We’re excited to announce our Spelunker Summer Break Series episode of the Pod of Inquiry podcast featuring Dr. Dayan Goodenowe. Dr. Goodenowe discusses his groundbreaking research on plasmalogens, a class of lipids with potentially significant implications for human health and breaking Alzheimer’s disease.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

  • What plasmalogens are and their role in the body
  • Dr. Goodenowe’s key findings on plasmalogen levels and health outcomes
  • Potential applications of this research for disease prevention and treatment of complex neurodegenerative conditions and peripheral neuropathy
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Show Notes from this episode

Books by Dr. Goodenowe

Dr. Goodenowe’s research into the biochemical mechanisms of disease started in 1990. His curiosity about the biochemistry of life is as insatiable today as it was 30 years ago. In those 30 years, Dr. Goodenowe invented and developed advanced diagnostic and bioinformatic technologies, designed and manufactured novel and natural biochemical precursors, and identified biochemical prodromes of numerous diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, autism, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and cancers of the colon, pancreas, ovary, breast, lung, kidney, liver, stomach, and others. And he is just getting warmed up. Dr. Goodenowe is now going beyond disease and the detection of biochemical dysfunctions to diagnose and the correction of biochemical dysfunctions to treat disease. Dr. Goodenowe’s new focus is to defeat the entropy of aging by creating strategic biochemical and biofunctional reserve capacity in advance of known disease risks such that the human body can maintain the physical and biological functions of life indefinitely and without disease.

Summary

  • Alzheimer's disease and plasma halogens with a guest expert. 0:00
    • Dr. Dayan Goodenowe discusses plasmalogens role in Alzheimer's disease.
    • Dr. Goodenow discusses his background in neuroscience, chemistry, and biochemistry, and their development of technology to analyze metabolites.
  • Genomics and metabolomics, identifying disease biomarkers, and understanding disease causation. 4:16
    • Dr. Goodenowe describes the genomics revolution as a shift from hypothesis testing to hypothesis generating, enabled by the ability to measure large amounts of information at once.
    • Dr. Goodenowe discusses the development of nontarget metabolite profiling, which allows for the measurement of thousands of small molecules with high resolution and accuracy, without prior knowledge of their molecular formulas.
    • Dr. Goodenowe discusses how disease symptoms are not necessarily indicative of underlying causation, and how technology can help identify and restore normality.
  • Using technology to understand human physiology and predict disease risk. 9:29
    • Dr. Goodenowe explains how technology has changed the way we think about human physiology, focusing on deviations from health rather than disease.
    • Dr. Goodenowe uses the analogy of a car engine to illustrate how deviations from normal operating conditions can be predictive of future events.
    • Dr. Goodenowe explains how medical industry often patches "bald tires" with diseases, leading to higher recurrence rates.
    • Dr. Goodenowe discusses how technology can diagnose plasma halogens and allergens to understand disease associations, potentially removing age associations with certain diseases.
  • Plasmalogens and their importance in human physiology. 14:15
    • Dr. Goodenowe argues that eliminating negatives in environment is not enough to increase longevity, as restoring positives in human physiology is also crucial.
    • Dr. Goodenowe and Dr. Barrett discuss the concept of plasmalogens, which were first discovered in the 1920s, and their significance in longevity research.
    • Dr. Goodenowe explains the importance of plasmalogens in human physiology, highlighting their role in biological membranes and compartmentalization of the body.
    • Plasmalogens, such as ethanolamine plasmalogens and phosphotidylcholine, are found in high amounts in various parts of the body, including the heart and brain.
  • Plasmalogens and their importance in human physiology. 19:21
    • Dr. Goodenowe explains how plasmalogens are unique and important for the body, but also have a weakness that can lead to deficiencies later in life.
    • The body typically makes enough plasmalogens for most of life, but dietary sources are limited and can lead to deficiencies in certain situations.
    • Dr. Goodenowe explains how plasmalogens play a crucial role in myelin sheath formation and nerve transmission.
    • The body uses biological material to create connections between neurons, similar to a showerhead and shower.
  • Plasmalogens and their role in maintaining healthy membranes. 24:34
    • Dr. Goodenowe highlights the importance of Omega-3 fatty acids and DHA for cognitive function and brain health.
    • Dr. Goodenowe discusses the correlation between cholesterol regulation and plasmalogen composition, and how it affects membrane structure and function.
    • Dr. Goodenowe compares body's membranes to a reservoir, storing bioactive molecules and responding to inflammation.
    • Plasmalogens are used to treat cardiac myocarditis and lung issues in COVID patients, restoring lung oxygenation and reducing ventilator time.
  • Health markers and their associations with mortality, including cholesterol, creatine, and uric acid. 29:46
    • Dr. Goodenowe highlights the importance of plasminogen levels in blood, linking it to various diseases and mortality rates.
    • Dr. Goodenowe advocates for a shift in medical approach, focusing on prevention and identifying underlying causes of illness rather than just treating symptoms.
    • Dr. Goodenowe argues that high uric acid levels are associated with higher cognitive functioning, but also increase the risk of fatty liver disease and cardiovascular problems.
    • Dr. Goodenowe believes that understanding the deviations from health can help identify the underlying cause, such as mitochondrial or nutritional issues, and find a solution.
  • Stem cells, cholesterol, and their impact on health. 34:44

