FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE BLOG
Includes over 800 monographs reporting on emerging studies in the medical and scientific literature of practical clinical importance, easily searched for content.
Hyperexcitable brain syndrome and gluten
Hyperexcitable brain, with potentially severe consequences, is recognized as among the gluten-related autoiimmune neurological disorders... Practitioners should not underestimate the potential severity of gluten-associated neuroinflammation.
Alzheimer's disease increased in women by common psychosocial stressors
As study just published in BMJ Open (British Medical Journal) identifies common psychosocial stress as a significant contributor to the development of Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia.
Neuropsychiatric illness, autoimmunity and the role of microbes
Neuropsychiatric illness often involves brain inflammation for which there may be an autoimmune origin. The authors of a paper* recently published in Current Opinion in Rheumatology set out to..."illustrate how microbes might participate in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric illness by triggering the production of autoantibodies that bind to brain targets."
Brain atrophy is promoted by both high and low blood pressure
Brain atrophy, with progressive cognitive impairment, can include among causal factors neuronal loss due to diminished oxygen perfusion. Earlier posts have documented the importance of not over-medicating hypertension. A study just published in JAMA Neurology provides evidence that brain atrophy is promoted by low diastolic blood pressure in addition to hypertension.
Dementia risk is increased by even mild anemia
Dementia is afflicting a third of the senior adults in the US according to recent statistics. Anemia, even mild anemia, by diminishing oxygen perfusion in the brain that neurons require to function and survive increases the risk of dementia according to a study just published in the journal Neurology.
Dementia risk increased by higher blood sugar before diabetes
Our results suggest that higher glucose levels may be a risk factor for dementia, even among persons without diabetes.
Vagal nerve activity moderates brain-immune relationships and is measured by heart rate variability
An exciting study with tremendous practical significance was just published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology that shows how vagal nerve activity, which can be measured in the clinic by heart rate variability analysis (HRV), is a key moderator of the brain-immune web and determines the immune and physiological responses to acute stress.
Depression, aging and brain inflammation: indications for sustainable treatment
Depression and aging, not only diminished cognitive function but the level of physiological competence throughout the body, have brain inflammation in common. This fact is of premiere importance when designing rational treatment plans for both depression and high functioning longevity.
Autism spectrum disorders and altered immune function
Autism and autoimmunity have been linked in a number of earlier studies. A paper just published in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders sheds more light on the role of immune dysregulation in ASDs.
For preschool children at risk for ADHD parent behavioral training beats medications
It might seem counter-intuitive to medicate preschool children at risk for ADHD with drugs like Ritalin®, but a team of investigators tested the assumption and found that parent behavioral training (PBT) yields better outcomes than methylphenidate without risk of side effects by examining the evidence for a variety of treatments in a study just published in the journal Pediatrics.
High protein beats high carbohydrate diet for biomarkers of metabolic syndrome
Regulating insulin is the key factor metabolic syndrome, diabetes and weight loss. In accordance with that, a randomized controlled trial just published in the journal Diabetes Care offers more evidence that a higher protein (with carbohydrate) diet improves multiple biomarkers better than a high carbohydrate diet.
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity
Celiac disease is but one consequence of autoimmunity or autoinflammation triggered by gluten among a host of others better characterized by the term non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). The lack of standardization in terminology has obscured this fact, so two recent papers that help to clear the air are welcome.
Adolescent decline in verbal ability can predict psychosis in adulthood
It's well recognized that cognitive deficits in childhood or adolescence typically precede the onset of psychosis, but the studies done up until now have not determined whether the association is prodromal (an early symptom of psychosis itself) or neurodevelopmental (problems with brain development and maturation that set the stage for later psychosis). A study just published in JAMA Psychiatry offers strong evidence that verbal decline in adolescence reflects neurodevelopmental defects that significantly increase the lifetime risk for psychosis.
Migraine: most patients should be taking magnesium
Magnesium plays a key role in hundreds of physiological processes and is very commonly depleted to suboptimal levels by common stresses. A paper recently published in the Journal of Neural Transmission is a good reminder that magnesium supplementation should be considered for all patients suffering from migraine.
Low-dose aspirin prevents cognitive decline in women with high cardiovascular risk
Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease is controversial (meaning there is conflicting evidence for its use by patients who have not previously suffered a heart attack or stroke). But the authors of a study just published in BMJ Open (British Medical Journal) show that low-dose aspirin prevented cognitive decline in women with high cardiovascular risk.
Lyme disease, neuropsychiatric symptoms and autoimmunity
As with other chronic infections, the most devastating effects of Lyme disease can occur from the immune system losing tolerance for normal tissue as it cross-reacts while attacking the pathogen. A paper just published in The Open Neurology Journal reviews the body of knowledge on the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Lyme disease and other infections as an immune mediated neurodegenerative disorder, enlarged by a wealth of citations.