Brain Inflammation and Fatigue in Functional Neurology

How often do you become fatigued when driving compared to in the past? Or how often do you become fatigued when reading compared to in the past? And, how often do you feel you are not getting enough sleep or rest? If you experience any of these problems often, you may be experiencing brain inflammation and fatigue due to a variety of health issues.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and other similar health issues, such as Gulf War illness (GWI), share many common symptoms, several of which can include muscle pain and discomfort, fatigue, cognitive impairment, disrupted sleep, sore throat, headaches, and general malaise, typically after participating in any type of physical activity or exercise.

CFS has frequently been referred to as a mental health issue. In 2015, a National Academy of Medicine-led comprehensive overview of scientific literature and patients' accounts cautioned that many healthcare professionals are doubtful about the seriousness of CFS, commonly mistaking it for a mental health issue or believe it a figment of the patient's imagination."

Moreover, the research study also supports that healthcare professionals should admit CFS as a health issue which needs diagnosis and treatment. The review also discussed what at the time was ultimately considered unknown causes of CFS.

Although important progress was developed in the manner that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is diagnosed and perceived in the medical community, there's currently no known treatment for the health issue and its causes still remain unknown.

New research studies, however, offer new hope for fast and precise diagnosis of the health issue, as changes in brain chemistry associated with inflammation and neurological diseases have been found. Between 836,000 and 2.5 million people in the United States suffer from CFS. The findings may also help people with CFS receive successful treatment.

Furthermore, one research study, which was directed by researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., identified changes in brain chemistry that also exist in other similar health issues, such as GWI, a health issue which is ultimately believed to have affected approximately 175,000 war veterans returning from the Gulf War.

Analyzing the Brain in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Dr. James N. Baraniuk, a professor of medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine, led the new research study, along with the findings which have been published in the journal Scientific Reports. Dr. Baraniuk and his group of researchers analyzed the cerebrospinal fluid of people with CFS and other health issues, such as GWI, in addition to healthy controls.

The group pulled the fluid with a lumbar puncture, before and after the individuals participated in a session of physical activity or exercise. The group additionally analyzed the brains of the individuals utilizing functional MRI (fMRI).

The physical activity or exercise sessions lasted for 25 minutes and consisted of riding a stationary bicycle. The bike immunity increased as predicted by their own era, so the participants reached 85 percent of their maximum heart rate.

Before participating in any physical activities or exercises, amounts of microRNA (miRNA), which are responsible for regulating protein generation, were exactly the exact same in all the individuals participating in the research study. However, 24 hours following the physical activities or exercises, this changed for the three distinct groups of participants.

Every class had a different pattern of modification. The researchers stated, "CFS had 12 diminished miRNAs following physical activity or exercise." Despite symptom overlap of CFS, GWI and other health issues in their differential diagnosis, miRNA patterns in cerebrospinal fluid signaled different mechanisms for post-exertional malaise in CFS and GWI.

Additionally, the analysis also discovered miRNA changes in just two subtypes of GWI. Tachycardia that lasted for two to three days after the workout was developed by 1 subgroup. FMRI investigations revealed that these individuals had smaller brainstems in brain regions responsible for controlling the heartbeat. FMRI scans showed decreased brain activity.

Another GWI group, however, introduced neither modifications to heart rate nor brainstem atrophy, but its own associates appeared to need extra brain regions so as to do a memory task. Surprisingly, Dr. Baraniuk discussed that the miRNA changes found in such states were different from those observed in depression, fibromyalgia, and Alzheimer's disease, among others.

"We certainly see three distinct patterns in the brain's production of those molecules at the CFS group and both GWI phenotypes. This information will probably be well-received by individuals that suffer from such ailments that are misdiagnosed and rather may be medicated for depression or other psychological disorders," stated Dr. James N. Baraniuk

New research studies have demonstrated that changes in brain chemistry associated with inflammation may cause fatigue. Health issues like chronic fatigue syndrome and Gulf War illness are believed to be caused by neuroinflammation and other molecule changes in the brain. In the following article, inflammation and fatigue, can be caused due to a variety of causes, although the causes still remain mostly unknown. Although fatigue may be a frustrating symptom, relief is possible with proper treatment. - Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight

In honor of Governor Abbott's proclamation, October is Chiropractic Health Month. Learn more about the proposal.

Has it become harder for you to learn new things? Or is your temperament generally getting worse? How often do you get fatigued after meals? If you've experienced any of these situations, you may have brain inflammation. The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal and nervous health issues as well as functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or chronic disorders of the musculoskeletal system. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us.

Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez