Brain Inflammation | Inflammation vs Cognitive Function

Brain Inflammation | Inflammation vs Cognitive Function & Depression | 3 Ways to Reduce Inflammation - Thomas DeLauer:

The Brain and Inflammation:

When our body is inflamed, we can usually tell through the sensation of pain. Our brains, however, lack pain receptors, so we are unable to feel when our brains are inflamed.

Many studies have been conducted that link inflammation in the brain and decreased mental performance or health.

Case Study:

Depression medications are generally directed to boost serotonin and norepinephrine signaling. These therapies are not always successful for those suffering from depression.

A 2006 German study split depression patients into two groups: one group took only a traditional antidepressant reboxetine, and a second group took reboxetine and an anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib.

Those in the second group improved significantly more than those in the first group, showing that a reduction in inflammation had an impact on boosting mood.

What can lead to inflammation in the brain?

As we have seen, infections and cancer can lead to inflammation in the brain, but these are not the only contributors.

Researchers have even found that when rats are exposed to diets high in fat and sugar, inflammatory markers in the hippocampi increase and their spatial memory ability worsens, so what we eat can lead to neural inflammation as well.

So inflammation in the brain can lead to short-term cognition problems, short and long term mood impairment, and even to long-term neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

What can we do to reduce this inflammation?

Top 3 Foods to Reduce Brain Inflammation:

Not all foods that can help reduce inflammation in the body will help the brain - this is because not everything we consume can cross from the bloodstream and into the brain.

1. Turmeric-

Curcumin, the main active component of turmeric, has been found to exhibit activity against many neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, age-associated neurodegeneration, Parkinson disease, schizophrenia, depression, and many more.

Research has found many mechanisms through which curcumin may help to protect against Alzheimer’s Disease.

It can help reduce inflammation, suppress oxidative damage, and reduce amyloid accumulation.

2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Cold Water Fish, Flax Seeds, and Walnuts-

DHA in particular has been found to be correlated with depression - DHA deficiency is linked to depression symptoms.

In Western cultures, we consume far too many omega-6 fatty acids and too few omega-3 fatty acids.

One way to boost our brain health is to consume fewer omega-6 fatty acids, commonly found in processed foods in the form of soy, corn, canola, and safflower oil.

We can then consume more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including cold water fish, such as salmon and sardines, seaweed, walnuts, and flaxseeds.

3. Organic Green Tea and Organic Matcha Green Tea-

Green tea contains a compound EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) that is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and is able to pass the blood-brain barrier.

Case Study:

The animal model of multiple sclerosis is experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

In a 2004 study on mice published in The Journal of Immunology, mice who were infected with EAE were given oral EGCG at initiation or after the onset of EAE.

It was found that EGCG reduced neuronal damage and limited brain inflammation, leading to reduced clinical severity for mice whether given at initiation or after onset of EAE.

References:
1. The brain inflamed

2. Respiratory viral infection in neonatal piglets causes marked microglia activation in the hippocampus and deficits in spatial learning

3. Green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate mediates T cellular NF-kappa B inhibition and exerts neuroprotection in autoimmune encephalomyelitis

4. Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune, and neoplastic diseases.

5. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and the brain: a review of the independent and shared effects of EPA, DPA and DHA

6. Dietary omega-3 fatty acids aid in the modulation of inflammation and metabolic health

7. An inflammatory theory of brain disease

[ThomasDeLauerOfficial]

Kicking it old school in my OLD studio kitchen just for something new/old! Lol!!

[BeanDar]

As someone with schizophrenia this video was very helpful. Some of the preliminary research suggests that schizophrenia is caused by inflammation in the brain severe and mild

[Neuro_Delinquency]

Hey Thomas, neuroscienctist here. Just wanted to correct : Reboxetine is not an anti-inflemmatory drug. It is an SNRI (drug that is similar to SSRI but has more affinity towards norepinephrine receptors). Reboxetine is an interesting drug on it's own account regarding the effect on brain plasticity (my area of specialty).. However it is often used in psychiatry for patients that aren't happy with the sexual side effects of SSRIs and/or looking for a less calm-down effect while treating anxiety or depression.

On a side note, regardless of the neurobiology behind reboxetine, the track record of this drug to actually treat successfully the anxiety or depression, is pretty shaky..

