Functional Neurology: Diagnosis and Treatment of a Leaky Brain

Our brain is a complex organ that controls many essential functions in our body. Therefore, brain health is vital for our survival. This is where the blood-brain barrier comes in. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) consists of a group of cells held together by "tight junctions" that protect the brain from potentially harmful components in the bloodstream. This security system only permits passage to certain molecules and keeps most other chemicals or substances out. 

Understanding a Leaky Brain

If damage due to an injury or underlying condition occurs, small gaps can start to develop in the tight junctions of the group of cells in the brain and potentially harmful components in the bloodstream can ultimately penetrate the BBB and enter the complex organ. This is known as a "leaky brain". Several chemicals or substances can commonly cause brain inflammation. Research studies have demonstrated a connection between gut health and brain health. As a matter of fact, scientists have also determined that our gut microbiome, or the bacteria in our gastrointestinal (GI) tract, can affect our brain. 

The stomach and small intestine consist of a group of cells like the blood-brain barrier that also protects the gut from potentially harmful components in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Similar factors that cause a leaky gut can cause a leaky brain, including poor diet, food sensitivities or intolerances, infections, and toxins. Research studies have demonstrated that a protein found in wheat and gluten, known as gliadin, can increase the production of another protein known as zonulin. Zonulin can cause the tight junctions of the gut and BBB to become loose or broken, leading to a leaky brain and a leaky gut. 

Diagnosis of a Leaky Brain

If you suspect that you may have a leaky brain following common causes and symptoms associated with the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, make sure you talk to a qualified and experienced healthcare professional to receive a proper diagnosis and follow up with treatment. Healthcare professionals can receive a variety of screening tests in order to be able to find out their overall risk of a leaky brain. These can include one or more of the following tests: 

Occludin and Zonulin

The proteins known as occludin and zonulin can help determine both gut and blood-brain barrier permeability in a leaky gut and a leaky brain. According to research studies, increased levels of antibodies combating against occludin and zonulin proteins are another common way to diagnose a leaky brain. 

Genetic Testing

A leaky brain can also be diagnosed using genetic testing. Changes in any of the genes that regulate the cells of tight junctions in the brain, oxidative stress, inflammation, or immune response can cause a leaky brain. Diagnosis of these genes can even further help determine treatment for a leaky brain. 

GABA-EEG

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter that helps control signals in the brain. Recent research studies have demonstrated that GABA can penetrate the BBB and enter the brain. A GABA-EEG can help determine how much gamma-aminobutyric acid passes the BBB to cause a leaky brain. 

MMP9 Level Evaluation

Matrix metalloproteinases, also known as MMPs, are enzymes that break down the peptide bonds that hold proteins together. These, however, can ultimately cause the cells of the tight junctions in the brain to become lose and broken, breaking down the BBB. MMPs can also increase after damage, injury, or an underlying condition in the liver or brain, such as a stroke or a traumatic brain injury. Testing for increased MMPs in the bloodstream can help diagnose a patient's risk of developing a leaky brain. As an initial treatment, several patients can start taking an MMP inhibitor to decrease BBB permeability.

Spectrophotometry and Optical Imaging

The protein known as albumin flows in the bloodstream, however, it can't penetrate the BBB or enter the brain under healthy conditions. To diagnose a leaky brain using spectrophotometry and optical imaging, healthcare professions may inject albumin with a dye called Evans Blue which only binds and dyes the protein in the bloodstream. Spectrophotometry and optical imaging can demonstrate the amount of Evans Blue dye that has accumulated in the brain. 

Treatment of a Leaky Brain

According to many healthcare professionals, treating a leaky brain ultimately starts by treating a leaky gut. Reducing and/or eliminating all of the factors that cause a leaky gut and a leaky brain as well as including diet and lifestyle modifications can help promote overall gut and brain health. The following steps can help treat a leaky brain by decreasing inflammation in the brain and the body, increasing oxygen, glucose, and other nutrients in the brain, improving the removal of harmful components in the brain, reducing oxidative stress, and restoring the BBB by ultimately repairing cells in the tight junctions of the brain. 

• Treat bacterial and viral infections
• Detox from heavy metals and pesticides
• Prevent exposure to environmental toxins in the air, water, and food
• Reduce or eliminate food sensitivities and intolerances
• Avoid sugar and processed foods
• Reduce inflammation through diet
• Eat essential fatty acids, including avocado, coconut oil, flaxseed, hemp seed, oily fish, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts
• Take probiotics to help maintain a healthy gut
• Seek supplements that help repair the BBB
• Stop drinking excess alcohol
• Exercise and practice yoga or mindful meditation
• Manage stress
• Get good rest and quality sleep

Too much inflammation may cause a variety of brain health issues and neurological diseases associated with the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), also known as a leaky brain. Because many research studies have suggested the connection between a leaky gut and a leaky brain, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome may be an effective treatment for brain health issues and neurological diseases. Scientists have started working towards developing successful ways to allow drugs and/or medications as well as other treatments to penetrate and enter the brain through the blood-brain barrier and from the bloodstream. A leaky brain may be caused by a variety of factors and various symptoms can commonly manifest. - Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight

Our brain is a complex organ that controls many essential functions in our body. Therefore, brain health is vital for our survival. This is where the blood-brain barrier comes in. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) consists of a group of cells held together by "tight junctions" that protect the brain from potentially harmful components in the bloodstream. This security system only permits passage to certain molecules and keeps most other chemicals or substances out. 

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us.

Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez 

References:

• Mindd Foundation. “What Causes Leaky Brain? Repairing the Blood-Brain Barrier.” Mindd, 11 June 2019, mindd.org/leaky-brain/.