Brain Inflammation: Addressing The Overlooked Gatekeeper To Trauma Release with. Dr Austin Perlmutter
Dec 10, 2024
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In this conversation, Dr. Austin Perlmutter, a board-certified internal medicine physician and the executive director of Big Bold Health, delves into the overlooked connection between brain inflammation and trauma. He discusses how microglia immune cells contribute to trauma responses and the importance of diet in emotional processing. The talk highlights personalized dietary changes and the mental health benefits of nature exposure. Dr. Perlmutter emphasizes holistic approaches, including sleep and nutrition, for better brain health and trauma recovery.
Brain inflammation is a significant yet overlooked factor in trauma responses, impacting cognitive function and emotional regulation through immune cell activity.
Adequate sleep and a wholesome diet are vital for managing brain inflammation and improving overall mental health, highlighting the interconnectedness of physical and emotional well-being.
Deep dives
The Biological Aspect of Trauma Healing
Healing from trauma requires recognizing its profound effects on our biology, particularly through brain inflammation, which often goes unnoticed. This inflammation is a significant trigger for various trauma responses, influencing cognitive functions and emotional regulation. Discussions emphasize how specific immune cells in the brain, known as microglia, not only contribute to these trauma responses but also hinder healing processes. Understanding this biological dimension is critical for both individuals experiencing trauma and the professionals guiding them in their recovery journeys.
The Interconnection of Immune and Brain Health
The immune system plays a vital role in both brain health and mental health, as brain function reflects the overall state of the body. Immune cells in the brain continuously communicate and respond to various stimuli, resulting in changes in mood and cognition, especially when under stress or after illness. For example, the relationship between infections and increased brain inflammation illustrates the significant impact these factors have on cognitive function and emotional well-being. This insight encourages a holistic view of health, where physical symptoms are understood as interconnected with mental and emotional states.
The Importance of Sleep for Brain Function
Adequate sleep emerges as a crucial factor in managing brain inflammation and maintaining neuroplasticity. Research highlights that sleep does not merely respond to inflammation, but also actively modulates immune health, with poorer sleep potentially exacerbating inflammatory states. The glymphatic system, responsible for clearing metabolic waste, effectively operates during sleep, further linking sleep quality to overall brain health. Prioritizing restorative sleep can lead to significant improvements in cognitive function and emotional stability, making it an essential focus for those working to mitigate trauma effects.
Diet and Nature as Guidance for Mental Health
Diet significantly influences brain health and inflammation, with choices directly affecting neurotransmitter synthesis and cognitive function. Emphasizing a diet rich in whole foods and low in ultra-processed items is suggested to enhance mental health outcomes, while extreme diets could lead to imbalances. Furthermore, nature exposure, or 'forest bathing,' has been shown to decrease stress markers and improve mental clarity, demonstrating the benefits of simply being outdoors. Together, these lifestyle changes promote not just brain health but overall well-being, offering accessible solutions for managing trauma-related challenges.
What can we do about the brain inflammation that holds us back in fog, fatigue and trauma responses?
To help answer that question and share brain inflammation with you is my guest, Dr. Austin Perlmutter, is a board-certified internal medicine physician, New York Times bestselling author, published researcher, and the executive director for Big Bold Health, a food-as-medicine company focused on helping people rejuvenate health through better immune function.
In the evolving field of trauma therapy, we're increasingly recognizing that healing isn't just about processing memories or changing thought patterns. The application of The Biology of Trauma lens is that it is just as much about addressing the impact trauma has had on our biology, which now keeps us stuck in our trauma responses.
One crucial aspect of this biological impact is brain inflammation. It is one of the most common yet most overlooked gatekeepers of trauma healing. Brain inflammation creates many of the symptoms that people attach to their trauma responses, yet often is what is triggering those trauma responses. Yes, you heard me right. It is not just people, places that can trigger our trauma response. It is also a specific immune cell in our brain - microglia.
In this episode, you’ll learn why:
Good insights from therapy seem to fade by the next day
Small stresses feel overwhelming to your brain
What you eat affects how well you can process emotions
Relationship conflicts leave you mentally exhausted
Your diet can dysregulate you just as much as your partner