Functional medicine often focuses on nutrition, exercise, and stress management as the foundational pillars of health. But what other powerful environmental inputs could be leveraged with greater precision? What if heat and light could be used as biological inputs in a way that is measurable and clinically relevant?
DetailsDid you know that 1 in 3 older dolphins develops the same aging-associated conditions as humans? While continually helping to improve the health of older Navy dolphins living in San Diego Bay, veterinarians found that some dolphins had elevated cholesterol, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and fatty liver disease – just like some of us.
DetailsCreatine has been around for decades. I leaned on it big time in my early career days (both as a physician and a competitive cyclist). I lectured on it in my second year of medical school. And as an athlete, I had firsthand experience of creatine’s most common side effect – water retention. I saw visible changes in my face and swelling in my ankles as I loaded on creatine before a big athletic event, dropping the dose afterwards. Even so, creatine has consistently demonstrated an excellent safety profile when used appropriately. What excites me now is its potential to benefit other areas, such as brain and cardiovascular health, and its validation by the latest research. In this 2-part article, we explore the latest research on creatine’s health benefits, clinical uses, dosing strategies, and potential side effects. Take a read; you may be surprised by some of the findings! ~DrKF
DetailsAge-related declines in muscle function, immune resilience, and cellular energy are closely linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, making mitochondrial-targeted interventions a key focus of aging research. In this context, recent placebo-controlled human trials show that a Urolithin A dose of 1000 mg produces broader and more pronounced effects on mitochondrial gene expression, muscle performance, and immune markers than lower doses.
DetailsHow close are we to ovarian rejuvenation and what role will AI play in getting us there? In this conversation, reproductive biologist and aging researcher Dr. Vittorio Sebastiano joins Dr. Kara Fitzgerald to explore how rapidly advancing technologies are transforming geroscience and regenerative medicine.
DetailsIn recent years, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) use has increased 700% in the general population and over one quarter of those diagnosed with diabetes are on these medications.
DetailsHappy holidays, everyone! As you enjoy the festive season, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the highlights from this past year here at Dr. Kara Fitzgerald. One of the biggest was certainly our virtual Functional Medicine is Longevity Medicine™ Masterclass.
DetailsCan Mitopure®, and its active ingredient Urolithin A, support an aging immune system? As we recognize immune aging as a primary driver of age-related disease, this question has taken on new clinical importance. The newly published MitoImmune study in Nature Aging provides the first rigorous clinical evidence to address this question. Conducted by researchers from Timeline, the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, and the lab of Professor.
DetailsAn excellent colleague of mine recently had an unpleasant experience when she discovered that every single citation in an article she’d generated using AI and sent over as a potential guest post appeared fine on first glance, but was completely fabricated. Not one existed. Thankfully, our team caught it very quickly and never would have approved it for publication without checking. But I’ll admit: I understand the temptation. Most of us are balancing a dozen spinning plates. If AI can lighten the load, who wouldn’t be leaning in?
DetailsAs functional medicine practitioners, we know that nutrition and lifestyle are among the most powerful levers for preventing and reversing all chronic disease, from cardiovascular disease and hypertension to cancer and type 2 diabetes. Yet we also see firsthand how challenging it can be for patients to translate recommendations into sustained daily practice. Deeply ingrained habits don’t shift overnight. In fact, a meta-analysis of 20 studies involving more than 2,600 participants found that health-related habits typically take 2–5 months to form, which is far longer than the popular “21-day” myth suggests.
DetailsDespite a dramatic rise in antidepressant use in the United States since 1988, the number of Americans suffering from depression has not decreased. This leaves clinicians with a stark reality: more medication, without improvement. This reality raises the central question that inspired the Healing Depression Project: Is depression truly treatment-resistant, or are current treatments simply not effective?
DetailsIn this practitioner spotlight, Dr. Darisa Espinal, naturopathic physician at Dr. Kara Fitzgerald’s New Frontiers Functional Medicine Clinic, shares her journey into functional medicine, the types of patients she supports, and how she integrates longevity medicine and root-cause care to help patients achieve optimal health and vitality. Dr. Espinal, can you share your path to becoming a functional medicine doctor and how your training shaped your approach to patient care?
DetailsOsteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating, chronic joint disease affecting about 33 million adults in the United States. As the aging population grows and obesity rates climb, this number is expected to surge. By 2030, nearly 67 million Americans will be living with arthritis, with OA being the most prevalent form. OA is not just a condition of the joints – it’s a systemic burden that increases the risk of serious comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression, significantly impairing quality of life and increasing healthcare costs.
DetailsLet’s be honest, the term “longevity medicine” has gotten a bit of a reputation lately. For many of us in functional medicine, it can feel like the exclusive domain of elite biohackers or billionaires chasing the next shiny object. I hear it from practitioners all the time: “Longevity isn’t for me. It’s all hype, no science.” Or “It feels disconnected from the work I do every day with real patients.” But I’m here to tell you that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, I would argue that Functional Medicine Is Longevity Medicine. Always has been. This is exactly why I created the Functional Medicine IS Longevity Medicine Masterclass: For Clinicians, happening live, virtually, and for free, September 17–19, 2025. Because it’s time we reframe the narrative and take our seat at the table. Or better yet, remind folks that we built the table.
DetailsWith thanks to Romilly Hodges, CNS, for her contributions to this article. I’m not here to fan the flames of controversy, but I do believe in asking smart, systems-oriented questions—especially when we’re talking about chemicals that may be added to something as essential as drinking water. Fluoride is one of those topics that sits right…
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Dr. Fitzgerald is an internationally-recognized expert clinician, as well as nationally-bestselling author, who is actively engaged in clinical research on epigenetics and longevity using a diet and lifestyle intervention developed in her research and practice.
She has published two clinical studies on the potential bioage-reversing effects of an 8-week DNA methylation-supportive diet and lifestyle in middle-aged men and women in the journal Aging. She continues to lead the conversation around interventions for healthy aging and their extensive potential in improving individual and population level disease burdens, while also providing evidence-based and practical advice that cuts through the hype.
Dr. Fitzgerald is on faculty at the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), is an IFM Certified Practitioner, and lectures globally on functional medicine, longevity, and epigenetics to practitioners and consumers.
She maintains an award-nominated podcast series ranked in the top 1% of global podcasts by Listen Score, New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, and an active blog and Clinic Immersion webinar series through her website, www.drkarafitzgerald.com.
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