#825: Dr. Dominic D’Agostino — All Things Ketones, How to Protect the Brain and Boost Cognition, Sardine Fasting, Diet Rules, Revisiting Metformin and Melatonin, and More

Dr. Dominic D’Agostino (@DominicDAgosti2) is a tenured associate professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and a Visiting Senior Research Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition.This episode is brought to you by: Helix Sleep premium mattresses: https://HelixSleep.com/Tim (27% off all mattress orders)Momentous high-quality creatine: https://livemomentous.com/tim (code TIM for up to 35% off)AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D plus 5 free AG1 travel packs)Timestamps:[00:00:00] Start.[00:14:43] Why I'm interested in ketogenic strategies for neurodegenerative prevention.[00:16:18] Mary and Steve Newport's ketone-linked temporary cognitive improvements.[00:18:18] A mechanisms overview for Alzheimer's/dementia.[00:21:25] The immune system as longevity's "fifth horseman" — and why metabolic control is key.[00:22:04] How to measure ketones and GKI.[00:23:00] Fasting vs. ketogenic diet.[00:24:18] There's nothing fishy about sardine fasting.[00:28:32] My hiatal hernia discovery and increased cancer risk concerns.[00:30:04] HSCRP as a superior biomarker to LDL for cardiovascular risk.[00:31:57] Glucose tolerance testing revelations and CGM importance.[00:31:57] Upgrading the metabolic machinery through keto without getting bored.[00:42:07] What do do if you, like Dom and me, are among the 30% who suffer from cholesterol hyperabsorption.[00:43:42] Dom's day-to-day diet regimen.[00:45:56] How Dom optimizes his aging dogs with ketones, SARMs, and supplements.[00:51:30] Supplementing for sleep disruption while fasting.[00:55:41] Why Dom doesn't have misgivings about melatonin.[00:59:15] Shingles prevention through fasting protocols.[01:00:15] Immune system modulation: Innate vs. adaptive, vegan vs. ketogenic.[01:03:54] Dom at 50-something: Current meal timing and composition.[01:05:57] Blue zone observations: Greek and Sardinian longevity habits.[01:08:16] Ketogenic diet initiation tips: MCT, electrolytes, and fasted cardio.[01:15:18] Ketone metabolic therapy for cancer.[01:18:15] The metabolic psychiatry revolution.[01:22:10] The soothing effects of hyperbaric oxygen and ketosis on seizure sufferers.[01:28:27] Metformin vs. berberine.[01:31:43] The low-dose neuroprotective potential of GLP-1 drugs.[01:34:58] NAD research: MIB-626 and stabilized forms for mitochondrial health.[01:39:48] Idebenone, CoQ10, and the Deanna protocol for ALS.[01:42:05] Dom's supplement short list: CoQ10, creatine, ketones, vitamin D, melatonin.[01:44:43] KetoNutrition.org, Metabolic Health Summit, Audacious Nutrition, veteran-focused research protocols, and other parting thoughts.*Show notes for this episode: https://tim.blog/2025/09/03/dr-dominic-dagostino-all-things-ketones/For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.