What is “Lupus Fog”?

Many people with lupus suffer from “brain fog,” mood disorders, and fatigue. The term “lupus fog” was coined to describe all these symptoms [R].

Research suggests that about 10% to 80% of people diagnosed with lupus experience cognitive problems at some point. The range is so large partly because different criteria are being used to define cognitive decline and low mood [R, R, R, R, R].

Lupus

Systemic lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that often affects women more than men [R].

In lupus, white blood cells incorrectly identify the body’s own tissues as a threat. These cells become hyperactive and produce antibodies against healthy tissues. The tissues under attack — including the brain, skin, muscles, bones, and lungs — become inflamed and less functional [R].

Symptoms of lupus vary from person to person and include fatigue, fever, and weight loss [R, R, R, R, R, R].

Research suggests that when lupus affects the central nervous system — the spinal cord and brain — people may begin to experience “lupus brain fog” and/or headaches, depression, anxiety, seizures, and strokes [R].

“Brain Fog”

“Brain fog” is a broader term used to describe a constellation of cognitive symptoms, the most common ones being [R, R]:

• Reduced mental clarity (“mental fogginess”)
• Slower thinking
• Inability to focus
• Reduced ability to multitask
• Long- and short-term memory loss

People subjectively describe feeling forgetful, confused, and scattered — enveloped in what is felt as a “thick mental haze.” They feel their brain is slower and less agile than it should be. Thoughts become sluggish, blurred, and draining [R].

According to one theory that has yet to be verified, “brain fog” might be caused by inflammation in the brain (as in lupus). Scientists hypothesize it might be triggered by [R, R, R

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How Hypothyroidism Affects the Brain

The Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Thyroid (HPT) Axis

The thyroid is a gland located at the base of the neck, below the Adam’s apple. It produces the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which control the growth, development, and metabolism of nearly every cell in the body [R].

The production of these hormones is regulated by a system involving the hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid gland – the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis.

The hypothalamus produces thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which activates the pituitary to produce and release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH, in turn, stimulates T3 and T4 production in the thyroid gland [R, R].

The thyroid gland produces T4 from iodine and the amino acid tyrosine. T4 is then broken down to its more active form T3 by a group of enzymes called deiodinases and mainly found in the liver and kidneys [R, R].

High levels of thyroid hormones block TRH and TSH production. This mechanism fine-tunes T3 and T4 production and maintains their levels within normal values [R].

What Is Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is a deficiency in thyroid hormone production by the thyroid gland. Its main symptoms include [R, R]:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Reduced memory and concentration
• Depression
• Cold intolerance
• Constipation
• Weight gain
• Dry skin and hair loss
• Painful joints and muscles

Hypothyroidism can be caused by defects in the thyroid gland (primary hypothyroidism) or the hypothalamus or pituitary gland (secondary hypothyroidism). These defects can be due to [R, R]:

• Iodine deficiency
• Inborn abnormalities
• Autoimmune damage
• Injuries or surgical removal
• Medication and radiotherapy
• Inflammation or oxidative stress

Additionally, hypothyroidism can be classified based on the blood levels of the main hormones [R, R]:

• Overt hypothyroidism: low thyroid hormones and high TSH
• Subclinical hypothyroidism: normal thyroid hormones and high TSH
• Sick euthyroid syndrome: low thyroid hormones and normal to low TSH
• Resistance to thyroid hormone: high thyroid hormones and TSH

How Does It Affect the Brain?

The main effect of low thyroid hormone and high TSH levels on the brain is a

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Understanding Brain Changes in ADHD

What Is ADHD?

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychological disorder with inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. Depending on which symptoms predominate, ADHD can be classified into three subtypes [R, R, R+, R+]:

• Inattentive (ADHD-I): with reduced attention, difficulty staying focused and organizing tasks, and forgetfulness.
• Hyperactive (ADHD-H): with excessive talking and moving, discomfort if forced to stay still, and tendency to interrupt others and take risks without thinking of consequences.
• Combined (ADHD-C): with a mix of both inattentive and hyperactive symptoms.

ADHD reduces school performance, causes problems in social relationships, increases the risk of dangerous behavior (such as drug abuse), and is linked to school dropout and reduced earning [R+, R+, R+].

Sluggish Cognitive Tempo vs ADHD

Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT), also known as concentration deficit disorder, is a constellation of symptoms such as daydreaming, confusion, and slow thinking. Although initially grouped together with ADHD-I, further studies have possibly revealed their differences [R+, R+, R+, R+]. Though it must be said, that this is not without some controversy and the science on this has not been fully decided.

