First thank those in charge for allowing this off topic exchange.
Thank you Mike for sharing.
Mike, what is your goal for posting this documentation?
Mike where did you get your fasting guidance?
For me this might be a timely response to my medical needs.
I am a Christian and ask God for wisdom maybe 5 days out of the week. I
think Mike's post might be an answer to my prayers.
I am 68 years old and I have a ton of health issues.
I have heart disease and I have 8 stents.
I have very high blood pressure, high cholesterol, am a type2 diabetic,
and suffer from chronic fatigue.
I am treated by the VA, which means they follow the Pharmaceutical
companies teachings and approach to decease.
I am not against the Pharmaceutical companies. I think they have their
place.
I was on Ozempic and stopped taking it because of it's side effects.
I was on statins for my high collateral. According to Barbara O'neal
statins can cause brain fog. I can attest to that.
Interestingly Mike shared that he is able to impact his situation
without a Pharmaceutical solution.
I have this notion that if I lose 50lbs or more and eat better, I might
be able to get off all these Pharmaceuticals they are giving me. I
currently take 10 different Pharmaceuticals for all that ails me.
My Pharmaceuticals are mailed to me and come with a print out that says
my doctor has determined the benefits of taking this drug out weigh it's
side effects. I'm not sure. Getting rid of the statins has made my
life better. The brain fog was impacting me in the extreme.
I am embracing the alternate health system.
Now I am wondering if fasting can benefit me.
We are moving into a new era. I wonder what impact Robert Francis
Kennedy Jr might have on the Food and Drug Administration.
Thanks you for allowing this off topic post.
Keith
On 2025-02-15 11:57, Michael via PLUG-discuss wrote:
As you all know I had a TBI and I discovered something and was hoping
someone could pass it on so we could get some hard data and studies
done on this:
Case Study: The Role of Fasting and Autophagy in Post-Traumatic Brain
Injury (TBI) Recovery
Patient: Michael Havens
Age: 53
Location: Ocala, Florida
Date of Injury: 1985 (vehicle accident resulting in TBI)
Diagnosis: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), 6-week coma
Abstract:
This case study explores the potential benefits of extended fasting in
a patient recovering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The patient,
Michael Havens, sustained a significant brain injury in 1985 after
being hit by a vehicle, resulting in a 6-week coma. After beginning a
fasting regimen in 2023, which included a series of 32-hour fasts and
a 90-hour fast, the patient reports notable improvements in speech,
memory, physical speed, and cognitive function, suggesting that
autophagy and fasting may offer neuroprotective effects and promote
recovery. The patient also theorizes that fasting may be an
evolutionary mechanism designed for healing in times of food scarcity,
particularly following injuries like those sustained in pre-modern
times.
Introduction:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in long-term cognitive and
physical impairments. Traditional treatments focus on immediate
rehabilitation, but recent research has begun to explore the potential
benefits of fasting and other dietary interventions in enhancing
recovery. Autophagy, a process triggered by fasting, may help clear
damaged cells and encourage regeneration.
This case study evaluates the effects of fasting on post-TBI recovery,
particularly focusing on cognitive function, speech, and motor
abilities, based on the personal experience of Michael Havens, who
began fasting in 2023 to support recovery from his TBI.
Methods:
Initial Condition:
The patient sustained a TBI in 1985 after being struck by a vehicle.
The injury resulted in a 6-week coma, and upon awakening, the patient
experienced cognitive and physical impairments, including memory loss,
slow speech, and physical slowness.
These impairments persisted for several years following the injury.
Fasting Protocol (2023):
The patient began a fasting regimen in 2023, incorporating a
combination of:
32-hour fasts once a week (separated by a month or two from the
90-hour fast)
90-hour fast (done once in 2023)
A daily 17:7 intermittent fasting schedule, where the patient eats
within a 7-hour window each day and fasts for the remaining 17 hours.
Observations:
After completing the 90-hour fast, the patient noticed several
improvements, including:
Speech: Increased clarity and fluency in verbal communication.
Memory: Enhanced recall and sharper focus, although the improvements
in memory were not fully permanent.
