Rebuilding the Brain, One Membrane at a Time
- Martha Carlin
- May 8
- 5 min read
If you’ve been told that your brain—or a loved one’s—is on a one-way path of decline, especially in conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, this message is for you. One of the most profound truths to emerge from recent science is this: your brain is not fixed. It is designed to adapt, to repair, and to regrow. As Dr. Dayan Goodenowe says in his powerful lecture, "Your brain will be a different brain five years from now."
This statement stands in stark contrast to the message many patients with neurodegenerative diseases receive: that their condition will only worsen. Goodenowe’s work reminds us that decline is not inevitable, and restoration is not out of reach.
The Promise of Plasmalogens
Dr. Goodenowe is a biochemist and biotech entrepreneur who developed a revolutionary diagnostic and therapeutic platform based on the role of plasmalogens—a class of phospholipids essential for membrane structure and function, especially in the brain, heart, and mitochondria. These lipids aren't just structural—they are functional antioxidants, first responders to oxidative stress, and crucial to membrane fusion, neurotransmitter release, and mitochondrial signaling.
His proprietary diagnostic platform, the Prodrome Scan, can identify deficiencies in plasmalogens years before neurodegenerative symptoms appear. And more importantly, his therapeutic approach includes plasmalogen precursors that can restore levels and functionally reverse cognitive decline in some individuals.
But Dr. Goodenowe makes it clear: this is not a miracle pill. It’s not about removing a single toxin or treating a single disease. It’s about restoring the terrain—supporting the body’s inherent ability to rebuild.
"We focus too much on removing negatives, thinking that’s enough to get a positive. But you have to addpositives back in."
This philosophy echoes another important voice in membrane science: Dr. Garth Nicolson, the originator of Lipid Replacement Therapy (LRT®). Nicolson’s research over decades has shown that replenishing the damaged phospholipids in mitochondrial and cellular membranes with purified, unoxidized versions can restore energy production, reduce fatigue, and support neurocognitive health.
Both researchers arrived at the same truth from different angles: restoring membrane function is foundational to restoring health.
Detox: A Double-Edged Sword
One of the most crucial warnings in Dr. Goodenowe’s talk concerns the popular but often misunderstood topic of detoxification. People with complex chronic illness often accumulate toxins like heavy metals, mycotoxins, and environmental pollutants. However, detox—especially chelation—requires care.
As he explains, detoxing without first restoring cellular health is like setting fire to a house while trying to renovate it. You risk pulling out essential nutrients or overburdening already compromised systems. The wrong type or timing of detox can damage the kidneys, exacerbate neurological symptoms, or lead to immune collapse.
“The issue isn’t removing the negative. It’s about whether your body is strong enough to rebuild after the injury.”
Dr. Goodenowe emphasizes that detoxification pathways—including glutathione metabolism, methylation, and cellular efflux—depend on the health of the cell membrane, mitochondrial integrity, and nutrient sufficiency. That’s why protocols should always be personalized and guided by a practitioner who understands both terrain restoration and biochemical individuality.
From our personal experience, we had John's heavy metals tested multiple times during his journey with Parkinson’s. Mercury was a clear issue and we worked with a naturopath between 2007 and 2009 to address it—with good results. Lead, on the other hand, remained persistent. Detox is powerful medicine, but it must be approached with precision.
For more on this topic, see our BiotiQuest interview with Dr. Haroldo Magariños, who is now launching the DetoxU program.
COVID, the Microbiome, and Plasmalogen Collapse
What makes this conversation even more urgent is the emerging research on Bifidobacteria and their role in endogenous plasmalogen production. While plasmalogens are often discussed in terms of human biosynthesis, it is now known that certain beneficial gut microbes—including multiple species of Bifidobacteria—can produce plasmalogens or influence their availability.
A 2023 study by Morinaga Milk and collaborators demonstrated that supplementation with Bifidobacterium breve strain MCC1274 significantly improved cognitive function in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. This was linked not only to reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, but also to modulation of phospholipid metabolism—including increased plasmalogen levels.
