Extend Podcast with Dr. Darshan Shah, MD

Episode 136: Dr. Goodenowe – Plasmalogens and the Hidden Science of Longevity
Released: February 5, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the groundbreaking science of plasmalogens—critical but overlooked molecules essential to cellular health, longevity, brain function, and resilience against chronic disease. Dr. Darshan Shah interviews Dr. Dayan Goodenowe, a neuroscientist, biochemist, and synthetic organic chemist whose research on prodromal biochemical changes has led to pivotal innovations in health diagnostics and the restoration of these key molecules. The conversation explores the foundational role of plasmalogens, the early detection and reversal of disease, advanced MRI technology for brain aging, measurable healthspan extension, and the critical intersection of biochemistry, purpose, and mental health for true longevity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Overlooked Cellular Membrane and Plasmalogens

Timestamps: 03:00 – 11:00

• Cellular membrane integrity: Most physicians underappreciate the bilipid (lipid bilayer) layer's impact on cellular health and disease.
• Dr. Goodenowe describes his scientific journey, bridging basic neurochemistry, biochemistry, and practical medicine, culminating in the discovery of plasmalogens as crucial molecules.
• Plasmalogens are essential phospholipids, structurally core to cellular membranes of the brain, heart, and other organs—comprising up to 20–30% of the brain's lipid content.

"We're not dealing with some trace level molecule. It's on the same playing ground as cholesterol."
– Dr. Goodenowe (20:50)

2. Plasmalogens: Causation vs Association in Disease

Timestamps: 11:00 – 18:50

• The episode traces how mass spectrometry allowed detection of prodromal biochemical changes decades before overt disease.
• Longitudinal studies at Rush University demonstrated that low plasmalogen levels can predict future onset of dementia, not just correlate with existing disease.
• Cancer recurrence, all-cause mortality, and cognitive decline all show early reductions in plasmalogens, often unaffected or worsened by standard treatments like surgery and chemotherapy.

"We’re actually measuring people that will get future disease. ... We’re not actually measuring a puncture wound; we’re measuring a bald tire."
– Dr. Goodenowe (13:45)

• Dr. Shah reframes this: health is lost over time; disease is essentially late-stage loss of health.

"You don't just get a disease, you lose health."
– Dr. Goodenowe (15:54)

3. Plasmalogens' Critical Role and Restoration

Timestamps: 18:50 – 29:30

• Plasmalogens peak in midlife (40s/50s) and decline with age and illness.
• Traditional belief held that plasmalogen levels were unmodifiable; Dr. Goodenowe developed plasmaogen precursors in 2006 to restore levels and enable true intervention—and causality testing—in animal and human studies.
• This allowed direct prevention of neurodegeneration in models of Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Precursor supplementation protected against toxin-induced brain diseases.

"If we give them the plasmaogens, the toxin doesn't cause any Parkinson's. ... We can completely prevent Parkinson's."
– Dr. Goodenowe (25:28)

• Restoration of plasmalogens in humans has reversed neurological damage, with case examples including MS patients regaining sight after years of blindness.

4. Quantitative Diagnostics: New MRI and Brain Health Measurement

Timestamps: 29:30 – 36:00

• Advanced MRI and proprietary software can now measure cortical thickness, white matter microstructure, and brain inflammation with high precision.
• Quantitative “brain scans” allow longitudinal tracking, enabling targeted interventions (including plasmalogens), and the "reversal" of brain aging.

"If your brain can restore its function, it actually restores the thickness of that layer."
– Dr. Goodenowe (29:15)

• Dr. Goodenowe shares his own story of reversing childhood concussion-induced cortical thinning using these protocols.

• These MRIs are available to the public through their clinics and partner network.

"You can actually test, score the functionality of your brain ... then do something about it."
– Dr. Shah (36:29)

5. Beyond Molecules: The "Three M's" of Longevity

Timestamps: 39:45 – 43:15

• Dr. Goodenowe emphasizes that longevity is not just molecular—it's functional and purpose-driven.
• The “Three M’s” of a life worth living:
  • Mental acuity
  • Mobility
  • Mood/Purpose

"Function is the only thing that matters ... You want to think, be able to move, and want to get up in the morning. If you have those three things, you're going to be fine."
– Dr. Goodenowe (40:48)

• Maintaining purpose is biochemically and socially necessary for ongoing vitality; retirement and withdrawal threaten health.

6. Biochemistry and Brain Inflammation—The Glia Conversation

Timestamps: 47:57 – 54:08

• The episode closes the loop on microglia, plasmogens, and brain inflammation.
• Plasmalogen depletion exacerbates microglial activation (chronic brain inflammation), observed in autism, MS, Parkinson's, and dementia.
• New MRI-based techniques can quantify inflammation by measuring water types and microstructure—enabling both diagnosis and tracking of intervention results.

