Biohacking Autism with Nadia Elkhatib.

Nadia Elkhatib
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Hosted by Nadia Elkhatib, Biohacking Autism is the go-to podcast for parents, caregivers, and families navigating the complex world of autism. Each week, we explore the biological root causes behind the toughest challenges in autism, from autism anxiety and sleep disruption to neuroinflammation, MCAS, gut health, seizures, and nervous system dysregulation, alongside evidence-informed integrative approaches that actually help. We also cover caregiver health and longevity for parents raising autistic children, because your health matters just as much as your child's. From caregiver burnout and stress management to practical longevity strategies, these episodes are for the parent who is running on empty and ready to invest in themselves, too. Whether you're just beginning your autism journey or deep into biomedical interventions, this podcast gives you the research, the real talk, and the practical tools to make informed decisions for your child and for yourself. Popular Topics Include: autism anxiety, autism sleep, gut health autism, MCAS autism, neuroinflammation, nervous system dysregulation, peptides for autism, functional medicine autism, integrative health autism, caregiver health, autism parent burnout, caregiver burnout, longevity for parents, caregiver longevity, autism supplements, sensory processing, autism diet, autism parent support, vagus nerve stimulation autism, bioregulators for autism, HRV training for caregivers This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

  1. 22h ago ·  Video

    Are You an Autism Caregiver? Why Your Brain Health is at Risk

    Caregiver burnout deserves more than being dismissed as "just stress." When you've spent years caring for someone else, what questions should you be asking about your own brain health? Dr. Tom O'Bryan joins Nadia Elkhatib for a full conversation about chronic stress, neuroinflammation and the gut-brain axis. Nadia brings her family's experience with Alzheimer's disease and more than two decades of parenting her son Jimmy, who has autism, into a discussion about the caregiver's long-term health. Tom shares his framework for understanding the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, systemic inflammation, the blood-brain barrier and brain immune activity. The conversation also covers LPS and beta-amyloid, APOE4 and family history, food sensitivities, gluten versus FODMAPs, and why he reviews patterns across years of test results. The practical thread is his "one hour a week" approach to learning and making gradual changes, rather than searching for a single answer. His explanations include guest perspectives and emerging hypotheses, not a diagnosis of the listener or proof that caregiving causes Alzheimer's disease. ABOUT THE GUEST Tom O'Bryan, DC, CCN, DACBN, CIFM, is a functional medicine educator, founder of TheDr.com, and author of You Can Fix Your Brain and The Autoimmune Fix. BOOKS, SERIES AND HANDOUTS You Can Fix Your Brain: https://thedr.com/you-can-fix-your-brain-book/ Audiobook, narrated by Tom (publisher's format options): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/592179/you-can-fix-your-brain-by-dr-tom-obryan-foreword-by-mark-hyman-md/ The Autoimmune Fix: https://thedr.com/autoimmune-fix/ The Stress of Life by Hans Selye (library record): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/7605231/ The Inflammation Equation, series registration: https://theinflammationequation.com/ Workbook/guidebooks and access packages, including paid options: https://theinflammationequation.com/thank-you/ Showerhead-cleaning handout: https://thedr.com/shower/ The Gluten Summit: https://thedr.com/the-gluten-summit/ CONNECT WITH DR. TOM + ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Website: https://thedr.com/ Email: info@thedr.com Consultations (paid service): https://thedr.com/consultations/ Root-Cause Health Deep-Dive + Readiness Form (program-fit form): https://thedr.com/rootcause/ Healthspan vs. Lifespan (commercial testing/consultation packages): https://thedr.com/healthspan-vs-lifespan/ For practitioners, mentorship: https://thedr.com/mentorship/ Certified Gluten-Free Practitioner training: https://glutenfreepractitioner.com/ HOUSEHOLD RESOURCES MENTIONED Truly Free Home: https://trulyfreehome.com/ Retailers mentioned for glass food storage: Miles Kimball: https://www.mileskimball.com/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/ Costco: https://www.costco.com/ Vitality C, PectaSol, B vitamins, fish oils and essential oils are also discussed. Names are provided for identification, not as a recommended regimen. BIOHACKING AUTISM Website and episode library: https://biohackautism.com/ Subscribe and share this episode with another caregiver. RELATED EPISODE MCAS Explained with Dr. Debby Hamilton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KI678um1GY DISCLOSURE This episode is not sponsored. Biohacking Autism received no payment or free products and earns no affiliate commission from these links. Tom founded TheDr.com and wrote You Can Fix Your Brain and The Autoimmune Fix; some linked resources are paid offerings. He also describes a personal friendship with the founder of Truly Free. MEDICAL DISCLAIMER This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health protocol or your child's protocol. Guest perspectives and emerging hypotheses are discussed, not established as universal explanations or individual diagnoses. No product or program is a promised treatment or cure. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    Are You an Autism Caregiver? Why Your Brain Health is at Risk

