In this episode of Root Causes, Vibrant Health, Elizabeth sits down with Dr. Robin Rose, a double board-certified gastroenterologist and internal medicine physician, to unpack one of the most complex—and controversial—topics in modern medicine: what’s really driving long COVID and the surge in chronic illness.

Together, they explore the emerging science behind persistent spike protein, immune dysregulation, and the profound impact on the gut-brain connection. Dr. Rose shares cutting-edge insights from her research, including how viral remnants may continue to affect the body long after infection—contributing to brain fog, chronic fatigue, microclotting, and even neurodegenerative changes.

This conversation goes far beyond surface-level explanations. You’ll learn:

• Why long COVID may be affecting far more people than we realize
• The role of the microbiome and bacteriophages in ongoing illness
• How microclots and vascular damage may be impairing oxygen delivery to the brain and organs
• The connection between spike protein, autoimmunity, and neurological symptoms
• Why conventional testing often misses the full picture
• Functional medicine strategies to support detoxification, immune resilience, and recovery

Dr. Rose also breaks down advanced testing methods, emerging treatment approaches—including gut-focused protocols, botanicals, peptides, and ozone therapies—and what clinicians and patients should be paying attention to now.

If you’ve felt “off” since COVID—or you’re seeing a rise in complex, hard-to-treat conditions in your practice—this episode offers a deeper framework for understanding what may be happening beneath the surface.

As always, we’re asking the bigger question:
What is the true root cause—and how do we restore vibrant health?

Mentioned in the episode:'

Vedicinals Spike Suppport

Dr. Robin Rose's Practice, Terrain Health

Dr. Robin Rose's Instagram

Tringali Vibrant Health Instagram

Visit Tringali Vibrant Health

Shop Tringali Vibrant Health

In this episode, Elizabeth Tringali sits down with Dr. Matt Kaeberlein, a leading aging researcher focused on the mechanisms that drive aging, including mTOR signaling and the drug rapamycin.

Matt breaks down what mTOR actually is (and why it matters), why longevity medicine requires evidence and comfort with uncertainty, and what we can realistically conclude from animal data vs. human data. You’ll hear a clear, science-first conversation on rapamycin: immune modulation vs. “immune suppression,” common side effects, why weekly dosing is different than transplant dosing, and what early findings suggest for APOE4 carriers, post-viral syndromes like long COVID, and chronic inflammation.

They also zoom out to the foundations Matt believes move the needle most: the four pillars he uses at OptiSpan (eat, move, sleep, connect), plus practical guidance on protein, fiber, CGMs, and why fear-based wellness marketing is a problem. Finally, Matt shares an update on the Dog Aging Project’s randomized rapamycin trial—one of the most fascinating real-world studies in the field—and what he expects the next 20 years of longevity medicine to look like.

Learn More about Dr. Matt Kaeberlein's research at Optispan.life

Learn More about the Dog Aging Project

Visit Tringali Vibrant Health

Shop the Tringali Vibrant Health Online Supplement Store

In this episode, Elizabeth Tringal, PA-Ci is joined by Dr. Leonard Pastrana and Dr. Frank Kacou, founders of NubioAge and NuHX, to go deep into what truly separates exceptional compounding pharmacies from the rest.

They break down how compounded therapies support personalization in ways conventional pharmaceuticals can’t, from micro-dosing GLP-1s to creating cleaner hormone formulas, mitochondrial peptides, and nasal therapies that dramatically improve absorption. The conversation dives into why testing standards matter, how pharmaceutical-grade vs food-grade ingredients change outcomes, and why waiting on backorders often means your pharmacy is doing things right.

A major focus is long COVID and the accelerated aging providers are seeing: brain fog, immune dysfunction, fatigue, kidney stress, and metabolic decline. Leonard and Frank explain why most protocols start with the gut, how spike protein may be hiding in the microbiome, and why mitochondrial repair is central to recovery. They discuss stacks involving peptides, methylene blue, NAD, tryptophan, butyrate, and gut-supportive compounds that clinicians are using right now.

You’ll also hear:

• Why nasal delivery can outperform oral dosing for certain therapies
• How methylene blue supports mitochondrial energy and cognitive clarity
• The difference between hydration and true cellular hydration
• What “mitochondrial flexibility” means and how it’s measured
• Why exercise tolerance is one of the strongest markers of brain recovery
• How dosing errors derail otherwise perfect protocols
• Why compounding allows medicine to meet the patient, not the other way around

This episode is a masterclass in how functional medicine, pharmacy, and longevity science intersect—and why compounding is not something to fear, but something to understand deeply and use intelligently.

Links:

• Nubioage: a longevity science and wellness education network serving medical practitioners and allied health professionals focused on delivering patient-centric, evidence-based longevity medicine.
• NuHX: Advanced, comprehensive metrics and health data analysis.

Products Mentioned:

• Icell Water
• Sytrinol LNA
• AKG
• Peptides at Tringali Vibrant Health

Tringali Vibrant Health Website

Tringali Vibrant Health Online Supplement Store