Student Mentee(s): Elizabeth Walker

The focus of Dr. Terry Wahls' research is the impact of diet and lifestyle on chronic disease with a particular focus on multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Her interest in using dietary and lifestyle interventions developed as a result of her own health challenges. She is also a patient with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, which confined her to a tilt-recline wheelchair for four years. Dr. Wahls restored her health using a diet and lifestyle program she designed specifically for her brain and now bikes to work each day. This has led to the development of a research program to understand the mechanisms that underlie her recovery. She collaborates with other researchers to investigate how diet and lifestyle changes impact gene expression, metabolomics and the microbiome.

Dr. Wahls also teaches the public about the benefits of a nutrient dense diet, stress reducing practices, and increasing physical activity. She conducts clinical trials that test the effect of nutrition and lifestyle interventions to treat MS and other progressive health problems. She teaches the public and medical community about the healing power of the Paleo diet and therapeutic lifestyle changes that restore health and vitality to our citizens.