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:
bmike1@gmail.comresponse:
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.