  2. 4d ago ·  Video

    25-MIN ESSENTIALS | Autism, AI, and Exercise: An ER Doctor and Dad on Technology That Bridges the Gaps

    This is the Essentials edition, a 25-minute cut of our conversation with Dr. Uli K. Chettipally, MD, MPH, an emergency physician, Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and father of Siri, a non-speaking young woman with autism. For the full conversation, see the full episode of Biohacking Autism in this feed. In this edition: what an intensive exercise program did for Siri after she aged out of school at 22, why Uli believes movement acts on the brain through neuroplasticity, how a VR-based exercise system developed for stroke rehabilitation became Cognitive Sensorimotor Therapy, what the n=9 feasibility study measured and what it did not, why a non-speaking person may be able to spell but not speak, how Siri reached the dean's list at College of San Mateo, and the AI Uli is training to reduce the dependence on a trained communication partner. The full episode adds Uli's story of becoming Siri's father, the outcomes study he is planning, how he uses the AI day to day, the touchless letterboard in development, and his smart-home vision for independence. Connect with the guest Sirica Center: https://www.siricacenter.com/ Dr. Uli K. Chettipally on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulichettipally Disclosure Dr. Chettipally is the founder of Sirica Therapeutics, which develops the exercise system discussed in this episode. The system is currently used as an exercise machine and has not been evaluated by any regulatory body as a treatment for autism. The research discussed was a small feasibility study measuring tolerance, learnability, and enjoyment, not outcomes. Medical disclaimer This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Nothing in this episode is a recommendation to start, stop, or change any treatment or medication. Please work with your own qualified healthcare professionals when making decisions for yourself and your child. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    25-MIN ESSENTIALS | Autism, AI, and Exercise: An ER Doctor and Dad on Technology That Bridges the Gaps

  3. Oct 5 ·  Video

    Autism, AI, and Exercise: An ER Doctor and Dad on Technology That Bridges the Gaps

    Dr. Uli K. Chettipally, MD, MPH, is an emergency physician, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and the father of Siri, a non-speaking young woman with autism. In this episode he explains what an intensive exercise program did for Siri after she aged out of school at 22, why he believes movement acts on the brain through neuroplasticity, and how a VR-based exercise system developed for stroke rehabilitation became Cognitive Sensorimotor Therapy. We also cover non-speaking autism and spelling to communicate: how a letterboard failed for Siri at seven and worked at eighteen, why Uli believes the challenge is motor planning rather than intelligence, how Siri got to the dean's list at College of San Mateo, and the AI he is training to reduce the dependence on a trained communication partner. What you'll hear: - Autism and exercise: what changed in anxiety, focus, and weight after Siri started an intensive program - Neuroplasticity and autism: the cognitive, sensory, and motor components of the exercise system - Why a non-speaking person may be able to spell but not speak - The n=9 feasibility study: what it measured and what it did not - Presuming competence, RPM, and letterboards - AI for autism: assistive technology for non-speaking communication - Uli's vision of independence through technology Connect with the guest Sirica Center: https://www.siricacenter.com/ Dr. Uli K. Chettipally on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulichettipally Disclosure Dr. Chettipally is the founder of Sirica Therapeutics, which develops the exercise system discussed in this episode. The system is currently used as an exercise machine and has not been evaluated by any regulatory body as a treatment for autism. The research discussed was a small feasibility study measuring tolerance, learnability, and enjoyment, not outcomes. Medical disclaimer This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Nothing in this episode is a recommendation to start, stop, or change any treatment or medication. Please work with your own qualified healthcare professionals when making decisions for yourself and your child. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    Autism, AI, and Exercise: An ER Doctor and Dad on Technology That Bridges the Gaps

