularly on infections such as Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Mycoplasma, and Lyme disease, and the changing clinical presentations for autoimmune patients. Testing, assessment, and evaluation will be covered, as well as best clinical approaches to care.

Evaluation and Treatment of the Unusually Sensitive Patient
Neil Nathan, MD

We are increasingly seeing patients who are unusually sensitive to their medications, supplements, chemicals, light, sound, touch, food, and EMFs. This increased sensitivity is clearly related to limbic and vagal dysfunction, and as such, often presents as significant anxiety, depression, depersonalization, OCD, and/or mood swings. We have recently learned quite a bit about the neurological and cellular causes of this sensitization, and about the medical conditions which commonly trigger it, such as mold toxicity and Lyme disease. This presentation will pull together what we know about the causes of this sensitization and how to approach successful treatment.