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    • Dr. Goodenowe clarifies that lowering cholesterol doesn't necessarily prevent cardiovascular disease, as oxidized LDL infiltration is the main issue.
  • Alzheimer's disease and its relationship with plasma and membrane. 38:39
    • Dr. Goodenowe explains that statins lower LDL cholesterol by sucking it out of the bloodstream and digesting it in cells.
    • He questions the cost-effectiveness of statins, citing clinical trials that show benefits only for individuals with high CRP levels.
    • Dr. Goodenowe discusses Alzheimer's disease, highlighting confusion between clinical definition and pathological findings.
    • Dr. Goodenowe explains Alzheimer's disease is not a functional diagnosis, but a pathological one.
  • The limitations of current Alzheimer's research and the potential benefits of natural supplements. 45:36
    • Dr. Goodenowe argues that technology drives research, leading to a focus on amyloid despite limited understanding of its role in Alzheimer's.
    • Dr. Goodenowe discusses challenges in developing drugs or trials for natural molecules like glycine, citing issues with intellectual property protection and investment recoupment.
    • Dr. Goodenowe highlights the limitations of current medical system in incorporating natural molecules into medical care, citing lack of standardization and patent expiration as major challenges.
  • Embracing failure in scientific research. 50:45
    • Dr. Goodenowe discusses the challenges of patent expiration and the need for continuous innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.
    • Dr. Goodenowe highlights the issue of patented technologies becoming public goods after patent expiration, with limited implementation in routine care.
    • Dr. Goodenowe advocates for a parallel health system for longevity, challenging traditional approaches.
    • Dr. Goodenowe emphasizes the importance of breaking things in science, as it leads to improvement and progress.
    • Dr. Goodenowe highlights the challenge of embracing failure and being comfortable with it in scientific research.
  • Peripheral neuropathy, its causes, and potential treatments. 58:13
    • Dr. Barrett discusses peripheral neuropathy in patients with complex cases, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and inflammatory component.
    • Peripheral neuropathy is compared to the neuro-muscular version of autism, highlighting the complexity of diagnosis and treatment.
    • Dr. Goodenowe explains how impaired myelination and inflammation lead to peripheral neuropathy.
    • Dr. Goodenowe discusses reducing inflammation in multiple sclerosis by addressing membrane myelination, mitochondrial insufficiency, and methyl transferase.
    • Inflammation trigger removal and membrane repair are crucial for improving symptoms and MRI findings in multiple sclerosis.
  • Diabetic neuropathy causes and treatment options. 1:05:23
    • Dr. Goodenowe explains diabetic neuropathy: glycolytic insufficiencies, reduced skeletal muscle mass, and inflammation.
    • Improving skeletal muscle mass through resistance training can help reduce diabetic neuropathy symptoms.