Did you know there are six types of brain dysfunction?
Brain dysfunction encompasses a multitude of factors, of which at least 36 different contributors have been identified. These factors can be grouped into six different categories, each of which can lead to a host of brain-related symptoms such as brain fog, memory issues, problems focusing, depressed mood, and more. To effectively address these issues, it’s crucial to recognize and differentiate between these types.
The problem is that most people don’t just experience one type of brain dysfunction, they often have signs of at least two or more. No wonder just one approach doesn’t work for optimizing brain health! It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation; instead, a personalized strategy is necessary to target the specific types affecting each and every individual.
Let’s get into what those six types are now.
Type 1 – Inflammatory
This type of brain dysfunction occurs when you have ongoing inflammation. This means that something is causing your immune system to be in a constant state of attack. While this process is vital for short-term survival (such as when you cut your finger), the consequences can be profound if left unchecked, leading to cognitive decline, mood disturbances, and even more severe conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
In fact, it’s a primary underlying factor in just about every chronic disease, including brain dysfunction. The problem with this type of brain dysfunction is the inflammation is usually present for years, even decades before you realize it!
Some people feel inflamed, but most will only know whether they have chronic, low-grade inflammation if they run a blood test.
To learn more about a food-first approach to inflammation, click here.
Type 2 – Trophic Loss
The brain relies on an array of nutrients, hormones, and trophic factors for proper function. Insufficient levels of any of these vital elements can lead to cognitive decline. A deficiency in trophic factors, which support cell growth and maintenance, can impair the brain’s ability to repair and renew itself. Ensuring your brain receives these essential elements is extremely important for preserving cognitive function.
Type 1.5 – Glycoctoxicity
This type of brain dysfunction is a mixture of Types 1 and 2 and is characterized by eating excess sugar or foods that readily convert to sugar. Unfortunately, this is typical of the Standard American Diet. Excess sugar not only triggers inflammation but also disrupts insulin sensitivity, a critical factor for brain health. That excess sugar attaches to proteins in the body (such as hemoglobin A1c – hemoglobin with a sugar molecule stuck on it) making them sticky and setting off the body’s alarm system, causing an inflammatory reaction. Too much sugar is toxic to most body tissues, so the body will produce more insulin in response to excess sugar to force it into the cells. Over time, the cells lose their sensitivity to insulin, resulting in insulin resistance, which is closely linked to cognitive decline and dementia.
Type 3 – Toxic
This type of brain dysfunction is characterized by exposure to toxins. Toxins are everywhere! From seafood to dental amalgams to air pollution to paraffin candles to black mold growing in water-damaged homes and chemicals on our food, we are exposed to many different toxins every single day. Our bodies have wonderful detoxification mechanisms, but today’s environment can overwhelm these systems, leading to toxin buildup, especially in fatty tissues like the brain. Toxins can disrupt various brain functions, including neurotransmitter balance, neural signaling, and cellular health. Minimizing your exposure to toxins is essential for protecting your brain. To learn more about toxins and how to minimize them in your home, click here.
Type 4 – Vasculature
Vasculature is the fancy name for your blood vessels, which are essential for delivering nutrients to the brain. Unhealthy vasculature, characterized by issues such as sticky cholesterol and inflexibility, can contribute to cognitive decline and cardiovascular disease. This type of dysfunction affects the brain’s supply of oxygen and nutrients, ultimately impairing cognitive function.
Type 5 – Trauma
Head injury causes the brain to produce amyloid in order to protect it. In many cases, this is removed after the body resolves the inflammation and repairs the damage. However, especially with repeated injury, there can be lasting dysfunction. You may be more at risk for this type of brain dysfunction if you have been in a traffic accident, have fallen, or have experienced repeated minor head injuries during sports.
How to Know Your Type of Brain Dysfunction
In the functional medicine space, we like to “test, not guess” and the brain is no exception. Guessing can be difficult, can be very wrong, and gets expensive very quickly. Luckily, there are various tests to help figure out which type of brain dysfunction you are struggling with and develop a personalized roadmap to begin reversing that dysfunction and relieving your symptoms. If this approach is what you’re looking for, check out some of the different ways to begin testing by clicking the button below.
How to Reverse Brain Dysfunction
Understanding the six types of brain dysfunction is a crucial step towards achieving mental clarity, combating brain fog, and preventing cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. By taking a comprehensive approach to brain health, you can unlock your brain’s full potential and enjoy a vibrant, fulfilling life. Remember that the key lies in personalized strategies tailored to your specific brain dysfunction type, paving the way for lasting cognitive well-being and emotional balance.
So, to begin reversing brain dysfunction and restoring optimal function, you first need to know what type of brain dysfunction you are working with (see above).
However, whether you are waiting for test results to come back or aren’t ready for testing, there are still things you can do right now to begin optimizing your brain function. This is what I designed the OAKLEY Method to do. To get started and read all about it, click here.
Did you enjoy this post? Help me share it!
One thought on “The 6 Types Of Brain Dysfunction”
Comments are closed.