ADHD-I is more impairing in executive function, time management, and motivation, while SCT worsens academic performance, selective attention, self-organization, problem-solving, self-discipline, and control of emotions [R+, R+, R+, R+].

Nevertheless, SCT is more frequent in people with ADHD. Three studies on over 1k adults and 2k children and adolescents found SCT symptoms in 40-60% of those with ADHD. The combination of ADHD and SCT is more impairing than either condition alone [R, R, R].

How Does ADHD Affect the Brain?

Brain imaging studies of children and adults with ADHD found multiple structural anomalies in regions controlling working memory and attention (such as the cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum). These include [R, R, R, R, R+]:

• Reduced size
• Lower gray matter density
• Changes in white matter integrity
• Delayed cortex maturation in children and reduced thickness in adults

What’s more, people with ADHD show reduced activity in some brain regions

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Remember to talk to your doctor before making any major changes to your lifestyle, diet, or supplements regime. Supplements can interact with the medications you’re taking. Additionally, many supplements have neither been thoroughly researched nor approved by the FDA for medical use.

Psychological Interventions for ADHD “Brain Fog”

1) Behavioral Therapies

Behavioral therapies improve psychological disorders through behavior modifications and are a mainstream approach approved by the FDA for children with ADHD. They improved cognitive and behavioral symptoms in 8 trials on almost 1500 children and adolescents [R, R, R, R, R, R, R].

Their combination with cognitive techniques is called cognitive-behavioral therapy. It improved ADHD symptoms in 12 trials on over 500 adults and over 150 adolescents, especially combined with medication [R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R].

2) Cognitive Training

Programs training working memory improved the performance of tasks involving this function in 5 trials on over 300 children and adolescents with ADHD. Because they were less effective than medication and only helped with some working memory areas, the studies suggested they may only be used as add-on therapies [R, R, R, R, R].

Programs for training attention improved this area in 4 trials on over 100 children but had little or no effect in 3 trials on over 100 children [R, R, R, R, R, R, R].

Two meta-analyses concluded that, although they may slightly improve working memory and attention, cognitive training programs have limited effects on overall ADHD symptoms [R, R].

Devices & Brain Interventions for ADHD “Brain Fog”

3) Neurostimulation

Neurostimulation is the activation of specific brain regions to improve psychiatric disorders. A few studies have investigated different non-invasive neurostimulation techniques in people with ADHD [R+].

Vagus nerve activation improved ADHD symptoms and was well tolerated in another pilot trial on 24 children. A device using this mechanism (called Monarch external Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation System) is approved

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Stimulant Abuse Prevalence

Stimulants are commonly used illicitly by students without ADHD to reduce fatigue and improve their academic performance. In 3 surveys of over 3500 college students, 34-43% reported using them. They tended to regard stimulant misuse as harmless and morally acceptable [R, R, R].

Side Effects of Stimulant Abuse

People misusing stimulants are more likely to exceed the recommended dose. This may cause [R+, R, R, R, R]:

• Psychosis
• Seizures
• Spasms or twitching
• Heart and circulation problems

Withdrawal Syndrome & “Brain Fog”

Additionally, people who abuse stimulants may suffer from withdrawal syndrome with [R+, R]:

• Cravings
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety and irritability
• Social issues

A further risk is that students misusing stimulants are more likely to abuse other drugs, as seen in 3 studies on over 47k students. These drugs may trigger “brain fog” and worsen general cognitive performance [R, R, R].

Cognitive Effects of High Stimulant Doses

Animal Studies

Concerning the cognitive effects of high stimulant doses, there are only animal studies.

High Ritalin and amphetamine doses caused oxidative damage, changes in brain cell morphology, and impaired transmission. The effects were more severe in very young, old, or stressed animals. Single doses were more toxic, while repeated doses or previous exposure to these drugs had milder effects [R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R].

Limitations and Caveats

Very few studies found cognitive impairment from normal stimulant doses. Because they all used healthy volunteers, more research is needed before drawing any conclusions about whether these findings hold for people with underlying psychiatric problems.

Although animal studies show that high doses of ADHD medication may damage the brain, no studies have investigated this possibility in humans.

Learn More

• Can ADHD Cause “Brain Fog”?
• Effect of ADHD Medications on the Brain
• Does Marijuana Worsen

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Anecdotes about “Self-Medicating” with Marijuana

Many people self-medicate for ADHD with marijuana. Advocates for this use claim that it helps with the symptoms and has fewer adverse effects than conventional medication [R+].

