Baszucki Group & Mayo Clinic Collaborate on Bipolar Disorder Ketogenic Therapy Trial.
Baszucki Group has announced a collaboration with Mayo Clinic to support a groundbreaking clinical trial that investigates the use of ketogenic therapy for bipolar disorder.
With a generous $3.3 million gift from Baszucki Group, this important study will examine the intersection of metabolic and mental health, including cardio-metabolic implications. The ultimate goal is to inform the development of a precision nutrition clinical service designed to help treat mental health conditions more effectively.
Groundbreaking Study on Ketogenic Therapy
This clinical trial builds on promising pilot results from Stanford and Edinburgh University, which showed the potential benefits of a ketogenic diet for mental health. It will also provide new insights into how a ketogenic diet affects both the brain and body, using therapeutic precision ketosis—a personalized, cutting-edge dietary approach.
One key feature of this trial is its integration of psychiatry, endocrinology, and preventive cardiology—fields that are often addressed separately in most clinical practices. By combining them, the trial aims to create a comprehensive model for treating bipolar disorder with a focus on both mental and physical health.
Clinical Trial Details: What to Expect
Led by Dr. Mark A. Frye, a psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic, and Dr. Kyla Lara-Breitinger, a preventative cardiologist, the trial will enroll 30 individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Participants will undergo a 20-week program that includes tailored ketogenic dietary interventions along with nutritional counseling and behavioral health support.
The study will focus on two major aspects:
- Psychological Outcomes: Specifically, the reduction of depressive symptoms associated with bipolar disorder.
- Cardio-Metabolic Outcomes: Measuring key indicators like weight, cholesterol, and vascular health, tracked using lipid tests and vascular ultrasound.
By monitoring both psychological and cardio-metabolic health, this trial will help develop best practices for therapeutic ketogenic diets and offer guidance for clinicians looking to integrate this approach into their treatment plans.
Precision Nutrition Clinical Service: The Future of Treatment
The results of this trial could revolutionize how bipolar disorder is treated. Findings will directly inform the creation of Mayo Clinic’s first-ever precision nutrition clinical service.
This service will bring together expertise from psychiatry, cardiology, endocrinology, and nutrition to provide a personalized approach to treating mental health conditions like bipolar disorder.
Not only could this model benefit those with bipolar disorder, but it could also pave the way for the application of therapeutic ketosis in other serious mental illnesses and chronic health conditions.
Historical Context and Long-Term Implications
Mayo Clinic has a long history with ketogenic therapy, having conducted the first known ketogenic trial for pediatric epilepsy in 1921. The current study represents a resurgence in research into ketogenic diets, with a focus on their potential to address both brain health and metabolic health.
This trial is part of Baszucki Group’s ReTHINK Bipolar program, which has committed over $11 million in funding for research into ketogenic therapy at institutions like Stanford University, University of Pittsburgh, and McLean Hospital.
A Pioneering Step for Mental Health Research
This collaboration between Baszucki Group and Mayo Clinic marks an exciting step forward in the search for new, more effective treatments for bipolar disorder and other serious mental illnesses.
By merging metabolic health and psychiatric care, the study promises to bring about a deeper understanding of the therapeutic potential of ketogenic diets for both the brain and body.
As the research progresses, the trial’s results could lead to significant breakthroughs in how mental health conditions are managed and treated, offering new hope for those affected by bipolar disorder and related conditions.
Baszucki Group is a philanthropic organization focused on advancing fundamental improvements in metabolic health, mental health, democracy, and regenerative agriculture. Co-founded in 2021 by David Baszucki, founder of Roblox, and his wife Jan Ellison Baszucki, the group supports research and interventions aimed at addressing complex societal challenges.
Their work is particularly driven by a commitment to improving mental health, with a focus on metabolic psychiatry and innovative treatments such as ketogenic therapy.
Baszucki Group funds pioneering research and collaborates with leading institutions like Mayo Clinic, Stanford, and Edinburgh University to explore the intersections of brain and body health.
The organization's initiatives also extend into areas like voting reform and environmental conservation, leveraging interdisciplinary solutions for lasting societal impact.
