Understanding the Culprits of Neurologic Conditions: Lyme Disease, Infections, and Toxins.

These days we constantly hear information about inflammation. We hear how it causes all types of diseases and symptoms including weight gain, joint pain, fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms. We see natural products and diet plans flood our email inboxes and social media accounts on ways to reduce inflammation. Unfortunately, one thing we don’t hear about is where the current inflammation epidemic is the worst, our brains. We see the increased rates of dementia, cognitive changes, mood changes and other neurologic conditions but few are aware of the root cause, inflammation. All neurologic conditions can be traced back to an inflammatory origin, but testing and managing inflammation in the brain is nonexistent in conventional medicine. Uncovering the causes of inflammation in the brain are life changing, but rarely, if ever addressed. It is one of the greatest blunders of modern medicine.

What is Neuroinflammation?

Neuroinflammation is exactly what it sounds like. It is immune response in the brain and central nervous system that can lead to damaged brain cells and altered brain function. We see inflammation presenting in most kids and adults daily through mood change, memory decline, cognitive changes, fatigue, behavioral changes like ADHD and seizure activity, etc. But these symptoms of inflammation are rarely connected to root causes of immune triggers like infections and toxins.

What are the Causes of Neuroinflammation?

Neuroinflammation is the result of many different immune triggers. Often that immune response is triggered by the exposure of an infection, toxin, allergen or food. In my practice, some of the most common neuroinflammatory culprits, which research has also proven, are Lyme disease, viral infections, toxins and inflammatory dietary foods. These triggers alter the brains chemistry and function. In addition, our lifestyles which can perpetuate the inflammatory process. Highly processed inflammatory foods can add inflammation in the brain. Poor sleeping habits cause low oxygenation to the brain. Poor detoxification of our brain’s lymphatic system allows for waste accumulation and toxicity. Poor hydration and sedentary lifestyles result in poor circulation to the brain which will further reduce the oxygen and the detoxification of the waste of the brain. The list goes on.

What are the symptoms and diseases associated to Neuroinflammation?

Symptoms can vary significantly. Commonly, headaches, head pressure, brain fog, fatigue, memory changes, cognitive focus, depression, anxiety, irritability and neuropathy are clues that there are higher amounts of neuroinflammation than is normal. In children there are additional symptoms like behavioral changes, seizure activity, even bed wetting can be a sign of neuronal inflammation. 

Through clinical and research-based testing a many neurologic conditions have connected neuronal inflammation as its cause, including autoimmune diseases of the brain like multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's and dementia, most mood changes like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar, ADHD as well as inflammatory cascades like PANS and PANDAS.

Can it be fixed?

Unfortunately, western medicine is very poor at recognizing neuroinflammation, resulting in inadequately management often with psychotropic pharmaceutical medication like antidepressants, stimulants and mood stabilizers. And the worst part, very few even realizing reversing the inflammatory cascade is very possible. Those that do identify the cause, can resolve the inflammation, regenerate, recover and heal.

My Approach to Neuroinflammation

The most important thing you can do to fix neuroinflammation, is to identify the trigger and eliminate it with proper testing, which rarely used in the conventional medical model. While the root cause is identified and addressed, management of neural information can be done effectively with supplementation, diet and lifestyle. High doses of antioxidants, bioflavonoids, omega 3s, herbal formulations and nutrients specific to brain function, along with a quality nutritious diet and hydration help stabilize neuroinflammatory symptoms. Avoid compounding inflammation by reducing sugar and processed foods, and toxicants like alcohol and smoking. Adequate sleep for oxygenation and recovery. Addressing the infections and toxins can take time but play a significant role in the improvement and resolution of neuroinflammation. For those who have personally or known someone with neuroinflammation, it is important to realize that our current model of neurologic management is outdated and inadequate. There are tools to identify and treat the root causes of neuroinflammatory conditions and reverse the disease process.