Functional Medicine for Brain and Nervous System Symptoms

What are brain and nervous system symptoms?

Your nervous system includes your brain, your spinal cord and the nerves that run through your body. The brain and spinal cord together are called the central nervous system. Brain and nervous system symptoms can affect how you move, feel and think.^{3, 4}

This page focuses mostly on thinking problems. These include trouble thinking, concentrating and remembering, which you may see described as "brain fog."²

It is normal to forget things once in a while at any age. As people get older, some do not remember information as well or as quickly as they once did. This is usually a sign of mild forgetfulness, not a serious memory problem. Serious memory problems make it hard to do everyday things, such as driving, using the phone and finding the way home.¹

Memory and thinking problems have many possible causes. More serious memory problems could be due to mild cognitive impairment, or to dementia such as Alzheimer's disease. Other causes include a head injury; blood clots, tumors or infections in the brain; and thyroid, kidney or liver problems. Depression or anxiety, low levels of important nutrients such as vitamin B12, and not eating enough healthy foods can also play a part.¹

Major or stressful life events can also cause memory problems. These usually get better as the stress fades. Trouble thinking and concentrating is also one of the most common symptoms of long COVID in older adults.^{1, 2}

Some causes, such as depression or blood clots, can be treated, and the memory problems usually go away once the condition is treated. This is why finding the cause matters.¹

Common brain and nervous system symptoms

Signs that it might be time to talk with a doctor about memory problems include asking the same questions over and over, getting lost in places you used to know well, and having trouble following recipes or directions. Other signs are becoming more confused about time, people and places, and not taking care of yourself.¹

Some sudden symptoms, such as weakness on one side of the body, confusion or trouble speaking, can be signs of a stroke and need emergency care right away. See "When to get urgent care" below.⁷

Other symptoms that may call for a neurological exam (a check of how your nervous system is working) include:³

• Pain in your back, neck or head, or along a nerve, such as sciatica³
• Tremors (shaking)³
• Weak or stiff muscles³
• Problems with balance or coordination³
• Numb or tingling skin³
• Changes in hearing, vision, taste, smell or touch³
• Slurred speech³
• Confusion or other changes in mental ability³
• Seizures³

How brain and nervous system symptoms are diagnosed and treated

Talk with a doctor if you notice changes in your memory. A doctor can do tests to help find the source of memory problems. They may also suggest that you see a neurologist, a doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the brain and nervous system.¹

A neurological exam usually starts with questions about your symptoms and medical history, and a physical exam. The doctor then checks how different parts of your nervous system are working. This can include your memory and problem-solving, the nerves in your head and face, your strength, coordination, balance and walking, your reflexes, and your sense of touch.³

Nervous system disorders and mental health problems can have similar symptoms. So your doctor may also check your mental health. Depending on your results, they may order more tests, such as blood or urine tests, brain scans such as CT or MRI, or an EEG, which records the brain's electrical activity.³

Finding the cause of memory problems is important for choosing the best course of action. Once the cause is found, you and your doctor can decide on the best treatment plan. People with memory problems should have a follow-up visit to check their memory every six to 12 months.¹

Be careful with pills, supplements, brain-training computer games and other products that promise to improve memory or prevent brain disorders. They might be unsafe, a waste of money, or both. They might even interfere with other medical treatments.¹

Your gut and brain are connected. Nerves link your brain and spinal cord to your digestive system. Your gut also has its own network of nerves in its walls, called the enteric nervous system. Signals flow back and forth between your gut and your brain.⁴

This two-way link is called the gut-brain axis. The gut is home to microbes (tiny living things such as bacteria, fungi and viruses). Scientists now know that these microbes affect signals that pass between the gut and the brain. Gut microbes seem to send messages to the brain in at least three ways: through nerves, hormones and the immune system.^{5, 6}

The gut-brain axis is an area of active research, not an established treatment. It may play an important role in how the brain develops and in diseases where brain cells are slowly lost, but there are still gaps in the research. Much of the evidence so far comes from lab and animal studies. Proof that gut microbes cause brain conditions is still sparse, and experts say this network is not yet understood well enough to treat people based on it.^{5, 6}

How our care fits alongside your neurologist

Avicenna Functional Medicine does not replace your neurologist or the treatment they prescribe. Our role is to add to your care, not to take its place. New, changing or worsening brain or nerve symptoms need a medical evaluation, and our care is never a reason to delay seeing your doctor or neurologist.^{1, 3}

In a functional medicine visit, we look at factors that may contribute, such as inflammation, mitochondrial health and the gut-brain axis, alongside the care you already receive. We also consider stress, mood and nutrition, which can affect memory.¹

Please do not stop or change any prescribed medication without talking to the doctor who prescribed it. Talk with your doctor before trying any product that claims to sharpen your memory, because some can interfere with other medical treatments.¹

What to expect at Avicenna

All visits are by telehealth, for patients located in Florida and Texas. We are a cash-pay practice, and we accept HSA and FSA. Care usually follows these steps:

• A free, 30-minute discovery call to talk about your health and whether our approach is a good fit for you
• A full intake visit with our health coach, under clinician supervision, covering your history, symptoms, current treatment and goals
• Testing chosen for you, where it is likely to be useful
• A personalized plan, with follow-up visits to review how you are doing and adjust the plan as needed

When to get urgent care

Call 911 right away for sudden signs of a stroke or a TIA (a blockage that breaks up before it damages the brain). These include sudden confusion, trouble speaking or trouble understanding speech; sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body; and a sudden severe headache with no known cause. Other signs are sudden trouble seeing from one or both eyes, and sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.⁷

The FAST test can help you remember what to do. Face: ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? Arms: ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Speech: ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange? Time: if you see any of these signs, call 911 right away. Early treatment is essential.⁷

Do not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical staff can begin lifesaving treatment on the way to the emergency room. During a stroke, every minute counts.⁷

If memory problems last more than a few weeks, talk with your doctor, as this may be a sign of something more serious.¹

Telehealth visits with our team are not for emergencies. Call 911 right away if you have warning signs of a medical emergency, such as:⁸

• Chest pain or pressure that lasts two minutes or more⁸
• Trouble breathing or shortness of breath⁸
• Sudden confusion, unusual behavior or trouble waking up⁸
• Fainting or passing out⁸
• Sudden dizziness, weakness or changes in vision⁸
• Being unable to speak⁸
• Severe belly pain, or sudden severe pain anywhere in the body⁸
• Coughing up or vomiting blood⁸
• Thoughts of suicide or of harming someone else (you can also call or text 988)⁸