Understanding Cellular Energy and ALS: Why Motor Neurons Are Starving

When most people think about ALS, they think about muscle weakness, loss of movement, and progressive decline.

What they don't think about is what's happening at the cellular level - the energy crisis that's slowly shutting down your motor neurons.

Understanding this energy crisis changes everything about how we approach supporting the body during ALS.

This is the insight that led Dr. Vincent Tedone to create the Deanna Protocol - and it's the reason thousands of ALS warriors around the world have found hope in a metabolic approach.

The Question That Started Everything

When Dr. Tedone's daughter Deanna was diagnosed with ALS, he did what any father would do: he researched obsessively.

But as a retired orthopedic surgeon with decades of medical training, Dr. Tedone approached the research differently than most.

He wasn't just looking at symptom management. He was looking at root causes.

And he asked a question that would change everything:

"What if motor neurons aren't dying because they're fundamentally broken... but because they're starving for energy?"

This shift in perspective - from "Why are they dying?" to "What do they need to survive?" - led to a completely different approach to ALS support.

What Are Motor Neurons and Why Do They Need So Much Energy?

Before we dive into the energy crisis, let's understand what we're dealing with.

Motor neurons are specialized nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement. They're the connection between your brain and your muscles.

When you decide to pick up a cup, motor neurons carry that signal from your brain down through your spinal cord to the muscles in your arm and hand.

Here's what makes them special - and vulnerable:

1. They're incredibly long
   Some motor neurons stretch from your spinal cord all the way down to your feet - over three feet long in some cases. That's enormous for a single cell.
2. They're constantly active
   Unlike many cells that can rest, motor neurons are constantly firing, constantly maintaining muscle tone, constantly working.
3. They have massive energy demands
   Because of their size and constant activity, motor neurons require enormous amounts of cellular energy (ATP) to function properly.

To put it in perspective: Motor neurons are among the most energy-demanding cells in your entire body.

They're like high-performance sports cars that require premium fuel and constant maintenance.

When that fuel supply is disrupted, they start to fail.

The Energy Production System: Your Cellular "Engine"

To understand why motor neurons starve in ALS, you need to understand how cells produce energy.

Enter the Krebs Cycle (also called the citric acid cycle or TCA cycle).

Think of the Krebs cycle as the engine inside every cell in your body. It's the metabolic pathway that converts the food you eat into ATP - the molecule your cells use as energy currency.

Here's the simplified version of how it works:

1. Step 1: You eat food (carbohydrates, fats, proteins)
2. Step 2: Your digestive system breaks that food down into smaller molecules
3. Step 3: Those molecules enter your cells' mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell)
4. Step 4: Inside the mitochondria, the Krebs cycle takes those molecules and, through a series of chemical reactions, produces ATP
5. Step 5: ATP powers everything your cells do - movement, signaling, repair, survival

The Krebs cycle is literally what keeps your cells alive.

When this cycle is functioning optimally, your motor neurons get the energy they need. They fire properly. They control your muscles. They stay healthy.

But when the Krebs cycle is compromised, everything breaks down.

What Happens in ALS: The Energy Crisis

In ALS, something goes wrong with motor neuron energy production.

The exact mechanisms are still being researched, but what we know is this:

Motor neurons in ALS patients show signs of severe metabolic dysfunction.

Research has shown:

• Impaired mitochondrial function
• Reduced ATP production
• Increased oxidative stress
• Disrupted Krebs cycle activity
• Energy depletion in motor neurons

It's like trying to run a high-performance engine on empty.

The motor neurons are still trying to do their job - controlling your muscles, maintaining tone, firing constantly.

But they don't have the fuel they need.

So they start to fail. And eventually, they die.

This is why ALS causes:

• Muscle weakness (neurons can't maintain proper signaling)
• Fasciculations/twitching (neurons are firing erratically due to stress)
• Fatigue (the whole system is energy-depleted)
• Progressive loss of function (neurons eventually die from energy starvation)

The symptoms we see on the outside are reflections of the energy crisis happening inside the cells.

