Research Review: The Possible Role of Cranio-Cervical Trauma and Abnormal CSF Hydrodynamics in the Genesis of Multiple Sclerosis

What is this research about?

This research paper focuses on how Cranio-Cervical (head and neck) trauma can cause Multiple Sclerosis due to abnormal CSF hydrodynamics. The eight MS patients studied in this article had two things in common: 1. Abnormal CSF flow shown in upright MRI studies 2. A history of Cranio-Cervical Trauma.

 

What is the science behind this research?

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colorless liquid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. While the primary function of CSF is to cushion the brain within the skull and serve as a shock absorber for the central nervous system, CSF also circulates nutrients and chemicals filtered from the blood and removes waste products from the brain.

Cerebrospinal Fluid flow can be altered in the neck due to abnormal shifts of the cervical spine which leads to lesions of the spinal cord and brain. Altered CSF flow create abnormal hydrostatic pressure in the skull that pushes CSF into the brain tissue. Additionally, the turbulent flow of the CSF can also wear on the sensitive neurological tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

 

Normal CSF Flow

Abnormal CSF Flow

 

Why is this important?

This is important for ALL patients, not just those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This study indicates that unresolved head and neck trauma can cause neurological damage that can lead to MS but also a myriad of other secondary conditions.

 

What does it mean for me? 

If you’ve had trauma to your head and neck, it is important to get checked in our office for abnormal shifts in the cervical spine. You may also need an upright MRI study to observe the abnormal CSF flow.

After a head or neck trauma, most of us are more concerned with the immediate effects of the injury. However, this study shows that we should also be concerned with prolonged periods of abnormal CSF hydrodynamics and the subsequent neurological deficits.

LINK TO RESEARCH PAPER

Podcasts are a fun and easy way to get health, fitness, and nutritional information on the go! You can listen to it in your car, while you work, or in the gym as you exercise. Another great feature of podcasts is that they’re FREE! Here are the three that I listen to regularly that would be a good start if you don’t know where to begin! Enjoy!

1. Bulletproof Radio

Dave Asprey is a Silicon Valley investor and entrepreneur, a professional biohacker, and the creator of Bulletproof Coffee made with butter. He is host of Bulletproof Radio, a nationally syndicated radio show and #1 ranked podcast with 10 million downloads. Dave serves as Chairman of the Silicon Valley Health Institute.

Dave spent 15 years and $300,000 to hack his own biology. He used techniques to upgrade his brain by more than 20 IQ points, lowered his biological age, and lost 100 lbs without using calories or exercise.

His work has been featured on The Tonight Show, Nightline, Forbes, CNN, ABC News and FOX News. His writing has been published by the New York Times and Fortune, and he’s been featured in The Financial Times, Rolling Stone, Men’s Health, Vogue, Fast Company, Marie Claire, Women’s Health, and dozens more.

Dave’s work is born out of a fifteen-year single-minded crusade to upgrade the human being using every available technology. It distills the knowledge of more than 120 world-class MDs, biochemists, Olympic nutritionists, meditation experts, and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on personal self-experiments.

From 40 Years of Zen private brain EEG facilities hidden in a Canadian forest to remote monasteries in Tibet, from Silicon Valley to the Andes, high tech entrepreneur Dave Asprey used hacking techniques and tried everything himself, obsessively focused on discovering:

What are the simplest things you can do to be better at everything?

Knowing this leads to being bulletproof, the state of high performance where you take control of and improve your biochemistry, your body, and your mind so they work in unison, helping you execute at levels far beyond what you’d expect, without burning out, getting sick, or just acting like a stressed-out jerk. It used to take a lifetime to radically rewire the human body and mind this way. Technology has changed the rules.

iTunes Link

2. The Fat-Burning Man Show by Abel James

Abel James is a New York Times bestselling author and modern-day Renaissance man. He stars as a celebrity coach on ABC television and has been featured in People Magazine, WIRED, Entertainment Tonight, and NPR. As host of the #1 podcast in 8+ countries, Fat-Burning Man, Abel has helped millions reclaim their health and perform at their best with cutting-edge science, outdoor workouts, and outrageously good food.

Abel has keynoted for the Federal Government, lectured at Ivy League universities, and advised Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, Danaher, and Lockheed Martin. He was named as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness by Greatist in 2015 and 2016.

