• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Archives
  • Directory
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
The Brain Health Magazine
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Archives
  • Directory
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The Brain Health Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Hormones and Brain Function

What happens when hormones go haywire

in Brain Function, Hormones, Mental Health
January 26, 2022
0
Hormones and Brain Function

By Dr. Shane Steadman

Most people understand changes in hormones can cause changes in brain function. These changes most often affect a person’s mood and libido, but hormones vastly impact the metabolic function and brain. When the topic of hormones is mentioned, many people only think about estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. But many other hormones, such as cortisol, thyroid hormone, DHEA, and insulin — just to name a few — influence our brains. Hormones are involved in neurochemistry, neurotransmitters, and neuroinflammation. They also control and regulate  many functions in the brain. An important note is the brain sends signals that tell your body when to produce hormones and how much to produce. This brain/body interplay is seen daily in how we interact with others and our environment. When disruption of this interplay takes place, it affects our relationship with others, the ability to focus, development, and the aging process.

When hormonal imbalance occurs, people often describe symptoms such as brain fog, migraines, decreased sleep, decreased memory, depression, and anxiety. Finding the cause of hormonal imbalance can be difficult and often involves a long list of possibilities to choose from. The cause of hormonal imbalances can range from stress, infections, liver dysfunction, or gut dysfunction to dysglycemia. The big picture is that everything can influence hormones, and hormones affect every cell in the body.

Inflammation

Inflammation, commonly referred to as brain fog, is the most common complaint described after car accidents, TBIs, stress, hypothyroid conditions, diabetes, and more. Hormones have a significant impact on microglia cells in the brain. Microglial cells are part of the neuroinflammatory process, which can be seen with events like brain injuries and processes that activate the immune system.

Certain hormones play a role in immune modulation, or act as an anti-inflammatory. . Evidence suggests  estrogen, one of the more common hormones associated with modulating inflammation, plays a part in reducing microglial activities and modulating inflammation in the brain. This example can be seen during menopause when estrogen levels fluctuate or decrease, causing brain fog and decreasing memory during those years.

In addition, studies show  progesterone can be neuroprotective. whereas high cortisol can lead to neuroinflammation. Hormones are much like “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”: Too much or too little can cause inflammation. Hormones need to be just right.

Neurotransmitter

Hormones impact  different neurotransmitters in the brain. For example, progesterone can have a positive impact on GABA and dopamine — In other words, progesterone can influence moods including anxiety and depression. Estrogen positively affects  serotonin, and testosterone affects dopamine. Other hormones, such as thyroid hormone, can impact a wide range of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, GABA, serotonin, glutamate, and acetylcholine. Therefore, those suffering from hypothyroid usually complain of  memory problems, anxiety, depression, brain fog,  and brain fatigue. With this understanding, understanding how hormone imbalances can cause so many neurological symptoms is easy.

Hormones are very influential on brain function. As mentioned earlier, hormones can impact microglial cells, inflammation, and neurotransmitters. They can also impact  the hippocampus,  which works with  memory and the amygdala, which  influences mood and anxiety, neuron signaling, and neurodevelopment in infants. Too often in medicine, hormones are placed in a box and not evaluated with other systems. Hormones need to be evaluated in conditions such as neurodegenerative disorders (i.e., Parkinson’s and dementia), TBIs, and even psychiatric disorders.Experts use different approaches for testing, evaluating, and treating hormone problems. Within each approach, understanding the brain-hormone interplay and how supporting hormones can positively impact brain function are important.

Dr. Shane Steadman, DC, DACNB, DCBCN, CNS, is the owner and clinic director of Integrated Brain Centers. To learn more about how they can help with concussions, stroke, and TBIs, please visit www.integratedbraincenters.com. For a free consultation, please call 303-781-5617.

 

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare Via EmailPinterest
Next Post
The Spoon Theory and Having a Traumatic Brain Injury

The Spoon Theory and Having a Traumatic Brain Injury

SIGN UP

BLOG

Eye-Ear Connection Plays Major Role in Proprioception

Eye-Ear Connection Plays Major Role in Proprioception

By Deborah Zelinsky, O.D. “Vestibular information is integrated with proprioceptive and other sensory inputs to generate our sense of motion,” say authors of a recent study published in a 2021 issue of Current Opinion in Physiology (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2020.12.001). This explains why patients with vestibular sensory loss or other vestibular impairments find “everyday activities like walking” to […]

Read more
Proprioception and TBI

Proprioception and TBI

by James A. Heuer, PA Proprioception, simplified, is disturbed balance. Proprioception is how a person knows the position of the body, the location of their legs or arms, and how their head is held. It is the awareness of where the body is, and it is learned throughout a person’s lifespan. As muscles strengthen, they […]

Read more
Smoky Quartz for Balancing and Grounding

Smoky Quartz for Balancing and Grounding

By Kristen Brown Owning your place and space in the world takes a powerful mindset. Whether it’s navigating terrain physically or navigating situations mentally and emotionally, you will always find opportunities to see and feel where you’re at in the moment. One simple way to bring more awareness to your body, mind, and spirit is […]

Read more
This Professional Speaker & Auctioneer Couldn't Talk Her Way Out of Brain Injury Symptoms

This Professional Speaker & Auctioneer Couldn’t Talk Her Way Out of Brain Injury Symptoms

By Ed Roth Letitia Frye will be the first to tell you she doesn’t sugar coat anything. But she did try to hide a few things, namely the ocular and physical limitations her brain injury caused her at work and home. West Coast-born, East-Coast raised, Letitia doesn’t have a 9-5 desk job or a typical […]

