Dr. Kara Fitzgerald | New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, Longevity, Epigenetics

This is a really exciting conversation with Dr. Davide D’Amico from Timeline, where we’re taking a closer look at Urolithin A and heart health. It should come as no surprise that this mitochondrial wonderkin of a nutrient is showing promise here—especially when you consider that 40% of the heart’s weight is mitochondria. That’s an extraordinary factoid, and one that really shifts how we think abou...

This episode is a little different from what we usually cover on New Frontiers, but it’s one I couldn’t wait to bring to you. I’ve been thinking a lot about how we—as clinicians—are supposed to keep up in this era of high-throughput technology. We’re swimming in data: labs, multi-omics, diet logs… and an ever-growing stream from wearables. There’s just so much coming at us, and too often, we’re aw...

In many ways, the legal side of functional medicine can feel like the Wild West—uncertain, unregulated, and full of risks. The reality is, we all want to have our practices legally buttoned up, but navigating the legal landscape can feel overwhelming—and expensive. What Scott Rattigan, creator of Functional Lawyer, shares in this episode is a real game-changer. He not only breaks down the complexi...

I’ve been looking forward to sharing this conversation with you because it’s one I’m truly passionate about. Today, we’re diving into the DunedinPACE epigenetic clock with one of its creators, the brilliant Dan Belsky. It’s a tool I use regularly with my patients, and one that’s transforming how we approach aging and interventions. While this show is a bit more technical than usual, the science is...

What if a human trial of over 1200 patients showed improved mobility and reduced pain in osteoarthritis (OA) patients using a natural combination of boswellia and celery seed extract? What if a second follow-up randomized, placebo-controlled human trial found that within 90 days, this same combination increased OA patients' ability to perform a walk test by over 50%, reduced markers of cartilage d...

We’ve all had patients struggling with chronic conditions like long COVID, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and chronic fatigue. Despite all the tools in our functional medicine toolkit, there’s still something missing. How can we truly help them? I’m excited to have Ashok Gupta back on the New Frontiers podcast to offer a new take on healing from chronic illness. He explains that many chronic diseases...

What if the key to reversing chronic disease, slowing cognitive decline, and boosting energy lies in the tiny powerhouses inside your cells—and we’ve finally found a way to protect them? We know mitochondria power our cells, but did you know they also create oxidative stress as they generate energy? Protecting mitochondrial health is critical—but most antioxidants can't reach inside the mitochondr...

Join me for a fascinating conversation around an exciting breakthrough in dementia detection that’s offering real hope for early intervention. Dr. Hans Frykman, Chief Scientific Officer at Neurocode Laboratories, is here to share groundbreaking insights into cutting-edge biomarkers that can identify pathology associated with Alzheimer's disease before symptoms even appear. What’s even more fascina...

We’re witnessing an exciting shift in how we understand gut health and disease—and it’s all thanks to the powerful metabolites produced by the microbiome, like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and secondary bile acids. In today’s episode, Dr. Tom Fabian shares groundbreaking insights into how these postbiotics influence intestinal barrier integrity, immune balance, and even muscle regeneration. The...

It’s very difficult (often impossible) to completely avoid many of the environmental toxins that can cause harm - like air pollution and forever chemicals that contaminate our water and food supply. But Drs. Bob and Rosalind Wright at Mount Sinai have a hopeful solution to this dilemma. They are pioneering the study of “resiliency factors,” not just “risk factors,” that can offset the risks of har...

Join me and Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe, my brilliant friend, scientist, and the powerhouse CEO of Pendulum, for our deepest dive yet into all things Akkermansia. This free-flowing conversation will take your understanding of this extraordinary strain to a whole new level. We’ll explore Akkermansia’s pivotal role in metabolic health—think cravings, weight regulation, A1C—and why we’re deficient in the f...

For many struggling with depression, the message they often hear from traditional care is "just live with it" or "there’s nothing more we can do." In today’s episode, we’re challenging that narrative. I’m joined by Dr. Achina Stein and Silvia Covelli from the Healing Depression Project - a groundbreaking residential treatment and research program. Dr. Stein, a functional psychiatrist, and Silvia,...