Distinguished as a Senior Fellow with Honors from Dartmouth College, Abel created his own curriculum to specialize in brain science, music, and technology. He later published his research in The Musical Brain, which became a #1 Amazon bestseller.

iTunes Link

3. Half Size Me

The Half Size Me™ Show is a weekly podcast focused on helping you lose weight and get healthy in a real, sustainable, and maintainable way. Host Heather Robertson interviews real people who share their inspirational stories of weight loss and maintenance. Along with real world tools, resources, and tips to help you achieve your own weight loss and wellness goals, you’ll get your questions answers in the Ask Coach Heather sessions. So, whether you’re just getting started losing weight, already a maintainer, or somewhere in between, The Half Size Me™ Show is for you!

iTunes Link

• Atrophy of gray matter – tissues of the brain actually shrink in key areas of the brain that control functions such as organizing, planning, prioritizing, and impulse control.  Damage was also noted in areas of the brain that play a role in our ability to be empathetic and compassionate towards others. 

• Damage to white matter – the white matter of the brain forms the connections between different areas and plays a critical role in communication of nerve signals. Interrupted connections means loss of normal communication between the brain and body. 

• Impaired dopamine function – the release of dopamine forms the basis for addiction, whether it be to food, smoking, gambling or screen-time.  Dopamine is the brain’s feel-good fuel. Prolonged internet use leads to a reduced number of dopamine transporters, which results in a vicious cycle of excess dopamine creating a reward for winning that internet game or getting another “like” on your Facebook post, only furthering the addictive behavior.   

• Stop using your phone as an alarm clock. Not only can having your phone nearby interrupt your normal sleep cycle, having it within an arm’s reach on your bedside table makes it very easy for it to be the first think you reach for in the morning. 

• Set up phone-free times for you and your family. Some good times to consider are meal times (dining in or out), and at least an hour before bedtime. 

• Use an app such as Freedom to set appropriate limits on app and internet access.  If you need to be on the computer to get things done, Freedom will keep you from losing focus and finding yourself down a social media rabbit hole 20 minutes later. 

 

Your health depends on the ability of your nervous system to interpret information from your body and environment, and to react/adapt properly. For instance, when you eat a donut and the sugar floods your blood stream, the nervous interprets that information and directs the proper response, taking that sugar and storing it into our fat cells. This is something that is happening constantly within our bodies, as we sleep, as we play, as we work. When this system is working well, it is like a symphony, all the different sections playing their part to create a wonderful, coordinated, and efficient concert. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case . Abnormal shifts within the spine obstructs the nervous system. The conductor has one hand tied behind his back and the symphony breaks down into disarray.

When this breakdown happens, the information from the joints and muscles around the spine is flawed and when it is interpreted the adaptation is equally flawed and broken. In computer programming, this is called Garbage IN, Garbage OUT. In our bodies, the abnormal information from our nerves causes secondary postural distortions, pain, stiffness, and degeneration of the disk and joints in the spine. Without proper information, the body fails to interpret itself and the surrounding environment.

NeuroStructural Chiropractic is designed to help your body with this problem by removing abnormal shifts in the spine that is causing garbage data/input. We know that the human body is the most amazing model/system, all it needs is good input for good health. Get checked to make sure you don’t have any abnormal shifts disrupting your system!

 

 

 

 

 

Head Injury, Brain Disease & Master Genes

It’s no secret that there’s a growing awareness about the short- and long-term ramifications of head injury. The NFL has an evolving concussion protocol and the scientific research studies that came out at the end of 2016 showed that youth football players had brain changes even without a concussion diagnosis.  Head injuries, of course, are not just reserved for football players.  The child on the playground, the cyclist, the fender-bender – nobody is immune.

Very recent research is making a connection between head injuries and the alteration of genes that can lead to some serious brain diseases.  Researchers identified, for the first time, “master genes” in the brain that they believe are responsible for the control over hundreds of other genes which are linked to many neurological and psychiatric disorders:

Parkinson’s disease

Alzheimer’s

PTSD

ADHD

Autism

Depression

Schizophrenia

Stroke

What Is A Gene?

We hear all the time that many traits or conditions are genetic, or in one’s genes.  What does this mean?  The gene is the basic unit of heredity.  If you could look inside any of your body’s 50 trillion cells, at the very center in the nucleus you’d find 46 chromosomes – 23 from your mother and 23 from your father.  These chromosomes are the blueprints that hold the instructions to construct and maintain your body – your DNA.  A gene is a distinct stretch of DNA that determines a specific characteristic about you, from your hair and eye color, to your susceptibility to certain inherited health conditions.

Damaged Gene –> Damaged Protein

The working theory of this current research is that these master genes are damaged after a traumatic brain injury and can trigger further damage to the other genes under their control.  Genes have the potential to become one of many types of proteins.  When the brain tissue is injured, the proteins they become can be irregular or damaged.  Alternatively, the number of expressed copies of the gene can be altered, which can also prevent the gene from working properly.  The bottom line is damaged gene = damaged protein = potential for disease such as Alzheimer’s.   