The Metabolic Approach: Feeding the Krebs Cycle

This is where Dr. Tedone's insight became revolutionary.

If motor neurons are dying from energy starvation, what if we could feed them?

Not with generic "energy supplements" (which are usually just caffeine and B-vitamins).

But with specific molecules that directly support the Krebs cycle itself.

Dr. Tedone identified two key compounds:

1. Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG)

This is where it gets interesting.

Alpha-ketoglutarate isn't just something that supports the Krebs cycle.

It's literally a molecule IN the Krebs cycle itself.

The Krebs cycle is a series of chemical reactions, and AKG is one of the key intermediate compounds in that series.

By supplementing with AKG, you're providing:

• Direct substrate for energy production
• Support for the metabolic pathway that's compromised in ALS
• The raw material motor neurons need to produce ATP

Think of it like this:

If the Krebs cycle is an assembly line producing energy, and one part of that assembly line is broken or slow, providing AKG is like adding more workers to that specific station.

You're not trying to fix the underlying disease. You're supporting the energy production pathway so neurons can function better with what they have.

In the Deanna Protocol, AKG is delivered as AAKG (Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate).

The arginine is added because:

• It makes AKG easier on the digestive system
• It may provide additional support for nitric oxide production (which supports circulation)
• It improves absorption and bioavailability

2. GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

GABA plays a different but equally important role.

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter - it helps regulate and calm neural activity.

In ALS, there's evidence of something called "excitotoxicity" - when neurons are overstimulated and essentially exhaust themselves to death.

GABA helps by:

• Reducing excitotoxicity (protecting neurons from overstimulation)
• Supporting proper neural signaling
• Helping regulate the balance between excitation and inhibition in the nervous system

An important note about GABA and the blood-brain barrier:

Some research suggests GABA doesn't easily cross the blood-brain barrier in healthy individuals.

However, in neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, the blood-brain barrier is compromised.

This means GABA can reach the areas where it's needed - the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord.

The Protocol: Proprietary Ratios Based on Research

Here's what matters: It's not just about taking AKG and GABA separately.

Dr. Tedone spent years researching and testing different ratios, doses, and delivery methods.

The Deanna Protocol uses a proprietary ratio of these compounds that's been:

• Tested in real-world use by thousands of ALS warriors
• Studied in published research
• Refined based on feedback and outcomes
• Endorsed by leading metabolic researchers

The specific ratios matter because:

• Too little won't provide adequate metabolic support
• Too much of one compound relative to another can throw off the balance
• The compounds work synergistically - together, they're more effective than separately

This is why you can't just buy generic AKG and GABA separately and expect the same results.

The Protocol's formulation is the result of years of research specifically focused on supporting motor neuron metabolism.

What the Research Shows

The Deanna Protocol isn't just based on theory. There's real research backing the metabolic approach:

Published Studies:

• Research published in peer-reviewed journals on the metabolic approach to ALS
• Studies conducted at the University of South Florida and University of Central Florida
• Ongoing research with leading metabolic scientists

Real-World Outcomes:

• 73% of users report reduced muscle twitching and fasciculations
• 53% report increased energy levels
• 80% stay on Protocol for 6+ months (showing sustained benefit)
• 82% would recommend the Protocol to other ALS warriors

Researcher Endorsements:

• Dr. Dominic D'Agostino (leading metabolic researcher at USF)
• Dr. James J. Hickman (biomedical science expert)
• Dr. Csilla Ari (neuroscientist)
• Multiple other researchers studying metabolic approaches to neurodegeneration

This isn't fringe science. This is cutting-edge metabolic research applied to ALS.