Read more
Our Children are Our Legacy: Ensuring a Daughter's Success

Our Children are Our Legacy: Ensuring a Daughter’s Success

By Ian Hebeisen 20 years ago, Mike Lang returned home to find his house empty – not unusual, since he knew his wife Kelly and their two daughters were at a ballet rehearsal. Upon checking the answering machine, however, Mike learned that they never made it to their destination. “The message was from our friend […]

Read more
Joy Essential Oil

Joy Essential Oil

By Amy Zellmer, Editor-in-chief A complementary tool that can help you achieve a healthy lifestyle, essential oils are easy to use and smell great, with a variety of uses. All oils are not created equal. I personally only trust the Young Living brand because I know they maintain complete control over their product from seed […]

Read more
From Concussion to Competition

From Concussion to Competition

By Mohammed Elamir, MD, FACP, Aviv Clinics Physician When 14-year-old Linden Perry came to Aviv Clinics, we asked about her expectations of our program. “I just want to be me,” she answered. It’s a response we hear frequently at Aviv Clinics, where our unique, comprehensive medical program helps people improve their brain function. Whether they […]

Read more
Proprioception: a Mind-Body Connection

Proprioception: a Mind-Body Connection

by Dr. Kassie Kaas, DC Proprioception, also referred to as kinesthesia, is defined as your ability to sense your movement or body position. That internal awareness helps you determine if you are standing, seated, in motion, or experiencing a gravitational force even with your eyes closed. Millions of special receptors located in joints, tendons, skin […]

Read more
Mexican Fried Rice

Mexican Fried Rice

by Amy Zellmer, Editor-in-chief What You Need: 7 oz. (300g) chicken breast 2 cloves garlic, crushed scant ½ cup (100g) rice 2 tbsp. coconut oil ½ red onion, chopped 1 red pepper, diced ⅜ cup (100g) sweetcorn, drained ½ cup (100g) red kidney beans, drained 1 tomato, peeled, chopped 1 avocado, stone removed, flesh diced […]

Read more

INSTAGRAM

Follow Us!

  • And these are just the reported numbers. There are estimates that this number is likely double!!! Chances are you or someone you love will experience a TBI in their lifetime. 

#tbi #braininjury #pcs #concussion #advocacy
  • Just received the newest issue of @miradormagazine …Mirador is an age-appropriate, dementia-friendly publication created for people experiencing cognitive change.

I am contributing a regular seated yoga feature in each issue … because yoga is so important for neuroplasticity and overall brain health. 

#brainhealth #neuroplasticity #dementia #cognitivedecline #braininjury #tbi #abi #concussion #pcs #dementiafriendly #seatedyoga #chairyoga #accessibleyoga
  • Today is World Disability Day, also known as International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 

As someone living with an invisible disability I take a lot of pride in educating others that not all disabilities are seen, and to never judge a book by its cover. 

Someone may look or seem able bodied, but you should never make a blanket judgement about what they should or shouldn’t be able to do. 

I use the elevator a LOT to go up just one short of flight of stairs. It’s really annoying when someone says something like “let’s just take the stairs” because they don’t want to be inconvenienced by waiting for the elevator, without taking my needs into consideration. 

I get it, I look fine and able bodied. It’s easy to forget that I’m disabled. 

But this is exactly why I take these moments to share and educate. 

If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you know I’ve spent hours lobbying at the State Capitol and the Nation’s Capitol for disability rights. I also started an awareness campaign called #NOTINVISIBLE (right before the pandemic hit). I take awareness and education very seriously, and am always looking for groups to speak at if you know any! 

What are YOU going to do today to celebrate? 

#worlddisabilityday #disabilityday #dayofpersonswithdisabilities #iamdisabled #invisibledisability
  • The FREE @LoveYourBrain Mindset Challenge starts now! 

Give yourself the gift of balance, PLUS a chance to win great prizes when you sign up before November 18th.

The end of the year can be filled with busyness, overload, and difficult emotions. That’s why they’re inviting you to find balance and tap into inner peace, resilience, and overall well-being this season!

When you join the challenge you
  • Look what I picked up from the printer!! It’s here and it’s almost ready to ship! There’s still time to order your copy 

www.concussiondiscussions.com/pre-order
  • Day four lineup 
@integratedbraincenters 
@drkassie_k 
@healthybrainnow 
www.concussiondiscussions.com 

#concussion #braininjury #tbi #pcs #postconcussionsyndrome #postconcussionrecovery
  • Day Three Lineup: 
@amyzellmer 
MO Functional Neurology 
www.concussiondiscussions.com

#concussiondiscussions #concussion #pcs #postcincussionsyndrome #postconcussionrecovery #braininjury #tbi
  • Day Two’s lineup:
@the_shiu_clinic 
@healthybrainnow 
@portlandchiropracticneurology1 
@northwestfunctionalneuro 

#concussiondiscussions #concussion #braininjury #tbi #pcs #postconcussionsyndrome #postconcussionrecovery
  • Today is DAY ONE of the Concussion Discussions and our lineup is: 
@healingresponse 
@integratedbraincenters 
@kaplanbrainandbody 

There’s still time to register and get in on this free virtual summit! 
www.concussiondiscussions.com

#braininjury #concussion #tbi #pcs #postconcussionsyndrome #postconcussionrecovery #functionalneurology #funcneuro

© Copyright 2019 | The Brain Health Magazine

  • Advertise With Us
  • Submission Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Contact Us

DISCLAIMER: THIS MAGAZINE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE - View PDF

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Archives
  • Directory
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.