Prevent your Brain from Deteriorating

At the center of events leading to brain disease is a disrupted gut community.

As previously stated, In 2013, the US spent $50,000 annually caring for each dementia patient in this country, amounting to $200 billion annually (roughly 4 million patients nationwide).

It is becoming increasingly undeniable to not correlate the growing number of people experiencing brain disorders and disease, and the changes we have made in our diets over the past generation.

Unpopular opinion: Alzheimer’s is the new type-3 diabetes.

According to Dr. James M. Hill at Louisiana State University – Good gut bacteria is capable of producing important brain chemicals like BDNF, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutamate. BDNF is involved in neurogenesis and also is responsible for protecting existing neurons. GABA is also a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.

Another interesting chemical that is involved in this conversation is LPS (Lipopolysaccharide) - a clear biological villain that flips on inflammatory pathways in the body. LPS is often used experimentally in research to instantly create inflammation in lab studies. Unsurprisingly, LPS levels in the blood are indicative not only of inflammation in general but also of leakiness of the gut. There is also 3x as much LPS in the plasma of Alzheimer’s patients as in healthy controls.

High LPS levels affect Alzheimer’s patients, but also individuals suffering from:

1) ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)

- Plasma LPS doubles in late ALS vs. healthy controls

2) Parkinson’s disease

High blood sugar is linked to dementia, even slightly high blood sugar levels that are well below the diabetes threshold (based on a 2,000-person study by the University of Washington with an average age of 76 years).

According to the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry in 2013, elderly people who added more fat (olive oil, nuts, avocado, eggs, etc…) to their diets maintained cognitive abilities much better over 6 years than those who ate low fat

Summary: How does the microbiome reduce the risk of brain disease?

1) It controls inflammation.

2) It bolsters your intestinal wall’s integrity and prevents gut permeability.

3) It produces chemicals for brain health such as BDNF, various vitamins such as B12, and neurotransmitters like glutamine and GABA.

Sources:

1) Dicks L. M. T. (2022). Gut Bacteria and Neurotransmitters. Microorganisms, 10(9), 1838. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10091838

2) Klimova, B., Novotny, M., Schlegel, P., & Valis, M. (2021). The Effect of Mediterranean Diet on Cognitive Functions in the Elderly Population. Nutrients, 13(6), 2067. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13062067

3) Perlmutter, D. (2017). Brain maker: The power of gut microbes to heal and protect your brain - for life. Yellow Kite.