Medical marijuana is still illegal in many parts of the world. Due to the lack of safety and effectiveness data, avoid using marijuana unless prescribed by a doctor. Remember to talk to your doctor about ADHD treatment options before attempting to “self-medicate” with any substance.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at what some recent surveys and clinical trials can reveal about the effects of marijuana on cognitive function in people with ADHD.

In one analysis of 55 forum threads, 25% of posts reported ADHD improvement from marijuana use. In contrast, 8% said it worsened the symptoms, 5% found mixed effects, and 2% reported no effects [R].

ADHD & Marijuana Trials

Only one small trial on 30 adults tested marijuana as a therapy for ADHD. In this study, a spray with THC and CBD (nabiximols) reduced hyperactivity and impulsivity but had no effects on cognitive function. Larger studies are needed since we can’t draw solid conclusions from this small trial [R].

In another study on 76 people with ADHD, marijuana use was associated with reduced attention in men and decreased sleep quality in women. Two other studies on almost 200 people found worse executive function and attention, but only among those who started using marijuana at an early age [R, R, R].

Effects of Marijuana on the Brain & ADHD

The results of the studies investigating the effects of marijuana use on brain structure are mixed. Two studies found reduced cortical thickness in some brain regions, one found increased activation of some regions during response inhibition, and one reported no effects [R, R, R, R].

Conversely, the link between childhood ADHD and future marijuana use and abuse is more evident. Studies on over 24k adolescents and adults found increased marijuana use among all 3 subtypes, especially the hyperactive. Marijuana has the risk of serving as a gateway for other, more harmful drugs that may worsen ADHD symptoms [R, R, R, R, R, R].

Limitations and Caveats

The effects of marijuana on ADHD symptoms are highly controversial. Despite the small number

The post Does Marijuana Worsen ADHD “Brain Fog”? appeared first on SelfHacked.

What Is Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is a deficiency in thyroid hormone production by the thyroid gland. Its main symptoms include [R, R]:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Reduced memory and concentration
• Depression
• Cold intolerance
• Constipation
• Weight gain
• Dry skin and hair loss
• Painful joints and muscles

Hypothyroidism can be caused by defects in the thyroid gland (primary hypothyroidism) or the hypothalamus or pituitary gland (secondary hypothyroidism) [R, R].

What Is “Brain Fog”?

“Brain fog”, also known as ‘mental fog’, ‘clouding of consciousness’, and ‘cognitive dysfunction’, is an unofficial term used to describe a constellation of cognitive symptoms such as [R, R]:

• Reduced mental clarity and cognitive function
• Difficulty focusing and multitasking
• Loss of short- and long-term memory
• Slow thinking
• Confusion
• Fatigue

Because these symptoms are generally subjective, doctors can consider them too mild or unspecific to diagnose cognitive impairment.

For more about how hypothyroidism progresses and how it may cause “brain fog” symptoms, check out this post.

Complementary Strategies that May Help “Brain Fog” Symptoms and Hypothyroidism

You may try the complementary approaches for “brain fog” associated with hypothyroidism listed below if you and your doctor determine that they could be appropriate in your case after discussing them. Remember that none of them should ever be done in place of what your doctor recommends or prescribes.

Lifestyle Changes

1) Physical Exercise

Always remember to speak with your physician before starting any new exercise regimen or drastic changes in diet.

Doing more exercise may improve how your thyroid gland works. In 2 small trials on 20 adults and 36 adolescents, exercise increased T3 and T4 while decreasing TSH levels [R, R].

What’s more, exercise may be beneficial for cognitive function, especially if it combines aerobic and strength training. In 4 small trials on almost 100 people with cognitive problems, it improved learning, processing speed, attention, executive function, and movement coordination [R, R, R, R, R].

Exercise may increase cognitive function by stimulating the birth of new cells, increasing synaptic plasticity, reducing inflammation and

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Ensuring that you have good blood flow to the brain is critical for health and recovery from any chronic disease. Read this post to learn more about brain circulation and how to improve it.

Supplemental and nutritional therapies cannot treat a diagnosed cardiovascular (circulatory) condition. If you have one, make sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations precisely.

That said, some foods and supplements are known to improve brain circulation. While we strongly recommend against using any of these strategies in place of what your doctor recommends, some of them may be helpful alongside prescribed medication. Your doctor can help you determine which complementary strategies could be right for you.

What Is Brain Circulation?

Brain circulation, or brain blood flow, is the movement of blood through the network of arteries and veins supplying blood to the brain. The arteries deliver oxygenated blood, glucose, and other nutrients to the brain. The veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, removing carbon dioxide, lactic acid, and other metabolic products.