  4. Oct 1 ·  Video

    What’s Driving Inflammation in Autism? | Essentials with Dr. Horowitz

    What’s driving inflammation in autism? In this Biohacking Autism Essentials edition, Dr. Richard Horowitz walks through the core ideas from his 16-point MSIDS framework and explains how multiple biological systems may contribute to chronic inflammation and symptoms in autism. This shorter, focused edition covers: • The 16-point MSIDS framework • The six “rivers of inflammation” • Neuroinflammation and microglial activation • Gut health, leaky gut, and the microbiome • Mast cell activation and histamine • Mitochondrial dysfunction and the cell danger response • Lyme disease and Bartonella • POTS, dysautonomia, and hypermobility • Autism biomarkers including NfL, GFAP, CRP, VEGF, tau, and p-tau • Why different children may have very different biological drivers Dr. Horowitz’s MSIDS framework was developed for complex chronic illness, not specifically for autism. In this conversation, he explains how he believes the framework may help families and clinicians think more broadly about overlapping contributors to inflammation and chronic symptoms. This is the shorter Essentials edition. For the complete technical discussion, listen to the Full Episode with Dr. Richard Horowitz. CONNECT WITH DR. RICHARD HOROWITZ Get Dr. Horowitz’s new book, Ending Chronic Illness: https://cangetbetter.com/ending-chronic-illness/ Website: https://cangetbetter.com/ Medical Detective Substack: https://medicaldetective.substack.com/ Horowitz Lyme-MSIDS Questionnaire: https://msidsfoundation.org/questionnaire/ For physicians with questions about complex cases: medical@hvhac.com MEDICAL DISCLAIMER This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always discuss testing and treatment decisions with a qualified healthcare professional. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    What’s Driving Inflammation in Autism? | Essentials with Dr. Horowitz

  5. Sep 28 ·  Video

    The 16 Root Causes of Inflammation in Autism with Dr. Richard Horowitz

    Autism inflammation is often discussed as if it were one problem with one cause. In this episode, Dr. Richard Horowitz joins Nadia to walk through his 16-point MSIDS framework for complex chronic illness and discuss how he applies it to questions families and clinicians raise around autism. The conversation covers what Dr. Horowitz calls the six “rivers of inflammation”: infections, environmental toxins, microbiome disruption, intestinal permeability and mast-cell activation, nutrient deficiencies, and sleep. They also explore mitochondrial dysfunction and the cell danger response, neuroinflammation, POTS and dysautonomia, hypermobility, maternal inflammation, and biomarkers including CRP, VEGF, neurofilament light, GFAP, tau, and p-tau. Dr. Horowitz explains why he favors a multifactorial, symptom-guided approach rather than assuming one diagnosis has one underlying mechanism. The discussion includes Lyme and Bartonella, mold, gut-brain signaling, histamine and mast cells, mitochondria, and how different symptoms can point clinicians toward different systems to investigate. The MSIDS framework was developed for complex chronic illness, not specifically for autism. In this conversation, Dr. Horowitz discusses how he believes it may help autism families and clinicians ask broader questions about overlapping contributors to inflammation and chronic symptoms. Connect with Dr. Richard Horowitz: Get Dr. Horowitz’s new book, Ending Chronic Illness: https://cangetbetter.com/ending-chronic-illness/ MSIDS Foundation Dr. Richard Horowitz’s website: https://cangetbetter.com/ Medical Detective Substack: https://medicaldetective.substack.com/ Medical Detective Horowitz Lyme-MSIDS Questionnaire: https://msidsfoundation.org/questionnaire/ MSIDS Foundation For physicians with questions about complex cases: medical@hvhac.com Medical Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always discuss testing and treatment decisions with a qualified healthcare professional. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    The 16 Root Causes of Inflammation in Autism with Dr. Richard Horowitz

  6. Sep 24 ·  Video

    What the Brain Needs to Build Itself: Myelin, Plasmalogens, Autism, Alzheimer's | 29-Min Essentials with Dr. Dayan Goodenowe

