Alexandra Catrickes PhD

While completing my Ph.D. at Yale University, I went from a being a healthy, athletic individual to someone who was physically disabled. I developed neuropathy and muscle spasms. During that time, I went through 4 elbow surgeries. This led to claw hand deformity, a condition where blocked nerves cause so much muscle loss that one can't move the fingers at all. A former athlete and avid cross-country runner, I had to take the disabilities shuttle to go even a few blocks on campus.  I also started to have cognitive issues from reactive hypoglycemia and severe blood sugar drops. Through a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® approach, I discovered that mold, my lifelong vegetarian diet, and failed medical interventions were major contributors to my health problems. I changed every aspect of my home, lifestyle, mentality, and nutrition and regained physical strength and mobility. I worked with an FDN practitioner (Ryan Monahan) and then became a practitioner myself so others will not have to suffer as badly as I did. I am also a Certified Functional Medicine Health Consultant (Kharrazian Institute), a board-certified Holistic Health Practitioner, and I am Dr. Goodenowe Certified. I work with many diverse cases, but I have a special passion for brain wellness.

After helping myself, I helped my mother with Alzheimer’s restore cognitive function, and beat a resistant MRSA infection inside her prosthetic knee. Using functional lab work, intensive research, lifestyle changes, and bio-hacking, we were able to avoid an amputation after 4 surgeries did not work. 

For those dealing with neurodegenerative disease, I want everyone to know that it is possible to keep your loved one out of facility and improve their cognitive function and quality of life. I know firsthand the exhaustion and isolation that neurodegenerative diseases bring upon families. My goal is to identify healing opportunities through functional lab work and restore the body to optimal function without having to “diagnose” or “treat”.