Neuroinflammation, Chronic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and Diseases

Or, when someone has a traumatic brain injury from something like a car accident or a serious sports injury—commonly occurring in sports such as football, soccer, hockey, and more.

Inflammation can occur throughout the body without us realizing it. It often occurs in the brain. Why don’t we pay more attention to inflammation in our bodies?

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgkJWQkngAw

Why don’t we try to prevent inflammation and disease before they occur?

*There are various practitioners who focus on this aspect of medicine.

What Do We Know About Neuroinflammation?

Neuroinflammation is inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS). It can lead to neuronal injury and dysfunction.

James LaValle, RPh, CCN, ND is a speaker and internationally known expert in integrative medicine. He often gives presentations about inflammation and explains how inflammation can cause diseases. He was also appointed as Director of the NFL Hall of Fame Center for Excellence for research on traumatic brain injuries.

Role of Nutrition & Lifestyle in Reducing Inflammation

Dr. LaValle educated us about nutritional approaches and supplements that focus on inflammation. In the NBC news program about Alzheimer’s, they mention that in addition to reducing inflammation, adjusting lifestyle can also be important. Exercise and nutrition may be able to change the course of many diseases.

Traumatic Brain Injury

• NFL players with concussions (as well as many other sports)
• Military members (e.g., Navy SEALs) after being in combat zones
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Electric shock
• Injury from violence

What Can Lead to Neuroinflammation?

• Traumatic brain injuries (concussions, motor vehicle accidents, injury from violence)
• Autoimmune diseases
• By-products of disease (circulating endotoxins)
• Microglial activation (inflammatory processes led by microglial cells)
• Chronic stress: elevated cortisol may contribute to microglial activation via inflammatory cytokines—stress can drive chronic inflammation and contribute to neuronal injury or death and changes in behavior. It can interfere with neuronal renewal.

Stress can cause people to feel scattered and like they can’t think straight. They often wonder what is happening to them.

How can we quiet that brain cell activation that leads to inflammation? According to Dr. James LaValle, RG3 and Nicotinamide Riboside may help.

Rg3 is one of several triterpene saponins (ginsenosides) found in the plant genus Panax, including Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) and Panax quinquifolius (American ginseng). Laboratory studies report that Rg3 extracted from Panax ginseng supports neuroprotection, helping to support healthy microglial activity and healthy neuronal function.

• May help calm inflammatory activity and support neuronal function.
• May support mitochondrial function and energy production.
• May support sirtuins (e.g., SIRT1), which regulate metabolism.
• May support receptor activation (which can influence response to supplements/hormones).

Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a form of vitamin B3 found in cow’s milk. Laboratory studies report administration of nicotinamide riboside supports healthy levels of NAD+ in yeast and cultured human and mammalian cells. NR is reported to be incorporated into the cellular NAD+ pool via the action of nicotinamide riboside kinase (Nrk) pathway or via nicotinamide (Nam) salvage after conversion to Nam by phosphorolysis. Laboratory studies have also reported the supportive and neuroprotective role for NAD+. In laboratory studies, nicotinamide riboside supports neuronal NAD+ synthesis without inhibiting sirtuins, which are important regulators of metabolism and longevity.

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

Read about the mechanism in which low dose naltrexone (LDN) works to reduce inflammation.

Abstract: Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) has been demonstrated to reduce symptom severity in conditions such as fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and complex regional pain syndrome. We review the evidence that LDN may operate as a novel anti-inflammatory agent in the central nervous system, via action on microglial cells. These effects may be unique to low dosages of naltrexone and appear to be independent from naltrexone’s activity on opioid receptors. As a daily oral therapy, LDN is inexpensive and well-tolerated. Despite initial promise of efficacy, the use of LDN for chronic disorders is still highly experimental.

Which patients may benefit from LDN therapy?

• Chronic pain
• Hashimoto’s
• Parkinson’s disease
• Arthritis
• Graves’ disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Crohn’s disease
• Psoriasis
• Eczema
• Neuroinflammation
• Inflammation
• Multiple sclerosis
• Irritable bowel
• Celiac disease
• Autism
• Lupus
• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• Lyme disease
• Alzheimer’s

How does LDN work?

• May down-regulate inflammatory cytokine release, oncogene expression, and autoimmune cascades
• In the CNS: may reduce toll-like receptor signaling and glial cell activation, helping reduce neuroinflammation
• In the PNS: may modulate T & B lymphocyte activity and reduce inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, IL-12, TNF-alpha) and suppress NF-kB

When taken at bedtime, short-acting LDN is thought to briefly block opioid receptors (often cited as occurring between ~2 a.m. and 4 a.m.). This brief blockade is believed to support increased endorphin and enkephalin production, which may help regulate immune activity.

Case Experiences

Just a few of Dr. James LaValle’s case experiences he mentioned in his presentation (including discussions from the NFL Hall of Fame Center of Excellence for research on traumatic brain injuries). These concepts are not limited to professional athletes—the same approach to reducing inflammation may apply to other areas of brain inflammation.

1. NFL player (~350 lbs) on pain medications. Detoxed too quickly, which led to seizures and anxiety. Placed on Methylcobalamin (RG3-Synapsin®) Spray and in ~8 weeks was seizure-free. Was this related to quieting inflammation?
2. Another NFL player with 12 concussions needed an assistant to help remember tasks. After diet/exercise changes and supplements for inflammation (including Rx Synapsin), after ~6 months he no longer needed the assistant.
3. Family with a loved one with end-stage ALS and dysphonia (unable to speak). Trialed Methylcobalamin (RG3-Synapsin®) nasal spray; the physician reported some words returned. Not a cure, but quality-of-life improvement (reported ability to communicate about one extra year).
4. Racecar drivers: RG3 nasal spray examined with the Corvette Race Team ahead of a 24-hour Le Mans race. Drivers swallowed telemetry pills to measure internal temperature; as temperature rises, reflexes can drop. After intranasal RG3, temperature reportedly did not rise—and they won Le Mans that year.
5. Work-life case: many people report the last 3 hours of their workday feel “shot,” leading to working again at night and impacting family and sleep. The concept: calm glial cell activation.
6. Patient disabled for 4 years due to corticoadrenal insufficiency (58-year-old male PhD). Started RG3 + Nicotinamide Riboside and reportedly returned to work in ~3 weeks.

A healthy lifestyle—exercise, diet, and controlling stress and inflammation—can change quality of life. Nothing guarantees longevity, but we know chronic stress and inflammation are not healthy.