What does this mean for people who have had traumatic brain injuries?  The promising news in this early research is the potential for a gene-based blood test that can determine if a head injury has caused these changes.  The ability to measure some of these genes may lead to early predictions of whether a person is at a higher risk of developing any of the related neurological or psychological conditions.   

In the meantime, taking care of your brain after a head  injury is always the best form of protection as far as future health conditions are concerned.  A good omega-3 supplement, vestibular rehabilitation, NeuroStructural Chiropractic care, and time for the injured tissues to heal are your best lines of defense.

Head Injuries Can Alter Hundreds of Genes And Lead To Serious Brain Diseases

What is a gene?

Brain Changes Seen In Youth Football Players Without Concussion

We live in a world where we are constantly being bombarded with information. Access to information of all types is more accessible than ever and the amount of data out there is increasing exponentially as we speak. According to the latest estimates, we’ve created more information in the last 10 years than in all of human history before that. Amazing!

This is, of course, due to the omnipresence of the internet, social media, and smartphones. In this cauldron of information, how do we know what is true? When it comes to news and information about our health, how can we know what to believe? How do we separate what is fact from fiction?

Here are 5 things to look for when reading information or news about your health:

1. Look at the quotes in a story (or, rather, look for the lack of quotes):Legitimate journalists will use multiple sources from people who are considered experts and professionals in their fields. Most often, the article will include direct quotes from these sources.
2. Google it!: Do a little digging online to see if the sources or citations within an article are correct and true. If it is citation, you will most likely find it used in other articles as well. If it’s a source, a professional or expert, then you should be able to access their work or credentials online.
3. Pay attention to the domain and URL:For instance, there is a website URL: www.abcnews.com.co that is a fake website that looks very similar to the legitimate website www.abcnews.com.
4. Does it contain any citations?:Most health articles have citations, usually to other articles or published research, that support the claims being made in the article. If it doesn’t, that’s a major red flag. Most scientific work will have a lot of references and is published in peer reviewed journals. Also, make sure the work that the article cites supports the original author’s findings. Often, they are hoping you won’t take a closer look for data being used out of context.
5. Does the article make outrageous claims?:“The cure for _______” or “ _______ definitively proves X” are major red flags. If it’s too good to be true, most of the time it is. This is a circumstance where Google is your best friend. If a cure or breakthrough is found, EVERYONE will be talking about it. It would be in every major news outlet and publication.

Can there be differing opinions about your health? Of course! Most doctors don’t agree about everything. But, it’s important that when you are reading an article about the latest health news or doing research to help you make a decision about your healthcare that you get the most reliable and truthful information available.

READ MORE:

How to spot fake news

Fake news or real news

How to spot fake health news (Video)

How to spot a fake science article

Reputable Medical Journals

 

Over the last 3-5 years, we have seen the rise of companies such as Uber and Airbnb in what economists are calling the “sharing economy.” These companies are doing so well that both can be found on Fortune’s Unicorn List, a list of private companies that have at least a billion dollar valuation. What makes these services so profitable and creative is that they use what already exists, your car or a basement apartment in your home, and makes use of it in a way that maximizes it potential value. In the case of Uber, you already have your car.  You might own it outright or be making payments on it, and you are paying for insurance, so why not turn those costs into an investment? This is a great business model because it’s simple and sustainable. You don’t have to build anything new. You don’t have to sell anything. You take what you have already and make it work for you.

When we look at healthcare, most services and treatments do exactly the opposite of Uber. Rather than working with what is already there, they essentially add to (or in some cases like surgery) take something away from your body. It’s a business model centered on treating and managing symptoms. If something isn’t working right with your body, there is a product available for that. For instance, if you have an ache or pain, you take an Advil or Tylenol for relief; This is adding something to the body for the purpose of symptom management. Without a doubt, there are times where some healthcare products are lifesaving, especially in a crisis or emergency. But for the majority of us, thankfully, we do not live in a state of constant crisis as far as our health is concerned.

This is where NeuroStructural Chiropractic care can make a difference. Instead of focusing on symptoms and treating pain, NeuroStructural Chiropractic looks for underlying Structural Abnormalities within the spine. We know that these departures from normal can compromise the structural integrity of the spine (the foundation of the human body) and can also cause deficits in optimal brain-body communication over the complex network of wires (nerves) that the spinal segments are responsible for protecting. Focusing on the underlying cause allows the NeuroStructural Chiropractor to provide a self-sustaining, longer-lasting solution to the patient’s Secondary Conditions (symptoms).

