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.
Antidepressants: expectation predicts response; relapses
A study just published in the British Journal of Psychiatry provides further evidence showing that there was no significant difference in outcomes between antidepressants and placebo, and the response to both was predicted by expectations. Moreover, antidepressants increase the vulnerability to relapses.
Schizophrenia risk increased by maternal inflammation
Schizophrenia is well recognized to have a neuroinflammatory component, and a study just published in the American Journal of Psychiatry links maternal inflammation during pregnancy as reflected in elevated CRP (C-reactive protein) levels with a markedly increased irisk of schizophrenia in offspring.
Nigella sativa, a true 'wonder medicine'?
Nigella sativa, also known as black cumin, produces seeds with a mind-boggling wealth of medicinal virtues. For colleagues and others who may not be familiar with the abundance of scientific evidence for the use of Nigella sativa seed extract in clinical practice, this selection of citations serves as an introduction to its wide range of indications.
Depression and brain inflammation
Evidence for the role of brain inflammation in depression is proliferating as noted in a report published recently in JAMA. Certain biomarkers including the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and TNF, and CRP are standing out...
Neuropsychiatric illness in non-celiac gluten sensitivity
Neuropsychiatric illness can result from neuroinflammation due to a variety of causes. Recent studies offer more evidence that depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders can be a manifestation of non-celiac gluten sensitivity. A paper published in Gastroenterology Research and Practice explores the pathophysiologic mechanisms by which gluten sensitivity can present as a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions in the absence of celiac disease.
Chronic fatigue is experienced through the brain
An important study just published in PLOS One reveals a primary mechanism by which the fatigue of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is experienced in the brain, and that this is associated with immune inflammatory activation.
Thyroid autoimmunity affects cognitive and emotional function
Autoimmune thyroiditis is "associated with cognitive and affective disorders also in the euthyroid [normal thyroid hormone level] state. Thereby thyroid antibodies might play a direct role or indicate an autoimmune process."
Multiple sclerosis, TH17 and vitamin A
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory neurodegenerative disease. Recent studies shed light on its autoimmune component and offer evidence for the use of vitamin A in consideration of the premiere importance of Treg and Th17 or Th40 balance.
Epilepsy as an autoimmune disorder
Epilepsy should be evaluated in case management for neuroinflammation that reduces neuronal thresholds of excitability, and more evidence that this can be due to autoimmunity was just published in JAMA Neurology.
Benzodiazepines and anxiolytics increase risk for dementia, mortality
Benzodiazepines increase risk for dementia; benzodiazepines, anxiolytics and Z drugs such as Ambien increase risk for mortality. Along the way they can cause morbidities that are harder to treat.
PTSD, inflammation and magnesium
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) may be more likely to occur in the presence of pre-existing inflammation according to a study just published in JAMA Psychiatry. Magnesium is 'nature's SNS calming mineral' that supports PSNS (parasympathetic nervous system) function and has a natural anti-inflammatory effect.
Bipolar disorder and neuroinflammation
There is a massive amount of evidence supporting the importance of assessing and treating neuroinflammation in bipolar disorder and other neuropsychiatric illnesses. This makes necessarily the comprehensive examination of autoimmunity and its numerous underlying contributory causes.
Magnesium: insulin, brain, heart and inflammation
Magnesium may be the critical nutrient most commonly drained by modern environmental stress to suboptimal levels... Recent studies add evidence to its indication for insulin resistance, diabetes, cognitive impairment, atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular disease, and neurogenic inflammation.
Multiple sclerosis and gluten
Additional evidence that loss of tolerance to gluten can be a contributing cause in multiple sclerosis is offered in a study published in Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. This deserves reflection because many clinicians seem to disregard that non-celiac gluten sensitivity may present with no other symptoms.
Cognitive impairment associated with low but still 'normal' TSH
A study just published JCEM (The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism) offers evidence that TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels when low but still 'normal' are associated with cognitive impairment and dementia.
Migraine and histamine intolerance, with a link to MS
Histamine is involved in the pathogenesis of both migraine and multiple sclerosis (NS).
Cognitive decline: major overlooked causes
Cognitive decline is fueled by that have not received adequate attention but have great practical, clinical significance.