Nervous System Health Flashcards
If you remember nothing else about this lecture - couple of key points from Chris Newbold?
B6, Zinc, Vit C co factors
Consider the environment
What is the nervous system?
Major controlling, regulatory and communicating system of the body - comprised of central and peripheral nervous system.
Made from a network of neurons and neurotransmitters.
Important for thought, language, learning, memory and movement initiation.
What factors impact NS health?
LEN HOG
Lifestyle
Energy
Nerve cell structure and function - Cell membranes (think EFAs), phospholipids, myelin, antioxidants, toxins, minerals
HOrmonal & immune - Oestrogen & testosterone, thyroxine, cortisol, adrenaline, cytokines.
Gastro health ‘second brain’
What is the gut-brain axis?
Bidirectional communication between central and enteric nervous system.
80% afferent (gut to brain)
20% efferent
(think 80/20 rule and a before e).
Dysbiosis can cause nervous and mental health disorders
How do microbes interact with the gut-brain axis?
(what do the MOB have to modulate?)
MOB
MOB
MOdulating Neurotransmitters
Bacterial metabolites - SCFA and intestinal barrier, mucosal serotonin
MOdulation of afferent sensory nerves
BDNF production
What functional changes to the gut barrier can impact the GBA?
Chris Newbold: “The LPS slide”
Compromised mucus layer - Allows microbes access to dendritic cells resulting in activation of these cells by pathogens and commensals.
Activation leads to permeability of the tight junctions - Immune activation of different organs including the brain.
Leading to metabolic endotoxemia
Elevated LPS - Associated with neuroinflammation conditions such as depression.
What factors influence general nervous function?
Think: the usual suspects
Inflammation
Oxidative stress
Toxic Load
Neurotrophic factors
Mitochondrial changes
What are neurotransmitters, what are imbalances normally the result of?
Chemical messengers released from pre-synapic terminal, causing excitatory or inhibitory effect on the post-synapic cell.
“Underlying cause”
Synthesis is from specific substrates (e.g. amino acids) using co-factors e.g. B6
What is methylations role in neurotransmitters?
Methyl folate for biopternin - serotonin and dopamine co-factor
SAMe (methyl folate & B12) for melatonin and adrenaline
3 ways neurotransmitters are inactivated and removed + 2 key enzymes
Re-BED
Re-absorption
Breakdown by Enzymes
Diffusion
SNP rs4680 - allele associated with slow COMT
Monoamine oxidase (MOA) - monoamines - serotonin, adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine.
Catecho-O-methyl transferase (COMP)
Adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine using SAMe.
Serotonin production, function and testing?
5-hydroxyryptamine / 5-HT
Enterochromaffin cells and bacteria in the GIT (95%) - B6, Mg, Zinc & Vit C co-factors
Function: GI signalling (motility and epithelial secretions), mood, appetite, sleep (melatonin synthesis) blood clotting.
Organic acid: 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid.
Tryptophan and 5HTP cross the BBB
Causes of low serotonin?
Low nutrients - think co-factors
Chronic stress - High ACTH and cortisol impact serotonin receptors
Negative outlook
GI dysbiosis - Reduce GIT and brain serotonin
Lack sunlight - More serotonin for melatonin
Caffeine - Inhibits tryptophan hydroxylase
Long-term alcohol - Lower serotonin
Sedentary - Exercise increases serotonin
Statins - Impairs serotonin receptors
Heavy metals - Mercury inhibits binding
Sex hormone imbalances - Inhibits MAO
Explain tryptophan steel?
Which foods can support?
In times of stress/inflammation enzymes shunt tryptophan to produce NAD+ and ATP at the expense of serotonin
“Kynurenine pathway”
Quinolinic acid is a by-product - excitotoxin increases glutamate
Catechins, SCCG, curcumin, pomegranate, garlic, saffron, broccoli sprouts.
Anti-oxidant power snack after the gym:
Salad made with pomegranate and broccoli sprouts with a garlic, saffron and turmeric dressing. Plus green tea.
List 3 x key SNPs associated with low Serotonin?
TPH1 - tryptophan hydroxylase 1 -Peripheral serotonin synthesis
TPH2 - tryptophan hydroxylase 2 - CNS serotonin synthesis
5HTT - Serotonin transporter and receptor SNP
MAO-A - monoamine oxidase - High - more serotonin breakdown
VDR - low vit D sensitivity - Possible less serotonin synthesis
What is low serotonin associated with?
Mood disorders, anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia (melatonin), anger, discontentment, eating disorders, alcohol and substance abuse
IBS and functional constipation, migrain
What is the relationship between glutamate and GABA?
Key signs and symptoms related to imbalance.
Gluatamate - excitatory - role in memory and learning
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)- inhibitory (rest, repair, recovery).
Excess glutamate - neuronal injury and neurodegenerative conditions.
GABA - increases BDNF.
GABA deficiency - anxiety, insomnia, alcohol & carb craving, panic attacks, tinnitus.
What are the causes / risk factors of low GABA?
Stress CAD
Stress
Co-factor deficiencies
Alcohol
Dysbiosis
Also sedentary, impaired digestion / absorption
List 2 x SNPs associated with GABA deficiency
GABRA2 - Lower sensitivity to GABA - associated with anxiety and use of alcohol.
GAD 1 & 2 glutamate decarboxylase - Glutamate to GABA conversion.
What is dopamine, what are its functions and how can it be tested?
Summarise pathway + 3 co-factors?
How is it broken down?
Catecholamine (with adrenaline and noradrenaline)
Functions: motor control, reward seeking, working memory, cognition, motivation
Organic acid: homovanillic acid (HVA)
B6, Vit C, B1
MAO & COMT