Cognitive Speed: Faster processing and quicker mental responses.
Physical Speed: Improved physical agility and increased mobility.
Additionally, the patient experienced relief from carpal tunnel
syndrome, a condition that had been a source of chronic discomfort.
The patient began fasting in 2023 solely for weight loss, with no
expectation of affecting TBI recovery. The TBI-related impairments
persisted but were somewhat alleviated by the continuous process of
autophagy, which had a beneficial effect on the aforementioned
cognitive and physical ailments. The 32-hour fasts were performed once
a week and separated by a month or two from the 90-hour fast, with the
latter having a more noticeable impact. The improvements in speech,
memory, and cognitive function were unexpected outcomes of the fasting
regimen.
Results:
The patient’s experience suggests a potential relationship between
fasting, autophagy, and improved recovery outcomes after TBI. The
improvements in speech, memory, and motor function could be linked to
the neuroprotective effects of fasting, where the body promotes cell
repair and regeneration during periods of food scarcity. The
hypothesis that fasting might have evolved as an adaptive mechanism
for healing during times of injury and food deprivation is explored,
with particular focus on the benefits for individuals recovering from
severe trauma.
Discussion:
This case highlights the possible therapeutic effects of fasting and
autophagy in the recovery from traumatic brain injury. The patient’s
improvements in speech, cognitive function, and physical speed support
the notion that fasting could have neuroplastic benefits. The 90-hour
fast seems to have had a particularly strong effect, although further
clinical studies are required to validate these results and understand
the mechanisms behind them.
It is important to note that fasting should be approached cautiously,
particularly in individuals with significant medical conditions. While
the patient did not consult with a doctor specifically about fasting,
medical supervision is recommended for those considering extended
fasting, especially for those with a history of TBI.
Conclusion:
This case study suggests that fasting, particularly extended fasting,
may be a useful intervention in enhancing recovery from traumatic
brain injury. The patient’s improvements in speech, memory, and
physical agility provide preliminary evidence that fasting may play a
role in neuroprotection and healing. Further clinical research into
autophagy and fasting in TBI patients is needed to explore these
findings in greater depth.
Contact Information:
Michael Havens
8 Cedar Run Court
Ocala, Florida 34472
Email: bmi...@gmail.com
response:
I see! Congrats on the recovery! If you’re affiliated with a group
in the science world, direct submissions to journals (as long as you
have hard data with numbers) could work, but if not that would sadly
be a flat rejection. Also if it’s accepted you would then be writing
up the entire study yourself if you’re up for that. Sharing with
smaller medical groups if you know of any or your doctor(s) and asking
them could be a great resource since they would know more about
conferences or talks that present case studies like this and such.
I love reading this kind of data because I’ve have three concussions
myself, luckily all mild/moderate, but ending up with post-concussion
syndrome. I have noticed some improvement with fasting in clarity of
speech but memory especially and the odd word recall is very “hit
the wall” sensation. Proprioception is also still trash 😅
response:
I did exactly that back in 2020. I ceased all sugar consumption and
began fasting and exercising in a fasted state every day. I lost 70
pounds. I also began healing brain damage and arrested development.
<elaborate>
I started no sugar and 18:6 eating schedule and walking 10,000 steps a
day in March of 2020. By summer, I was up to 24,000 steps a day, 12
miles. Late summer of 2020 I read a study where rats were put in a
ketogenic scenario. The rats kept in ketosis had bigger brains then
the rats fed regularly. I thought if I do that it should help my
brain, right? So that's what I started doing. It healed my inability
to feel and express emotions (alexithymia). I was tortured and abused
severely when I was young. I had CPTSD and arrested development. I was
a frightened eight year old boy in an adult man's body. I threw myself
into therapy and on fasting and exercising. I still do it to this very
day. <I also engaged in> EMDR, CBT, and massage therapy. <I feel I
began to cure the brain damage> by putting my body in a situation
where I made keytones and BDNF every day. The brain functions better
on keytones than it does on glycolosis. BDNF repaired damaged neurons
and built new neural networks.
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