    This is the 29-minute Essentials edition of my conversation with Dr. Dayan Goodenowe. The full episode, with more on testing, maternal health and where his research is headed, is here: https://biohackautism.com/podcast/dayan-goodenowe-autism-brain-development-plasmalogens/ What does the brain need to build itself, and why does the answer matter for a child with autism and for the parent caring for them? Dr. Dayan Goodenowe, PhD, is a neuroscientist, biochemist and the founder of Prodrome Sciences. In this condensed edition he walks through the brain as a wiring project: raw wires at birth, myelin as the insulation that lets signals stay separate, and why myelination is adaptive rather than pre-programmed. From there he explains why incomplete myelination can make noise and light overwhelming, why children with autism show reduced white matter on imaging, and where neuroinflammation and mitochondrial stress fit in. The middle of the conversation is about plasmalogens: what they are, why the body has to make them in peroxisomes, why they cannot be eaten intact, and how the body spends them like a fire blanket on inflammation. Nadia and Dr. Goodenowe then follow the same biology into later life: age as the main driver of cognitive decline, what ApoE4 actually changes, cortical thickness as the brain's muscle, and why a baseline measurement matters more than a diagnosis. IN THIS EDITION The brain as a wiring diagram: axons, synapses and myelinWhy myelination is adaptive, and why deep sleep is part of itSensory overload explained through incomplete myelinationWe learn by receiving: what that changes for parentsWhat plasmalogens are and why the brain needs themWhy plasmalogens cannot be eaten intactNeuroinflammation, white matter and resilience in autismAutism and Alzheimer's as two ends of the same biologyAge, ApoE4 and when dementia startsCortical thickness: the brain's muscleBaseline testing without obsessing over it CONNECT WITH DR. DAYAN GOODENOWE Dr. Dayan Goodenowe is a neuroscientist and biochemist, the founder of Prodrome Sciences, founder of Dr. Goodenowe's Dietary Therapeutics, and the author of Breaking Alzheimer's. Dr. Goodenowe's education site: https://drgoodenowe.com Prodrome Sciences (for practitioners): https://prodrome.com Dr. Goodenowe has a financial interest in Prodrome Sciences and in plasmalogen products discussed during this conversation. FULL EPISODE Episode 34, the complete conversation: https://biohackautism.com/podcast/dayan-goodenowe-autism-brain-development-plasmalogens/ Episode 28 (solo, hormones and lipids), where this conversation was first previewed: https://biohackautism.com/podcast/autism-blood-work-thyroid-hormones-insulin/ MEDICAL DISCLAIMER This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health protocol or your child's protocol. Several compounds and tests discussed in this episode are investigational or are not FDA-approved for the uses discussed. The plasmalogen precursor program described is in a pre-IND stage of an FDA-regulated development pathway. Biohacking Autism does not provide individualized treatment protocols, dosing instructions, or sourcing guidance for regulated compounds. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    What the Brain Needs to Build Itself: Myelin, Plasmalogens, Autism, Alzheimer's | 29-Min Essentials with Dr. Dayan Goodenowe

  7. Sep 21 ·  Video

    Autism Brain Development: The Building Blocks Behind Myelin, Plasmalogens and Alzheimer's | Dr. Dayan Goodenowe

    What does the brain need to build itself, and why does the answer matter for a child with autism and for the aging brain? In this episode of Biohacking Autism, Nadia Elkhatib talks with Dr. Dayan Goodenowe, PhD, neuroscientist, biochemist and founder of Prodrome Sciences, about autism brain development, white matter and myelination, mitochondrial dysfunction and brain inflammation in autism, and the lipid raw materials the brain needs to build itself, plasmalogens among them. Dr. Goodenowe reframes the developing brain as a wiring project. Myelin is the insulation that lets signals stay separate, and he explains why incomplete myelination can make a crowded room, a bright store or a loud classroom feel like every conversation arriving at once. He describes what he sees in the white matter of children with autism, why he views many autism-related changes as adaptation rather than attack, and where mitochondrial function and neuroinflammation fit in. From there the conversation turns to plasmalogens: what they do in the brain, why the body has to make them in peroxisomes, why you cannot simply eat them intact, and what plasmalogen precursors are. Nadia and Dr. Goodenowe then follow the same biology into the second half of life: cortical thickness as the brain's muscle, ApoE4 as a question of when rather than whether, what he measures in his testing and imaging work, and why caregiver brain health across decades belongs in the autism conversation. IN THIS EPISODE The brain as a wiring diagram: axons, synapses and myelinWhy myelination is adaptive and why deep sleep is part of itSensory overload explained through incomplete myelinationWhite matter, the corpus callosum and imaging in autismMitochondrial dysfunction and brain inflammation in autismMaternal metabolic health, discussed without blameWhat plasmalogens are and why they matter for the brainWhy plasmalogens cannot be eaten intact, and what precursors areAutism and Alzheimer's as two ends of the same biologyCortical thickness, brain volume and the aging brainApoE4 and when dementia starts, rather than whetherTesting, biomarkers and what a caregiver in their fifties might measureThe Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan community study CONNECT WITH DR. DAYAN GOODENOWE Dr. Dayan Goodenowe is a neuroscientist and biochemist, the founder of Prodrome Sciences, founder of Dr. Goodenowe's Dietary Therapeutics, and the author of Breaking Alzheimer's. Dr. Goodenowe's education site: https://drgoodenowe.com Prodrome Sciences (for practitioners): https://prodrome.com Dr. Goodenowe has a financial interest in Prodrome Sciences and in plasmalogen products discussed during this conversation. MEDICAL DISCLAIMER This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health protocol or your child's protocol. Several compounds and tests discussed in this episode are investigational or are not FDA-approved for the uses discussed. The plasmalogen precursor program described is in a pre-IND stage of an FDA-regulated development pathway. Biohacking Autism does not provide individualized treatment protocols, dosing instructions, or sourcing guidance for regulated compounds. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    Autism Brain Development: The Building Blocks Behind Myelin, Plasmalogens and Alzheimer's | Dr. Dayan Goodenowe

