Traumatic brain injury affects approximately 30 percent of all injury-related deaths annually in the United States, and survivors frequently carry lasting deficits in memory, cognition, emotional regulation, and sensory processing. For clinicians working in physical medicine, neurology, rehabilitation, and sports medicine, the question is no longer whether nutrition influences neurological recovery. The question is which metabolic strategies have enough mechanistic and clinical evidence to guide informed practice. This course directly addresses that question through the lens of ketone metabolism and its neuroprotective potential.

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Ketones and TBI: A Clinical Primer provides a rigorous, research-anchored exploration of ketone body physiology and its application to brain injury recovery. The course begins with foundational metabolic science, including the 4S Model of macronutrients, metabolic flexibility, and the fuel selection dynamics of the brain under both healthy and injured conditions. From there, clinicians advance through ketone metabolism in muscle, liver, and neural tissue, the three primary ketone bodies and their distinct clinical relevance, and a detailed comparison of exogenous ketone salts versus esters. The course then applies this framework directly to TBI, examining the post-injury energy crisis, neuroinflammation, and the emerging human and animal data supporting ketogenic interventions. Practical implementation guidance covers ketogenic diet structure, electrolyte management, common clinical pitfalls, and a decision framework built around protecting patient safety while pursuing meaningful outcomes.

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This course is designed for licensed clinicians who already bring a strong foundation in neurophysiology or rehabilitation science and who are ready to integrate metabolic neuroscience into their clinical reasoning. Physical therapists, chiropractors, neurologists, sports medicine physicians, athletic trainers, and allied health professionals with TBI or concussion caseloads will find this material immediately relevant.

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Dr. Mike Nelson holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Minnesota, where his doctoral dissertation focused on metabolic flexibility. He holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering with a biomechanics emphasis, is a Certified Sports Nutritionist (CISSN), and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He has presented to DARPA on metabolic flexibility, serves as a peer reviewer for research journals, and is an Associate Professor at the Carrick Institute for Clinical Neuroscience. His work sits at the intersection of applied physiology and clinical practice, and his teaching reflects both depth and precision.