The lone exception in the genus appears to be Bifidobacterium adolescentis, which may not produce plasmalogens, according to comparative genomic analysis. But most other species—especially those prominent in the infant and healthy adult gut—do.
Why does this matter? Because both SARS-CoV-2 infection and the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to profoundly deplete Bifidobacteria in the gut microbiome. Studies from China, Italy, and the U.S. all point to dramatic post-COVID microbiome alterations, with significant reductions in Bifidobacteria, Faecalibacterium, and Eubacterium—microbes critical to immune balance, gut-brain signaling, and metabolic resilience.
The loss of Bifidobacteria may therefore create a double hit: first, by increasing gut permeability and systemic inflammation; and second, by reducing plasmalogen synthesis and recycling. This could help explain the rise in cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, and neuroinflammation seen in long COVID and post-vaccine syndromes.
“You don’t acquire death. You lose life.” – Dr. Dayan Goodenowe
Parkinson’s, Membranes, and Microbial Collapse
For readers of Martha’s Quest, you know that Parkinson’s disease is not just a disease of dopamine. It is a systemic terrain disorder with mitochondrial dysfunction, microbiome collapse, membrane damage, and mineral depletion at its core.
Here’s how these pieces connect:
Parkinson’s patients have low plasmalogen levels. This has been confirmed in multiple studies, and it correlates with disease progression and symptom severity.
Parkinson’s patients also show profound depletion of Bifidobacteria, which may be driving plasmalogen deficiency from the gut side.
Mitochondrial membranes rich in plasmalogens are essential for ATP production and redox balance. Without them, neurons and glia can’t function.
COVID and environmental toxins (e.g., glyphosate, mercury, aluminum) act as terrain disruptors—killing beneficial microbes and impairing membrane function.
Together, this suggests that Parkinson’s could be approached not simply as a neurodegenerative disease, but as a multi-system membrane collapse disorder. And the path to recovery, while not simple, is increasingly clear: restore the membranes, restore the microbes, restore the mind.
The Light Within: A Note on Biophotons
Some researchers, like neurosurgeon Dr. Jack Kruse, have proposed that Bifidobacteria may also be major producers of biophotons—light particles emitted by living cells. Though this field is still emerging, there is intriguing evidence that light-based communication in biology is real, and that plasmalogens—due to their antioxidant and electromagnetic properties—may help conduct or store this light within cellular networks.
Whether metaphoric or literal, the idea that these molecules “carry the light” reinforces just how vital they are—not only for biochemical function, but perhaps for deeper layers of cellular intelligence.
Takeaway: Restoration Is Possible
Dr. Goodenowe, Dr. Nicolson, and the larger body of lipid biology are all pointing us in the same direction: repair the membrane, restore the function.
Plasmalogens are central to that restoration. But so is your practitioner, your diet, your gut flora, your sleep, your stress, and your hope. Because the most powerful medicine may be the belief that healing is possible.
You don’t need to wait for full-blown disease. You don’t need to wait for decline. You can start rebuilding your brain—and your body—today.
Resources and References
Goodenowe, D. (2023). Your Brain Will Be a Different Brain in 5 Years [Video]. YouTube link
Nat Niddam Podcast Interview with Dr. Dayan Goodenowe – Episode 289
Morinaga Milk Industry. (2023). Cognitive Function Improvement by Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274 in Elderly with MCI. DOI:10.3390/nu15010017
Sato, K. et al. (2021). COVID-19 impact on gut microbiome. Cell Reports Medicine, 2(3), 100187. doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100187
Nicolson, G. L. (2010). Lipid Replacement Therapy: a nutraceutical approach to reduce oxidative stress and restore mitochondrial function in chronic fatigue and age-related diseases. Pathophysiology, 17(2), 179-189.
Yamashita, S. et al. (2017). Plasmalogens and neurological disorders. Clinical Lipidology, 12(2), 179–189.
Wang, H. et al. (2022). Alterations in gut microbiota and low Bifidobacterium abundance in Parkinson's disease. npj Parkinson’s Disease, 8, 37.
BiotiQuest Interview: Dr. Haroldo Magariños on Detoxification and Mitochondrial Health
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