  8. Sep 17 ·  Video

    20-MIN ESSENTIALS: Autism Tech, AI, AAC & 600+ Companies with Dan Feshbach

    More than 600 companies are building autism technology, yet most families have never heard of them. This 20-MIN ESSENTIALS edition condenses my conversation with Dan Feshbach, founder of Multiple and co-founder of TeachTown, into the core ideas families need most. Dan and I explore AI for autism, AAC, assistive technology, communication tools, sensory technology, and what it will take for useful technology to actually reach families. We also talk about why autism technology needs to move at the “speed of family,” why families need trusted tools rather than more shiny objects, and how emerging technology could support communication, work, connection, and greater independence. Dan shares the deeply personal reason this work matters to him. During a letterboard session, his son Reed described his experience in four words: “I live in silence.” His vision of a normal life was not about technology itself. It was about friendship, meaningful work, communication, independence, and being able to move through the world more freely. IN THIS ESSENTIALS EDITION: • Why autism technology needs to move at the “speed of family” • How AI can accelerate development and testing • Why 600+ autism technology companies remain largely invisible to families • The “first mile of capital” problem in autism innovation • Why families need trusted tools, not more shiny objects • AI-powered communication and support tools • Sensory eyewear and screen-free regulation technology • AAC and communication support for nonspeaking people • AI and biomedical pattern recognition • Brain-computer interfaces • Why technology should support a person's life, not become the life • Why waiting another 15 years for meaningful solutions is unacceptable WATCH THE FULL 67-MINUTE CONVERSATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZjnQwfAhk0 CONNECT WITH DAN FESHBACH Multiple: https://www.multiplehub.org/ Multiple Autism-Tech Database: https://www.multiplehub.org/autism-tech-database CONNECT WITH BIOHACKING AUTISM Website: https://biohackautism.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biohackautism/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiaelkhatib/ DISCLOSURE Dan Feshbach is the founder of Multiple and discusses companies and initiatives connected to Multiple's accelerator and autism-innovation ecosystem. Biohacking Autism has not independently evaluated or endorsed the companies, apps, devices, technologies, or research programs discussed in this episode. DISCLAIMER This program is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health protocol or your child's protocol. Emerging technologies and research discussed in this episode may be investigational, early-stage, or not yet validated for autism. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    20-MIN ESSENTIALS: Autism Tech, AI, AAC & 600+ Companies with Dan Feshbach
See All (42)

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Hosted by Nadia Elkhatib, Biohacking Autism is the go-to podcast for parents, caregivers, and families navigating the complex world of autism. Each week, we explore the biological root causes behind the toughest challenges in autism, from autism anxiety and sleep disruption to neuroinflammation, MCAS, gut health, seizures, and nervous system dysregulation, alongside evidence-informed integrative approaches that actually help. We also cover caregiver health and longevity for parents raising autistic children, because your health matters just as much as your child's. From caregiver burnout and stress management to practical longevity strategies, these episodes are for the parent who is running on empty and ready to invest in themselves, too. Whether you're just beginning your autism journey or deep into biomedical interventions, this podcast gives you the research, the real talk, and the practical tools to make informed decisions for your child and for yourself. Popular Topics Include: autism anxiety, autism sleep, gut health autism, MCAS autism, neuroinflammation, nervous system dysregulation, peptides for autism, functional medicine autism, integrative health autism, caregiver health, autism parent burnout, caregiver burnout, longevity for parents, caregiver longevity, autism supplements, sensory processing, autism diet, autism parent support, vagus nerve stimulation autism, bioregulators for autism, HRV training for caregivers This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Information

You Might Also Like