Why Is It Important?

The brain is the most important organ to receive the blood supply. Although it’s only 2% of your body weight, it consumes 50% of glucose and 20% of the oxygen that is available in the body [R].

In addition, the blood also removes waste from the brain. Lack of oxygen for merely minutes will start to kill brain cells.

However, during most of the days, when we are upright, the brain is the highest part of the body with the smallest blood vessels that are furthest from the heart. This makes the brain a difficult organ to deliver blood to.

Too little blood flow results in a lack of glucose and oxygen needed to keep neurons metabolically active, a condition known as ischemia. Too much blood flow results in increased intracranial pressure, which may cause severe neurological damage in extreme cases.

Therefore, the body has several checks and balances to ensure that the brain receives sufficient blood flow and oxygen [R].

Adults with normal blood pressure get about 50 ml of blood to 100 g of brain tissue per minute, which provides oxygen pressure to the brain at between 60-160 mmHg [R].

If the oxygen pressure to the brain falls outside of this range, the brain loses its ability

The post 13 Natural Ways to Improve Brain Circulation and Function appeared first on SelfHacked.

Like the stomach barrier, the blood-brain barrier is lined with one layer of cells that separate the blood from the brain. It only allows a few substances like oxygen, hormones, and certain cytokines in, while blocking out others.

Some researchers have argued that when this protective layer is compromised, the brain may become vulnerable to damage from chemicals, inflammatory cytokines, and immune cells.

If you suffer from any brain disorders, including brain fog (cognitive dysfunction), chronic fatigue, anxiety/depression, neurodegenerative diseases, and multiple sclerosis, then this post is for you.

Leaky Brain – Part One of a Three-Part Series

• Part 1: What is the Blood-Brain Barrier? + “Leaky” Brain Conditions
• Part 2: Factors and Disease States That Cause Leaky Brain
• Part 3: How to Repair a Leaky Blood-Brain Barrier

What Is the Blood-Brain Barrier?

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a one-cell layer barrier that separates the brain from the blood. Its main role is to act as a selective (semi-permeable) filter that lets only specific molecules through while blocking others at the right time.

The brain becomes “leaky” when the blood-brain barrier becomes more permeable. A loss of selectivity in the BBB is linked to a variety of diseases.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26794270

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is composed of specialized components called neurovascular units or NVUs, which include:

• Endothelial cells, which line the barrier
• Astrocytic endfeet, which are part of nerve cells that envelope the blood vessels
• Basement membrane that lines the epithelial cells
• Pericytes that provide structural support to the blood vessels, but may also control BBB development and permeability [R]

Tight junctions seal the gap between endothelial cells in the same layer. Like tight junctions in the gut, the tight junctions between the endothelial cells are made up of claudins, occludins, and junction adhesion molecules. These cells also have zonulin [R].

Factors Linked to “Leaky Brain”

The factors below have been associated with a “leaky” blood-brain barrier in various studies. However, this is not to say that these factors are direct causes of BBB, or that the BBB will necessarily gain permeability if a person is exposed to them. Researchers have simply found connections between them and the condition colloquially known as “leaky brain.”

Future studies will clarify whether these factors are

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Can the Blood-Brain Barrier be “Leaky”?

Overview

Like the gut barrier, the blood-brain barrier is lined with one layer of cells that separate the blood from the brain. It only allows a few substances like oxygen, hormones, and certain cytokines in, while blocking out others [R].

When this protective layer is compromised, the brain is thought to be vulnerable to damage from chemicals, inflammatory cytokines, and immune cells [R, R].

“Leaky brain” was coined as a non-medical term for increased blood-brain barrier permeability [R].

This term is still relatively new and research is sparse. The whole theory is theoretical and it has yet to be verified in proper human studies. Findings are still mostly limited to cell culture or brain tissue studies [R, R].

That said, limited research has linked a compromised blood-brain barrier with “brain fog” or cognitive dysfunction, chronic fatigue, anxiety/depression, neurodegenerative diseases, and other neurological conditions. There’s not enough evidence to support any of these associations [R, R].

Genetics and “Leaky Brain”

Research Limitations

Remember, the SNPs we go over below have only been found to be associated with increased BBB permeability or “leaky brain.” That does not mean having them will necessarily make you more likely to have BBB permeability problems. More work is needed before we determine whether and how much they may raise a person’s risk of increased BBB permeability.

“Leaky Brain” Genetics – Is there a Link?