In essence, we look at your body and we find ways to maximize its potential for health without adding or taking anything away from it. NeuroStructural Chiropractic improves the body so that it is PROACTIVE in terms of PREVENTING illness, disease, and degeneration, while at the same time OPTIMIZING the body so that every muscle and organ is working at full capacity.

Is this possible? Health without external products and treatments? Emphatically, the answer is YES. In fact, health has always come from within us. And just as it is so in this new sharing economy, the best model is one where you can maximize what you already have within your amazing body.

Hopefully by now you know how important your gut health is to your overall wellbeing.  A healthy microbiome usually means a strong immune system, good digestion, and a clearer thinking.  About 70 percent of our immune system is housed in the gastrointestinal tract, so protecting it is critical for good immune function.

There are many reasons why our intestinal flora might be out of balance.  Antibiotic or other medication use, food sensitivities, infection, or a breakdown in communication between the brain and gut can all interfere with the maintenance of a healthy gut.

Now that we know that bacteria is not our enemy, how do we nurture a healthy relationship with it?
How do we begin to rebuild a healthy environment in our digestive system?

·         Eat fermented foods – kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, and Greek yogurt are all rich in beneficial bacteria.

·         Probiotics & prebiotics – if you’re looking to supplement, using a pharmaceutical-grade probiotic can replenish your microbiome.  Prebiotics are also available, and act as food for the good bacteria so they can grow and flourish.

·         Fiber – gut bacteria love fiber because it makes it to the intestine undigested where bacteria can feast on it, so be sure to eat your fruits and veggies.

·       Avoid antibacterial soaps – even the FDA has recently recognized that antibacterial soaps not only do little to nothing to make soap work better, and they may actually contain unsafe ingredients like triclosan.  Washing with plain soap and warm water is sufficient to prevent the spreading of germs to others.  Soaps, shampoos and other cleansers that will clean your skin without stripping it of the beneficial bacteria are much preferred, such as Mother Dirt, which nurtures and replenishes natural bacteria that normally live on our skin.

·         Don’t over sterilize your environment – a little dirt never hurt anyone.  In fact, there’s a building body of evidence that it’s actually good for you.  Studies show that children raised in ultra-clean environments aren’t exposed to organisms that help them to develop appropriate immune system responses.  Obviously things like washing your hands after using the bathroom are habits we should keep, but we shouldn’t live in fear of kissing the family dog or eating that piece of dropped food off of the kitchen floor.

Taking these steps gives your gut flora, the gatekeeper to your immune system, a fighting chance to thrive.  Remember that bacteria only become our enemy when things are out of balance.  Under normal operating conditions, bacteria support our health and help us to fell and function at our best.

Related Links and Articles:

Your Living Biome: The Living Ecosystem That Keeps Us Healthy

Defining the Human Biome

Fermented Food: A recipe for good gut health? 

Babies Know: A Little Dirt is  Good for You

We are losing the war on bacteria and our health is the biggest victim.

Antibacterial soap, bleach, and disinfecting wipes are common items on the shelves of our grocery stores. As a society, we are obsessed with hygiene. We wash our bodies once, sometimes twice, a day with hot and soapy water. This obsession coupled with our phobia of bacteria keeps sales of these products strong but our immune system compromised.

On top of that, the over use of antibiotics further compromises our immune system while creating super bugs that become antibiotic-resistant.

We have missed the point completely.

Bacteria is not our enemy. On our skin, a healthy bacterial diversity and flora prevents pathogens from entering the skin. In our gut, a healthy bacteria flora is one that’s balanced with a large variety to help you break down food and synthesize important vitamins and nutrients. Most bacteria have a SYMBIOTIC relationship with the body including notorious bacteria such as H. pylori, E. coli, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus.

So what happens when you get an infection if these bacteria are already in your system? The answer is twofold.

Number 1: The immune system becomes stressed, which causes the bacteria diversity of the body to falter.

Number 2: An unbalanced community of bacteria flora allows certain bacteria such as E. coli to overwhelm the entire system.

THAT’S when these bacteria can become very dangerous. A weakened immune state and an imbalance of the bacterial flora is how most infections happen. This is why only some of the kids at the playground get sick or how only a few of your colleagues at work catch the latest bug going around.

Next week we will talk about how we can be the ones that don’t get sick by boosting our immune system and nurturing a diverse bacterial ecosystem! 

Suggested Articles:

How we stop the rise of super bugs

Antibiotics and Resistance Fighters

CDC sounds alarm on deadly , untreatable super bugs

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-raphael-kellman/the-war-on-bacteria—-who-are-we-really-harming_b_9253218.html

https://www.wired.com/2012/03/allergic-bacteria-disease/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ultimate-social-network-bacteria-protects-health/