Understanding Leaky Brain and the Blood-Brain Barrier

Many people are familiar with a condition known as leaky gut. Other well-known conditions include leaky mouth and leaky heart, but have you heard of leaky brain? If this term is new to you, consider it a close cousin of leaky gut. The two conditions are remarkably similar, with each referring to damage to the barrier in its respective area. Furthermore, the two conditions often feed off each other. 

In this article, we'll explore leaky brain, its common symptoms, potential causes, how to support brain health, and how to fight back against it if you’re already experiencing the first symptoms.

Inside the Blood-Brain Barrier

The blood-brain barrier, or BBB, is a complex layer of cells joined together by lattice-like junctions that help shield the brain from potentially harmful substances in the bloodstream. Its job is to allow good things, such as amino acids, oxygen, hormones, and nutrients in, while keeping bad things, including harmful chemicals, pesticides, PCBs, heavy metals, and damaging proteins, safely out. 

However, certain circumstances can break down the blood-brain barrier and cause it to become hyper-permeable, or “leaky,” allowing substances that shouldn’t come into contact with the brain to pass through. 

The gut and brain barriers often fail simultaneously, especially because the entire immune system becomes compromised. This means that someone with a leaky gut also has a leaky brain, which is reinforced by the gut-brain axis. 

Understanding the Gut-Brain Axis

The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional, or two-way, communication network between the brain and the digestive system (gut). It means that the brain can influence the gut, and the gut can influence the brain. 

This communication involves complex pathways that traverse the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, as well as the gut microbiota. It plays a crucial role in maintaining general health, internal balance, and overall well-being.

What is a Leaky Brain?

Leaky Brain Syndrome is a condition in which the blood-brain barrier has been compromised. If the tight junctions of the BBB become loose or broken, the barrier becomes more permeable, allowing unfavorable substances to leak in. When this happens, harmful chemicals and proteins entering the brain can cause the immune system to go into overdrive, dumping inflammatory chemicals into the bloodstream. In other words, a leaky brain is an inflamed brain.

Understanding the Signs and Symptoms of a Leaky Brain

Because the brain controls the body, leaky brain can manifest as multiple signs and symptoms throughout the body. As a result, the list of potential symptoms and health conditions that may result from leaky brain and its corresponding inflammation is vast. Some of the primary concerns include: 

• ADD/ADHD/Autism spectrum disorders

• Aggression or violence

• Alzheimer’s/dementia/ or another cognitive decline 

• Antisocial behavior

• Bipolar disorder

• Brain fog or difficulty concentrating

• Changes in personality

• Cognitive impairment

• Chronic fatigue that does not improve with rest or sleep

• Gut issues

• Hallucination

• Headaches or migraines

• Insomnia

• Joint pain

• Mood changes

• Mood disorders/anxiety/depression/schizophrenia

• Parasites

• Peripheral neuropathy or muscular sclerosis

• Seizures

• Neurological diseases

• Parkinson’s disease

• Psychosis

• Seizures and epilepsy

Many of these conditions are considered signs and symptoms of Leaky Brain, but they may also be counted among the causes of Leaky Brain.

What Causes Leaky Brain Syndrome? 

The profound connection between the brain and the gut cannot be underestimated. In fact, the stomach contains a lining similar to the blood-brain barrier and performs a similar function for the gut. Therefore, many of the same factors that cause a leaky gut can also lead to a leaky brain.

• Autoimmune diseases

• Bacterial Infections

• Chronic stress & vagus nerve dysfunction

• Disrupted circadian rhythm

• Excess alcohol consumption

• EMF exposure

• Environmental toxins

• Food intolerances/sensitivities

• Gut dysbiosis (infections)

• Heavy metal toxicity 

• Head trauma

• High blood sugar

• Leaky gut

• Liver damage

• Mental health conditions

• Mold and mycotoxins 

• Oxidative stress

• Poor gut health

• Systemic inflammation

• Toxins and infections

• Unhealthy diet/food additives
  

How to Support the Blood-Brain Barrier

Addressing a leaky brain and supporting the BBB starts by combating brain leakage, reducing brain inflammation, and healing a leaky gut. Following the steps below will lower inflammation in the body and brain, maximize the transport of nutrients into the brain, facilitate better removal of toxins out of the brain, reduce oxidative stress, and help rebuild tight junctions to restore the integrity of the BBB.

Drainage and detox

The brain cannot drain if parts of the drainage funnel are backed up, so full-body drainage is crucial, including the cells, colon, liver, bile duct, lymphatic system, organs, and tissues. 

