Mary T. Newport, MD
Physician | Author | Researcher | International Speaker
Mary T. Newport, MD, is a physician, author, researcher, and international speaker whose personal journey with Alzheimer’s disease inspired a nearly two-decade mission to explore the therapeutic potential of ketones and alternative fuels for the brain.
When her husband, Steve, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 54 in 2004, Dr. Newport began searching for ways to slow his decline and improve his quality of life. Her investigation led her to emerging research showing that the Alzheimer’s brain often has difficulty using glucose for energy, even in the early stages of the disease. She became particularly interested in ketones, which can provide an alternative source of energy for brain cells.
In 2008, she introduced coconut oil and medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) into Steve’s diet, resulting in remarkable improvements in his cognition and daily functioning. In 2010, Steve became the first participant in a pilot study of a ketone ester developed by the late Richard L. Veech, MD, DPhil, and his colleagues at the National Institutes of Health. He experienced additional improvements and a prolonged period of relative stability, providing valuable time and improved quality of life for Steve and his family.
Mary and Steve Newport, December 2008, several months after Steve began taking coconut oil and MCT oil.
Mary and Steve Newport with three of Steve’s clock drawings, showing improvements in his clock-drawing performance after beginning coconut oil and MCT oil in 2008.
Although Steve passed away in 2016 after living with Alzheimer’s disease for 12 years, his experience inspired Dr. Newport to share their story with families worldwide and advocate for research into ketones as an alternative brain fuel. What began as one physician’s search to help her husband evolved into a broader mission to understand how alternative fuels might support brain energy metabolism and other essential cellular processes affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related neurological disorders.
Medical Background and Career
Dr. Newport graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1978. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and a fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina.
During her 30-year career in neonatology, she served as the founding medical director of two neonatal intensive care units in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. She subsequently worked in hospice for several years, then provided in-home health risk assessments, gaining additional experience caring for people with chronic and life-limiting conditions.
Her extensive medical background, combined with her personal experience caring for her husband, gave her a unique perspective on the challenges faced by families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and the importance of exploring practical, accessible approaches to improving quality of life.
Research, Writing, and International Speaking
Since 2008, Dr. Newport has devoted much of her time to investigating the therapeutic potential of ketones, coconut oil, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), and ketogenic nutrition for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological disorders.
She has authored four books, including Alzheimer’s Disease: What If There Was a Cure? The Story of Ketones, now in its third edition, and Clearly Keto for Healthy Brain Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention. Her books combine scientific research, practical nutritional information, and her family’s personal experience to help readers understand the potential role of ketones in brain health.
Dr. Newport has also authored and coauthored peer-reviewed scientific publications addressing ketogenic approaches to Alzheimer’s disease, ketone ester supplementation, and the effects of coconut oil and dietary fats on blood lipids. She has collaborated with scientists and clinicians investigating ketone metabolism and its potential therapeutic applications.
An international speaker, she has presented at scientific conferences, medical meetings, and public educational events throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. She has also participated in numerous podcasts, documentaries, and interviews to increase awareness of brain glucose hypometabolism and the potential of alternative fuels to support brain function.
Her scientific interests have expanded beyond ketones as an alternative energy source to include their potential effects on acetyl-CoA availability and the many cellular processes dependent on this essential metabolic intermediate, including neurotransmitter synthesis, lipid metabolism, and protein acetylation.
Current Work and Mission
Dr. Newport continues to investigate the potential of ketones and other alternative fuels to address impaired brain energy metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease and related neurological disorders. Her current scientific interests focus particularly on the role of acetyl-CoA, a central metabolic molecule essential not only for energy production but also for neurotransmitter synthesis, lipid and cholesterol metabolism, myelin maintenance, and the regulation of gene expression through protein acetylation.
A major focus of Dr. Newport’s current work is advancing the development of ketone-based medical foods for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders associated with brain glucose hypometabolism. She believes that providing the brain with alternative sources of fuel could offer a practical nutritional approach for people who may be unable or unwilling to follow a ketogenic diet. Her goal is to help bring scientifically validated, accessible medical foods to people who could benefit from them, while advocating for the clinical research and regulatory pathways needed to make these products available for use under medical supervision.
Drawing on her experience as both a physician and a family caregiver, Dr. Newport continues to advocate for rigorous clinical research, greater awareness of brain glucose hypometabolism, and broader consideration of metabolic approaches to neurological health.
Her ultimate goal is to help bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and meaningful improvements in the lives of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and their families.
Peer-Reviewed Scientific Publications
Dr. Newport has authored and coauthored peer-reviewed scientific articles examining ketone metabolism, ketogenic approaches to Alzheimer’s disease, and the effects of coconut oil and other dietary fats on cardiovascular risk factors. Her publications reflect her commitment to advancing scientific understanding of alternative brain fuels and their potential applications in neurological health.
View Peer-Reviewed Scientific Articles by Dr. Mary Newport →
Books by Dr. Mary T. Newport
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