[dannykay]

Turmeric daily - mix half-teaspoon turmeric powder in 4 raw eggs and lil bit water. Mixes good and goes down smoothly

[denesk]

What I found, is that the worst brain-fog was created by what people would suggest you when you are tired or not feeling great in general - or if you have brain fog.

"Have some cookies and some coffee" ...

Took me months (actually 3 years until final resolution) and some serious money spent on doctors' visits to figure out why I had sports performance issues. I am mountain biking. As soon as I started on the first climb, my heart rate went up, I felt weak and dizzy and while it normalised after about 20 minutes (of almost dying) I had a huge blood-pressure crash about 1 hour into each ride.

My initial idea was to eat more carbs. Coffee, cookies. Sip some Gatorade on my way to the riding spot. It got worse and worse. I visited doctors who told me I was fine. I did a performance test with electrodes strapped to me.

Finally ... I noticed, that when eating anything sweet with my morning coffee something wasn't right. My blood pressure fell. I felt like I haven't eaten for days. Brain fog, dizziness, anxiety. Almost unable to work. I had to lie down.
So I figured it was caffeine + sugar.
After paying over $2000 to doctors and labs and idiots who kept saying I was fine I googled this

Took me 3 years and discovering KETO to learn that it wasn't caffeine + sugar. It was sugar. It was carbs. The bread, the jelly, the cookies, the "sports bars", the Gatorade.

I can drink a bucket of coffee and go for a bike ride. Zero issues. I can also drink coffee and eat fats or even pure protein and I am still OK. (though whey isolate with caffeine is still a bad combo for me -- I know you are not a fan of Whey, and yes, I mix my after-workout whey with coconut oil and a dash of unsweetened cocoa powder, else it makes me dizzy ).

And yep, sometimes coffee is just too aggressive. Green tea "pumps you up" with less jitter though.

Too bad the country I leave in now (Costa Rica) somehow managed to ban Theanine. GNC used to sell it, and that + coffee or green tea was a perfect balance of extra energy with reduced jitter.

Just my 2c ... maybe it helps others who experience similar symptoms

[tiptapkey]

I have a job interview in a few hours. Just took turmeric and fish oil and having a green tea. 🤣

[austinschild]

how much turmeric (lets say powder) is an effective daily dose?

[joshliesmaki]

You don't know how much your information is useful for the autism community. Keep up the great work!!

[PhilipMcAdam]

I adopt the Keto and Omad and do not have any depression or brain fog anymore and you have explained why I am so chilled and sharp and sharper than I have ever been. Thank you Thomas all super videos.

[leifberglund]

Thanks for sharing!! Really like your videos!!

[morganneher]

Your timing is impeccable, as always Tommy D!!!! I am STRUGGLING with caffeine SO badly. I stopped the vid and went straight to MudWtr and signed up (the same way I did for Four Sigmatic and SP2 haha).

Even the idea of having this WTR as a ritual instead of caffeine will help me.

Your insights into what we want to know, especially in the last two months has been INSANE!!!!

Thank you so much, as always. Ive been with you for like three years it seems and it feels like you are really becoming a huge deal.

You’ve earned it Boss!!!!

I appreciate you so much, thank you!!!!

[TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

I'd highly recommend Japanese Matcha green tea, it's so good for one's health.

[genehamilton]

Bro, please take a little more time to answer your fans if you can. I know you are super busy but if the question is related to the vid, I think a bit more time on questions would be positive. Thanks for all your hard work you've definitely made a difference in my life with your information. Kudos,

[BluePoo]

So eat a piece of salmon coated in turmeric with a cup of green tea !

[queenamina]

Thank you so much Thomas, I’ve been feeling so foggy and depressed in my head these days, I’m usually a strong minded person and so I’ll try the fish oil and others, thanks again!

[dannytetreault]

Fast Forward to 6-minute mark: 1) Tumeric, 2) DHA fish oil omega 3 & Green tea.

[ericclegg]

Crazy how I was just looking for a video from you about how to reduce inflammation in our bodies and you just uploaded this lol

[johngoodhue]

Great stuff as always. Been adding tumeric since the brown fat video. Any chance of doing a foam roller/lymphatic system performance video? Thanks always, Thomas!

[TheSpecialJ]

I put turmeric and ginger in my green tea. It's great.

[eyebrid]

What would you say is the upper dose limit for turmeric?