Why Resistance Training & Other Muscle Building Activities Are Good For The Brain & The Prevention of Dementia.
Likely you’ve heard about the importance of muscle strengthening in the prevention of bone health. What is less known, however, is the relationship between the health of our muscles and the health of our brain. In this newsletter, I’ll address:
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How Our Microbiome Influences Our Brain Development, Sense of Well-Being, Mood, Cognition, Stress Tolerance, Social Engagement, Aging Process & Conditions Such as ADHD, Autism & Alzheimer's.
Our gut microbiome forms a dynamic ecosystem of trillions of microbes, including bacteria, viruses, archaea, and fungi, in thousands of species—many of which have existed long before humans. While research into the microbiome has gained traction only in the past twenty years, our ancestors recognized the connection between digestion and emotions, mood, and behavior. Historical practices like fecal transplants date back to Ancient Greece and 4th century China. By the 18th century, the concept of the gut-brain axis was already recognized, and in the 19th century, physicians acknowledged the influence of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract on mental well-being. However, the 20th century saw a regression in this understanding, with scientists asserting that it was the mind affecting the gut instead. It wasn't until the 21st century that we reconciled these views, acknowledging that both can be true. The brain impacts the gut through the autonomic nervous system, while the gut influences the brain through its microbial inhabitants. So, how exactly does the gut microbiome affect the brain beyond its role in nutrient absorption? This influence is largely through three primary mechanisms. 
By Courtney Snyder, MD
This newsletter is for educational purposes and not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In this newsletter and podcast episode, I focus on the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s. Because this condition starts prior to the onset of symptoms, and because having almost any psychiatric condition appears to raise our vulnerability, many of the tools mentioned relate to other brain symptoms and conditions as well. “What we call Alzheimer's disease is actually a protective response to a wide variety of insults to the brain: inflammation, insulin resistance, toxins, infections, and inadequate levels of nutrients, hormones, and growth factors.” - Dale Bredesen, MD (The End of Alzheimer’s Program: The First Protocol to Enhance Cognition and Reverse Decline at Any Age)
In this newsletter, I’ll discuss:
Resources mentioned:
By Courtney Snyder, MD
Protecting Our Brain Early Starting With Understanding the Role of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, Insulin Resistance, a Potential Microbial Presence & APOe4 Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease that involves the gradual death of brain cells, leading to the loss of brain tissue. The changes in the brain that lead to Alzheimer’s dementia can start up to 20 years before symptoms appear. This is crucial because emerging research and clinical experience in functional medicine suggest that many of the contributing factors can be influenced before symptoms progress. In this newsletter and podcast episode, I’ll explore:
In the next episode, I’ll delve into mainstream treatments and explore functional, integrative, and holistic approaches that target blood sugar regulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and even mold and candida as potential contributors. Mentioned Resources: Other Related Newsletters: Medical Disclaimer: This newsletter is for educational purposes and not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment for either yourself or others, including but not limited to patients that you are treating (if you are a practitioner). Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. 
A tree that I fell in love on my morning walks while we lived in Florida.
By Courtney Snyder, MD
10 Ideas for Increasing Mental Clarity, Energy, and a Sense of Calm. In the last newsletter, we explored how our hormonal stress response can activate mast cells and microglial cells and disrupt neuronal communication leading to symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, depression, anxiety, mood swings, and in some cases, hallucinations. We live in an increasingly inflammatory world—with more toxins, disruptions to the microbiome, and societal pressures from marketing and media. At the same time, factors that naturally lower stress and reduce inflammation—such as human connection, silence, solitude, and time in nature—are becoming scarce.
The good news is that we have choices. Supporting brain health and overall well-being is about returning to the basics of our humanity—the practices we naturally crave and that help restore balance. In this newsletter, we’ll focus on how to reconnect with these essentials to reduce stress and inflammation for better mental health.
“Tree” - Cut paper, ink and acrylic on wood canvas, 12 x12” (by Courtney Snyder)
By Courtney Snyder, MD
This post goes out to those who are unknowingly deep in the throes of mast cell activation and/or brain inflammation. Though our culture is only starting to consider psychiatric conditions as inflammation of the brain, if you or someone you know has panic attacks, depression, mood swings, ADHD, brain fog, chronic fatigue, PTSD, autism, cognitive issues or even dementia, then you know the destruction neuroinflammation plays in people’s lives. |
Courtney Snyder, MDFor anyone experiencing brain symptoms. This blog (and weekly newsletter) is your guide to demystifying root causes and learning about surprising paths to healing. From a holistic - functional adult and child psychiatrist dedicated to helping people heal and thrive. Categories
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