I’ve introduced a new disease model to the medical and scientific communities that centers on a simple but serious idea. Ultra-processed food acts like a neurotoxin, and over time, it can trigger a form of brain dysfunction I call Carbohydrate Associated Reversible Brain syndrome, or CARB syndrome.
This concept builds on an older disease model called Affective Spectrum Disorder (ASD), first described over 20 years ago by Harvard researchers Dr. Harrison “Skip” Pope and Dr. James Hudson. They believed ASD might be the most common medical condition in developed societies. I share that view.
There is a big problem, though. For reasons that still are not clear, the ASD concept never caught on in mainstream medicine or science.
What Does AI Know About CARB Syndrome?
Given all the attention on artificial intelligence, you might assume that AI would know something about CARB syndrome by now. We’ve poured billions of dollars into AI, and it now affects almost every part of modern life. Many people think AI has access to all the world’s knowledge.
So, I asked an AI system about “carb syndrome” and here is what I got back:
“Carb syndrome can refer to a few different conditions, most commonly carb intolerance, metabolic syndrome related to high carbohydrate intake, or the emotional-eating-related carbohydrate craving syndrome. Carb intolerance involves digestive issues like bloating and diarrhea, while carbohydrate craving syndrome is a psychological condition driven by mood changes. High carbohydrate intake, particularly from starchy foods, is linked to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome.”
Why AI Misses CARB Syndrome
There is a simple reason AI missed the mark. AI systems repeat and remix what is already widely known and accepted. They depend on large amounts of existing data that have spread across journals, books, websites, and media.
AI does not do well with fresh empirical observations that come from watching real people over time and then connecting the dots. That kind of pattern recognition still belongs to human beings.
Hudson and Pope used careful clinical observation to describe ASD. I followed a similar path and extended their work into the CARB syndrome model. This type of slow, real-world research is not what AI is built to do.
That gap matters. CARB syndrome is quietly wrecking the health of a huge number of people in developed societies. Yet most experts have missed the diagnosis. Since AI only repeats information that has reached a certain level of visibility, it also ignores CARB syndrome and ASD for now.
I am working to change that, but shifting this kind of inertia is a heavy lift for one person.
Why You Should Not Wait For AI To Catch Up
Could Hudson, Pope, and I be wrong? Of course. Any scientific theory can turn out to be off base.
There is one sticking point, though. The CARB syndrome model offers a clear, unified explanation for our twin epidemics of obesity and common brain-related disorders. To my knowledge, no other theory ties these problems together as well.
If someone can convincingly show that CARB syndrome is false, I will gladly step away and focus on something else. That has not happened.
If you are curious, look at the 22 symptoms of CARB syndrome and see how many you recognize in yourself or people close to you. I am finishing a book about CARB syndrome titled “Brain Saver”. When it comes out, I think you may find it eye-opening.
If you want to learn more or ask questions about CARB syndrome, you can visit my website. There you will find detailed information, background, and practical guidance.
The most important point is this: CARB syndrome is both preventable and reversible. You do not need to wait for AI or for the medical establishment to catch up before you start protecting your brain and your health.