"Whenever the brain is sick, it's going to be inflamed ... chronic neural inflammation ... doesn't matter the disease."
– Dr. Goodenowe (48:57)

• Prodrome testing ("Bioscan") can track multiple blood markers relevant to brain, muscle, cardiovascular, and mitochondrial health.

7. Real-World Access: Blood Tests, Programs, and Clinical Infrastructure

Timestamps: 54:08 – 62:00

• Dr. Goodenowe’s companies (Prodrome Science, Perpetual Health Group) offer:
  • Advanced multi-omic blood “Bioscan” tests (measuring plasmalogens, phosphatidylcholine, ceramides, mitochondrial markers, and more)
  • Doctor networks and patient programs for both DIYers and those seeking guided care
  • Centralized biobanking for longitudinal tracking and future technology integration
  • Access to clinical trials and continuous protocol refinement

"My goal ... is to create this consolidated system ... all our doctors, 3,000...tracking of individual's health ... everything we make available to doctors, we use ourselves."
– Dr. Goodenowe (60:16)

8. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Function Over Age:
  "The real goal is to forget your age. Can I do the things I need to do?"
  – Dr. Goodenowe (40:35)

• On Brain Adaptability:
  "The resilience of the human body, and the human brain, is quite remarkable ... It can grow younger."
  – Dr. Goodenowe (39:14)

• On Purpose and Aging:
  "Retirement is basically putting a timestamp on your death ... you should be thinking about your next career."
  – Dr. Goodenowe (41:16)

• On Children and Plasmalogens:
  "There’s nothing more exciting because these children ... when they start interacting with their parents ... their sense of humor comes out ... the world becomes fun for them."
  – Dr. Goodenowe (44:53)

Important Segments and Timestamps

• Plasmalogen discovery & disease association – 10:30–13:50
• Causal research in Alzheimer’s & Cancer – 12:03–15:01
• Concept of "losing health," not "getting disease" – 15:23–17:30
• Plasmalogen precursor invention & impact – 22:13–25:28
• Advanced MRI brain rejuvenation, Dr. Goodenowe’s case – 28:36–31:08
• The “Three M’s” of vitality – 40:42–41:39
• Microglia, inflammation, and advanced MRI – 48:02–51:28
• Bioscan and blood biomarkers – 53:06–56:36
• Real-world implementation: clinics, networks, and trials – 59:36–62:46

Notable Quotes with Attribution

• "We're all kind of kids in a new toy store. ... The medical doctors are coming in—oh, I had no idea. ... And then I'm on the other side saying, this is great. We actually have case studies, we can do case series."
  – Dr. Goodenowe (06:33)

• "You don't actually die. You lose life ... There's either life or lack of life."
  – Dr. Goodenowe (16:09)

• "This changes the whole world, because now—stop chasing disease, let's create health."
  – Dr. Goodenowe (17:20)

• "[Plasmalogens] are critical drivers of your reverse cholesterol transport ... high levels in your heart, kidneys. ... Not some trace level molecule."
  – Dr. Goodenowe (20:50)

• "We made [muscle water], and over four to six weeks, I gained eight pounds of muscle ... and lost five pounds of fat."
  – Dr. Goodenowe (38:53)

• "Never retire. Retirement is basically putting a timestamp on your death ... When you're 85, you should be thinking about your next career."
  – Dr. Goodenowe (41:14)

• "If you don't have a purpose, make one up! That's the biggest challenge as we get older."
  – Dr. Goodenowe (42:38)

Resources, Tests & Where to Learn More

• drgoodenowe.com – Dr. Goodenowe’s education, programs, and clinical resources
• prodrome.com – Advanced biomarkers, supplement store, physician network
• Bioscan blood test – Multi-omic, doctor-accessible comprehensive health biomarker panel
• Perpetual Health Group – In-patient and advanced healthspan restoration programs

Closing Summary

This episode underscores a seismic shift in preventive medicine: from chasing diseases reactively to quantifying—then restoring—cellular biochemistry before symptoms even emerge. Plasmalogens are revealed as foundational molecules whose decline quietly precedes, and may even cause, the ravages of aging, neurodegeneration, and chronic disease. Dr. Goodenowe’s work offers practical hope—not only through novel blood and MRI diagnostics, but by providing scalable, measurable interventions rooted in the restoration of health at a cellular level. Yet, as emphasized throughout, the true extension of healthspan depends on both biochemistry and the purposeful, joyous pursuit of life’s "three M’s": mental sharpness, mobility, and meaning.

This summary covers all scientific, clinical, and practical insights from the episode. Ads and disclaimers have been removed for clarity and focus on content.