There are many potential causes of blood barrier issues. These usually involve a complex interaction between genetics and the environment.

Scientists think that the following genes may have some influence on the blood-brain barrier:

• Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)
• Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases (TIMPs)
• Tight junction proteins
• Genes that control oxidative stress
• Genes that control inflammation and susceptibility to autoimmunity

However, the impact of these genes on the BBB in humans is poorly understood.

There’s no direct study that tested the effects of each gene, SNP, or mutation on the strength of the blood-brain barrier. Thus, scientists can only hypothesize the significance of these SNPs from the gene functions and their association with brain disease/injury outcomes in humans.

Matrix Metalloproteinases

MMP2

For example, limited

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When discussing issues with the BBB, it is important to note that a problem does not always start in the brain. Diseases and other problems elsewhere in the body, such as diabetes or gut inflammation, may trigger a “leaky brain.” In this post, we cover the top 11 factors that can disrupt the blood-brain barrier.

Brain Injuries

1) Stroke

Strokes cause a lack of glucose and oxygen. This leads to a rise in potassium, the depletion of ATP, and a release of glutamate, which all contribute to blood-brain barrier disruption [R].

Under stroke conditions, the tight junctions that help prevent substances from entering the brain have compromised integrity. This means that the tight junctions are weaker and increase BBB permeability [R].

After a stroke, reperfusion (restoration of blood flow to the brain or tissue) occurs. Reperfusion may cause additional tissue damage and an increase in inflammation, which also worsens the BBB condition [R].

In a study of human brain tissue from five cases of fatal strokes, MMP9 levels were higher in the affected areas. Higher MMP9 levels are a good indicator of increased BBB permeability [R].

2) Traumatic Brain Injury

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25624154

After traumatic brain injury, the blood-brain barrier also becomes dysfunctional. This leads to the leakage of proteins and negatively affects immune cells [R].

BBB breakdown may last from several days to weeks after head trauma. In some cases, the BBB can be dysfunctional for years [R].

Head trauma injures blood vessels in the brain. It leads to impairments in brain-blood flow, BBB permeability, and metabolic processes. It also reduces oxygen levels in the brain, which further induces BBB breakdown [R].

Traumatic brain injuries also cause damage to the neurovascular unit. When the nerve cells die quickly, it causes another cycle of injury after the initial brain injury [R].

After traumatic brain injury, excessive superoxide reacts with nitric oxide to form peroxynitrite. Peroxynitrite contributes to BBB leakage [R].

In traumatic brain injury-induced adult male rats, treatment to reduce peroxynitrite also decreased BBB leakage. S-nitroso-glutathione (GSNO) helps stop BBB dysfunction and provides protection to nerve

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What is the Blood-Brain Barrier?

A Major Discovery

A scientist named Paul Ehrlich made an accidental discovery about 100 years ago. He was injecting blue dye into animals to study their physiology, when he realized that the dye wouldn’t pass into their brains. When he injected dye directly into the animals’ brains, it wouldn’t pass into the rest of their bodies [R].

Ehrlich realized that the blue dye he was using had reached a seemingly impenetrable obstacle. He concluded that the brain is protected from the bloodstream with this special membrane, which later became known as the blood-brain barrier [R].

Can the Blood-Brain Barrier be “Leaky”?

Like the gut barrier, the blood-brain barrier is lined with one layer of cells that separate the blood from the brain. It only allows a few substances like oxygen, hormones, and certain cytokines in, while blocking out others [R].

When this protective layer is compromised, the brain is thought to be vulnerable to damage from chemicals, inflammatory cytokines, and immune cells [R, R].

New Perspectives & Limitations

“Leaky brain” was coined as a non-medical term for increased blood-brain barrier permeability [R].

This term is still relatively new and research is sparse. The whole theory is theoretical and it has yet to be verified in proper human studies. Findings are still mostly limited to cell culture or brain tissue studies [R, R].

That said, limited research has linked a compromised blood-brain barrier with “brain fog” or cognitive dysfunction, chronic fatigue, anxiety/depression, neurodegenerative diseases, and other neurological conditions. There’s not enough evidence to support any of these associations [R, R].

When to See a Doctor

If your goal is to increase the integrity of your blood-brain barrier to improve your neurological issues – including those of cognitive problems, mood imbalances, or serious inflammation – it’s important to talk to your doctor, especially your symptoms are significantly impacting your daily life.

Your doctor should diagnose and treat the condition causing your symptoms.

Factors Proposed to Improve “Leaky Brain”

Caveats

Remember that the existing evidence does not suggest

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