Mitochondria do more than power our cells: they shape how we think, feel, and experience the world. In this interview, Dr. Martin Picard breaks down his new research that illuminates how mitochondria affect brain energy, brain networks, mental health, and ultimately, our quality of life.

Dr. Picard walks us through his team's revolutionary brain mapping study, which examined over 700 sections of the human brain to uncover how mitochondria are distributed and specialized by brain region and cell type. The results have profound implications for how we understand, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disorders like depression bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why mitochondrial health is essential for brain function
• How different brain regions rely on different types of mitochondria
• Why people respond so differently to the same metabolic dysfunction
• How future scans and biomarkers could help us measure brain energy non-invasively
• What it means to think of ourselves as “energetic beings” rather than just biological machines

When it comes to metabolic psychiatry, mitochondria are a key player. This research is a huge step towards better understanding these tiny organelles and the role they play in mental health and cognitive function.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Martin Picard

x.com/MitoPsychoBio

picardlab.org

Resources Mentioned:

Three Ways to Keep Your Mitochondria Healthy

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3dhmMcj17w&t=159s

A human brain map of mitochondrial respiratory capacity and diversity

• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08740-6

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.

The first-ever clinical trial of ketogenic therapy for pediatric bipolar disorder is now enrolling.

In March, we announced two new initiatives funded by the Baszucki Group aiming to explore ketogenic metabolic therapy in pediatric bipolar patients.

The first major initiative—now actively enrolling participants—is a multi-site clinical trial conducted by four institutions within the Baszucki Group-funded Child and Adolescent Bipolar Network (CABIN): the UCLA Semel Institute, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

In this video, Dr. David Miklowitz, a renowned expert in adolescent bipolar disorder and the study’s lead investigator, joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss the new trial.

As a Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute and Senior Clinical Research Fellow at Oxford University, Dr. Miklowitz brings decades of insight to the discussion. Together, they explore the design and objectives of this groundbreaking study and share how families in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Denver, and Pittsburgh can take part in this important research effort aimed at transforming outcomes for young people living with bipolar disorder.

In this interview you’ll learn:

✅ The challenges of diagnosing bipolar disorder in kids and teens

✅ How family involvement impacts long-term outcomes

✅ Why standard treatment approaches may not always work for adolescents

✅ The potential benefits of ketogenic therapy as an adjunctive treatment

For those interested in enrolling in the study, visit the link below to learn more about the study, the participant criteria, and how to enroll!

• https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06920940?term=miklowitz&rank=1

Expert Featured:

Dr. David Miklowitz

https://www.uclahealth.org/providers/david-miklowitz

Resources Mentioned:

• Living Well with Bipolar Disorder by Dr. David Miklowitz

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.