What the Protocol Does (and Doesn't Do)

Let's be crystal clear about expectations:

❌ What the Protocol Does NOT Do:

• Cure ALS
• Reverse all damage
• Stop progression entirely
• Work the same for everyone
• Replace medical care

✅ What the Protocol DOES Do:

• Provides direct metabolic support to energy-starved motor neurons
• Supports the Krebs cycle with key substrates
• May help users maintain motor function longer
• Helps reduce fasciculations and muscle twitching in the majority of users
• Supports energy levels and quality of life
• Works alongside medical care (not instead of it)
• Gives hope backed by science

The Protocol isn't magic. It's metabolic support.

But for many ALS warriors, that support makes a real, measurable difference in their daily lives.

Understanding the Timeline

One of the most common questions: "How long before I see results?"

The honest answer: It varies.

Some warriors report changes within:

• 2-4 weeks: Reduced fasciculations and twitching
• 4-8 weeks: Improved energy and stamina
• 8-12 weeks: Better maintained motor function
• 3-6 months: More stable progression

But everyone's ALS is different:

• Progression rate varies
• Onset location matters (bulbar vs. limb onset)
• Stage of disease affects response
• Individual metabolism plays a role

The key is consistency.

The Protocol works by providing sustained metabolic support. Missing doses or stopping and starting reduces effectiveness.

Think of it like charging a battery - you need consistent input to maintain charge.

The Bigger Picture: Why Metabolic Approaches Matter

The Deanna Protocol represents something bigger than just one supplement formula.

It represents a shift in how we think about neurodegenerative disease.

Instead of only asking "What's attacking the neurons?" we also ask "What do the neurons need to survive?"

Instead of only looking at immune system dysfunction or genetic factors, we also look at cellular metabolism and energy production.

This metabolic approach is gaining momentum in ALS research:

• Major universities are studying metabolic interventions
• Ketogenic diets are being researched for ALS
• Energy metabolism is recognized as a key factor in neurodegeneration
• More researchers are exploring ways to support mitochondrial function

The Deanna Protocol was ahead of this curve.

Dr. Tedone was asking the metabolic questions years before it became mainstream in ALS research.

What This Means for You

If you're fighting ALS - or supporting someone who is - understanding the energy crisis in your motor neurons changes how you approach the fight.

It means:

1. Cellular health matters
   Supporting your mitochondria and Krebs cycle isn't optional - it's fundamental.
2. Metabolic support is legitimate
   This isn't "alternative medicine" - it's backed by real science and real outcomes.
3. You have options beyond "wait and see"
   While medical research searches for cures, you can support your neurons today.
4. Hope is backed by biochemistry
   This isn't false hope or wishful thinking. It's rational, science-based support for struggling neurons.

Starting the Protocol

If you're considering the Deanna Protocol, here's what you should know:

1. Talk to your doctor
   The Protocol uses naturally-occurring compounds, but you should always discuss new supplements with your medical team.
2. Start with realistic expectations
   This supports cellular metabolism. It doesn't cure ALS. Go in with eyes open.
3. Commit to consistency
   The Protocol works through sustained metabolic support. Give it at least 8-12 weeks of consistent use.
4. Connect with the community
   You're not alone. Thousands of warriors are on Protocol. Their experiences can guide you.
5. Track your function
   Pay attention to fasciculations, energy levels, motor function. Many warriors keep journals to track changes.

The Bottom Line

Motor neurons in ALS are starving for energy.

The Krebs cycle - your cellular engine - is compromised.

ATP production drops. Neurons struggle. Function declines.

The Deanna Protocol provides direct metabolic support:

• Alpha-ketoglutarate feeds the Krebs cycle
• GABA helps protect against excitotoxicity
• Together, they support motor neuron survival and function

This isn't a cure. But it's hope backed by biochemistry.

It's a father's determination to save his daughter, refined into a scientifically-supported protocol that's helping thousands of warriors fight back.

Your neurons are fighting to survive.

The Protocol gives them the fuel they need to keep fighting.