Furthermore, good brain drainage can ultimately help optimize cognitive performance and brain health. Drainage and detox go hand in hand, so once drainage is restored, you can begin to focus on detoxing the brain of bacteria, fungi, glyphosate, heavy metals, and other harmful substances. 

Improve gut health

That gut-brain axis means that our gut health is inseparable from our brain health. Our neurotransmitters, such as the mood-influencing dopamine and serotonin, are produced in the gut, so keeping the gut healthy leads to a healthier and happier brain. On the other hand, as mentioned previously, individuals with a leaky brain are likely to have a leaky gut as well. For a comprehensive guide on healing your gut naturally, visit our “4R” Approach to Gut Health series. 

Limit EMF exposure

One way to fight a leaky brain is to reduce exposure to EMFs. There are many ways to do this, such as deactivating features like Bluetooth or GPS, turning gadgets off entirely, or using airplane mode. This is especially true at night, because nighttime exposure is particularly damaging and affects brain drainage, melatonin production, and sleep. 

Nutrition and brain-healthy foods

To prevent leaky brain, it’s important to limit saturated fats and opt instead for a diet high in pasture-raised meats, unprocessed plant foods, moderate seafood, and low in refined carbohydrates, gluten, dairy, and sugar. 

It’s also beneficial to eat a good variety of brain-healthy foods, including leafy greens, berries, nuts, and whole grains, as well as phytonutrient-rich herbs and spices, including astragalus root and curcumin (from turmeric).

Reduced alcohol consumption

A glass of wine a day may help keep a healthy heart. However, higher amounts of alcohol can cause inflammation that damages brain cells.

Maintain healthy sleep cycles

Everyone knows getting good sleep is important for a healthy body and mind. But did you know that the brain has a drainage system that does its job primarily while we sleep? When we sleep, the glymphatic system drains our brains of pro-inflammatory toxins, pathogens, and waste products. 

Another reason sleep is important is that when we sleep, the brain's pineal gland produces melatonin. Melatonin not only leads to better sleep, but also acts like a brain antioxidant and protector, helping the brain eliminate toxins and waste. When melatonin production is affected, our BBB could become more permeable. That means a good night's sleep is more important to brain health than you may have thought. 

Keep blood sugar levels stable

Insulin resistance and diabetes are notorious brain inflamers. When blood sugar and insulin levels are out of whack, it can damage the brain, causing a breakdown in the BBB, decreasing the removal of waste, and increasing inflammatory immune cells. 

Supplementation

The BBB has a difficult job of keeping pathogens and toxins out and the brain safe, especially when it’s constantly under fire from so many dangerous substances. Fortunately, some excellent natural anti-inflammatory botanicals and supplements can help:

• Acai: protects mitochondria with potent antioxidant properties

• Artichoke leaf: helps support mitochondria and, as a result, energy production

• Astaxanthin: protects mitochondria and helps defend against viruses

• Berberine: reduces BBB permeability and increases resistance to brain damage

• Blueberries: support detox, digestion, and liver health

• Broccoli sprouts: supports the regulation of oxidative stress and boosts the production of the body’s “master” antioxidant glutathione

• Bromelain: supports the immune system and promotes joint health

• Inositol: improves the integrity of the BBB

• L-citrulline: boosts immune function and helps the liver detox ammonia

• Magnesium: reduces the permeability of the BBB

• Mulberry: increases detoxification and glutathione production

• Olive leaf: stimulates mitochondrial production and helps prevent DNA damage

• Pomegranate: lessens gut inflammation

• Vitamins B6, B9, and B12: restore equilibrium to the BBB

• Wheatgrass: enhances immune and liver function

Some of these ingredients — including acai, blueberry, mulberry, and pomegranate —can be found in CellCore's IFC product. This supplement boosts antioxidant protection, promotes Nrf2 activity to aid detox, and supports inflammatory balance.

Brain Health for Overall Health

If brain health, gut health, and overall well-being are areas where you would like support or need one-on-one help, we're here for you. Atlas Specific is more than just your Durango Chiropractor. We are passionate about holistic health and foundational medicine to give you the tools you need to succeed on your wellness journey. 

Click the link below or call our Durango office at 970-259-6803 for a free consultation. 

Notice of Disclaimer:

We are doctors of upper cervical chiropractic, but we are NOT necessarily YOUR doctors. All content and information on this website is for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice, and reading or interacting with this site does not establish any form of patient-doctor relationship. Although we strive to provide accurate information, the information presented here is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a professional in your particular area of need before making medical decisions.