When you think of inflammation you’re likely to think of joint pain, like a sprained ankle, or arthritis. But did you know your brain can become inflamed too?

The problem is an inflamed brain won’t hurt. The inflammation will show up in other ways, including, brain fog, slow thinking, fatigue, and depression.

Brain fog is a hallmark symptom of brain inflammation. Inflammation slows communication between neurons, which causes you to feel foggy, dull, and slow.This is serious because it means nerve cells in the brain are dying - brain inflammation is causing your brain to atrophy and age too fast.

A growing body of research links brain inflammation to depression, childhood developmental delays and diseases (ADHD, autisim etc.), and other psychiatric diseases as well as neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and Parkinsis).

It is a complex and developing field of neuroscience.  This article is designed to create awareness and educate you about the main ideas involved in neuroinflammation.  

2 Types of Brain Cells.

90% of the brain is immune cells (glial cells), with neurons making up the remaining 10%. Historically, brain care and rehabilitation always focused on neurons but now, the latest research shows the brain’s glial cells, or immune cells, are necessary for memory, cognition, synaptic function, neurotransmitter activity, and other vital brain function.

Once the glial cells are triggered, the central nervous system (CNS) is called into action to protect the brain and body against the harm posed to it. All these events cause immune cells (glial cells) to turn on in order to begin the healing process. But unlike immune cells in the body, the brain’s immune cells do not easily turn off. This means inflammation can become chronic.

 What causes the triggering of the brains immune cells i.e. brain inflammation?

1. Injury

A knock to the head with enough impact can lead to a concussion or traumatic brain injury, resulting in glial cell activation (the brain’s immune system) generating an inflammatory response.

As a result of head trauma, the immune system begins sending out pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as Il-1β) which can worsen the damage caused by the impact, leading to cell death and DNA fragmentation.

The additional release of TNF-α along with the pro-inflammatory cytokines can sometimes lead to a compromise of the blood-brain barrier, reducing its ability to keep out toxins.

2. Infection

Certain infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and, occasionally, protozoa or parasites, can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the meninges - the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord). Each cause of an infection activates a slightly different pathway leading to neuroinflammation.

3. Aging

Cognitive degradation is often related to aging, but also neurodegenerative diseases (discussed below) have a higher prevalence in the older population, both of which are related to brain inflammation.

Research has shown that a healthy but aging brain has chronically increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduced levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, demonstrating that the factor of age alone is linked with chronic neuroinflammation.

4. Neurodegenerative disease

Neurodegenerative disease and neuroinflammation are intrinsically linked. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS) are all related to neuroinflammation. To begin with, neuroinflammation is considered a major cause of the neurodegradation that is characteristic of AD.

It is believed that those with the disease have an abundance of activated microglia that cannot phagocytose amyloid-beta, which may lead or contribute to plaque accumulation.

 Other common causes of brain inflammation include chronic inflammation in the body, leaky gut, high blood sugar and diabetes, hormone imbalances, hypothyroidism, food intolerances (gluten is a notorious brain inflame that can even cause depression – that has been true for me and many other people report mood disturbances on gluten), stress, and brain autoimmunity — a disorder in which the immune system erroneously attacks and damages brain tissue. It is more common than people realize.

5. Depression and brain inflammation

Depression is a common symptom of brain inflammation (although different things can cause depression, depending on the person). Immune cells called cytokines that are created by inflammation impair brain function. Cytokines also hamper the activity of serotonin, the “joy and well-being” brain chemical commonly linked with depression.

If you have brain fog or other symptoms that suggest brain inflammation, this means your brain is degenerating (aging) too fast. It is so important to take your brain inflammation seriously and take action to save your brain. Below are a few simple ways you can be proactive in saving your brain:

• Increase your flavonoids intake. Flavonoids are plant compounds that have been shown to reduce inflammation in the brain. The best way of doing this is to eat a variety of dark coloured veggies. At least 9 cups a day. try to get every colour of the rainbow.
•  Balance your blood sugar. Low blood sugar, insulin resistance (high blood sugar), and diabete sall inflame the brain. Every meal should contain a healthy source of fat, protein and fibre. If blood sugar is an issue, try to eat more frequently and avoid refined carbs and sugar completely. 
• Take curcumin. a growing body or evidence suggests that curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory benefits when paired with peperine or ginger. 
• Food sensitivities. Gluten is a common cause of brain inflammation. Rule out a sensitivity to gluten or other commonly inflammatory foods, such as dairy, soy, eggs, and other grains.
• Balance hormones. Low sex hormones (such as estrogen and testosterone) and low thyroid hormones contribute to brain inflammation. But note that females can often suffer from estrogen dominance because of the xenoestrogens found in the chemicals in our food and environment.
• Heal your gut. The gut and the brain profoundly influence one another. An inflamed gut causes an inflamed brain. (see earlier posts)
• Take glutathione precursors. Glutathione is the body’s master antioxidant and can help quench brain inflammation. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and Ubiquinol are two great glutathione pre-cursers that will help save you brain. (Always consult with your doctor before starting a new supplement). Sufficient essential Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin D are also important in dampening brain inflammation.

Sources

Bazan, N., Halabi, A., Ertel, M. and Petasis, N. (2012). Neuroinflammation. Basic Neurochemistry, [online] pp.610-620. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123749475000341
Benarroch, E. (2013). Microglia: Multiple roles in surveillance, circuit shaping, and response to injury. Neurology, [online] 81(12), pp.1079-1088. Available at: https://n.neurology.org/content/81/12/1079.short
DiSabato, D., Quan, N. and Godbout, J. (2016). Neuroinflammation: the devil is in the details. Journal of Neurochemistry, [online] 139, pp.136-153. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5025335/
Pizza, V., Agresta, A., W. D'Acunto, C., Festa, M. and Capasso, A. (2011). Neuroinflamm-Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Overview. CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets, [online] 10(5), pp.621-634. Available at: www.ingentaconnect.com/.../art00011