Nervous System Health

Question 1

If you remember nothing else about this lecture - couple of key points from Chris Newbold?

Answer 1

B6, Zinc, Vit C co factors
Consider the environment

Question 2

What is the nervous system?

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

What factors impact NS health?

LEN HOG

Answer 3

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’

Question 4

What is the gut-brain axis?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

How do microbes interact with the gut-brain axis?

(what do the MOB have to modulate?)
MOB
MOB

Answer 5

MOdulating Neurotransmitters
Bacterial metabolites - SCFA and intestinal barrier, mucosal serotonin
MOdulation of afferent sensory nerves

BDNF production

Question 6

What functional changes to the gut barrier can impact the GBA?

Chris Newbold: “The LPS slide”

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

What factors influence general nervous function?

Think: the usual suspects

Answer 7

Inflammation
Oxidative stress
Toxic Load
Neurotrophic factors
Mitochondrial changes

Question 8

What are neurotransmitters, what are imbalances normally the result of?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What is methylations role in neurotransmitters?

Answer 9

Methyl folate for biopternin - serotonin and dopamine co-factor
SAMe (methyl folate & B12) for melatonin and adrenaline

Question 10

3 ways neurotransmitters are inactivated and removed + 2 key enzymes

Re-BED

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Serotonin production, function and testing?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Causes of low serotonin?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Explain tryptophan steel?

Which foods can support?

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

List 3 x key SNPs associated with low Serotonin?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What is low serotonin associated with?

Answer 15

Mood disorders, anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia (melatonin), anger, discontentment, eating disorders, alcohol and substance abuse

IBS and functional constipation, migrain

Question 16

What is the relationship between glutamate and GABA?

Key signs and symptoms related to imbalance.

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

What are the causes / risk factors of low GABA?

Stress CAD

Answer 17

Stress
Co-factor deficiencies
Alcohol
Dysbiosis

Also sedentary, impaired digestion / absorption

Question 18

List 2 x SNPs associated with GABA deficiency

Answer 18

GABRA2 - Lower sensitivity to GABA - associated with anxiety and use of alcohol.

GAD 1 & 2 glutamate decarboxylase - Glutamate to GABA conversion.

Question 19

What is dopamine, what are its functions and how can it be tested?

Summarise pathway + 3 co-factors?

How is it broken down?

Answer 19

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