We’re doing a deep dive into NAD, a molecule that has received a lot of attention but still confuses many of us, clinicians included. My guest today is able to unpack the complexities of NAD in a way you’ll find extremely illuminating and useful. I’m excited to have Dr. Greg Kelly Senior Director of Product Development at Qualia, back with us, explaining how NAD is foundational for energy, longevi...

After my conversation with Dr. Greg Fahy in August, I realized that I had additional questions that we didn't have time to address the first time around. Importantly, since here I am studying the effects of dietary and lifestyle interventions on aging, I wanted to know his thoughts on the dietary components of the TRIMM study and beyond. Dr. Fahy shares his thoughts on my question and some others...

The brain’s ability to recover after trauma is astonishing—and often overlooked in conventional care. In this episode of New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, I sit down with Dr. David Musnick, a long-time friend and brilliant clinician, to explore how we can unlock the brain’s full potential for healing. Dr. Musnick challenges the standard of care for traumatic brain injuries and post-concussion...

For anyone who has been paying attention, you may already know that the takeaways related to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) from the original Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study have been completely overhauled. It’s about time! As a result, it’s not an understatement to say that we are in the midst of a total transformation in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and it’s essential that as provi...

Talking with Dr. Julie Faitg was a powerful reminder of just how much we’re discovering about mitochondria and aging. When you pair an elite mitochondrial scientist with a breakthrough nutrient like Urolithin A, the insights go beyond what you’d expect. Julie gives us this incredible look into how we can actually change the course of aging at the cellular level. This conversation made me rethink w...

It’s not overstating it to say that I have cited Dr. Artemis Simopoulos’ work in virtually every lecture I have ever given that included the topic of omega-3 fatty acids. She is an incredible human being, indomitable NIH researcher, and absolute legend in her field. In our conversation on New Frontiers, Dr. Simopoulos reviews those essential truths about the evolution of our dietary intake of omeg...

The centrality of gut health in total body health and aging means it’s a key topic for us to keep revisiting and updating our knowledge on. For instance, how confident do you feel about interpreting analytical indices such as phyla distribution, dysbiosis index, diversity score, as well as the myriad bacterial populations that can be resident in the GI tract? Join me and Dr. Julia Malkowski as we...

It's important to me to include a variety of voices in the sphere of aging and longevity, and Matt Kaeberlein PhD is certainly one that I appreciate for his tempered and rational arguments. I value his insights and his work with other scientists who are tussling with the challenging questions and research interpretations in this field. We are at this extraordinary inflexion point where scientists...

In this episode of New Frontiers, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald sits down with Dr. Valerie Gershenhorn, a leading expert in functional dermatology and a Clinical Team Member for Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, to explore the profound impact of the gut-skin axis and autonomic nervous system on chronic skin conditions like acne, eczema, and more. Dr. Gershenhorn shares her comprehensive approach, including t...

Your thymus isn't talked about much, but this small organ in your upper chest is a key component of your immune system that is solely responsible for the essential "education" of the immune cells that protect your body from invaders. Through this action it also affects levels of inflammation (an immune-mediated process). It's also interesting to note that most of us end up dying of an immune-relat...

Cardiovascular disease might be the leading cause of death, but after my conversation with Dr. Mark Houston, I'm more convinced than ever that we have the power to change that narrative. We delved into the power of diet and lifestyle changes, the essential role of nitric oxide and the impressive results of innovative supplements like Vascanox HP by Calroy Health Sciences in managing blood pressure...

What a tour de force conversation with Dr. Terry Wahls, who is, with her groundbreaking research, changing both conventional and functional medicine's approach to multiple sclerosis and ultimately patient care. I'm very excited to see the findings of her ongoing clinical trials, which evaluate the use of several popular dietary patterns, using MRIs to measure brain volume loss, microbiome data, me...

*Save the date! Join me and Dr. Alessandra Zonari for a free webinar on July 25th 2024 and get your questions answered on all things OS-01 peptide and biological aging. Register at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/webinars/ I'm thrilled to be joined by Dr. Alessandra Zonari to take a deep dive into a breakthrough in skincare science that has caught my attention—OneSkin's OS-01 peptide. This episod...