Rescuing my son: Testing for biochemical imbalance in Tommy's brain (Part 1)

Because of the connection between stomach-brain, many neurological disorders start in the stomach rather than in the brain. This is the reason why the first step in my son's wellness plan was to determinate if he had food allergies. Based on the blood work results, it was positive that my son has food sensitivity, rather than food allergies —his food sensitivity is caused by inflammation in his intestine, click here to read more about it. The next step, it is checking bio-chemicals in Tommy’s brain due to food sensitivity or food allergy affects the stomach's capacity of absorbing the nutrients that are necessary for a properly brain function, resulting in a biochemical imbalance in the brain.

NEUROTRANSMITTERS TEST

Understanding Neurotransmitters

According to medterms.com, a Neurotransmitter is "A chemical that is released from a nerve cell which thereby transmits an impulse from a nerve cell to another nerve, muscle, organ, or other tissue. A neurotransmitter is a messenger of neurologic information from one cell to another." 

Under the direction of our nutritionist, we tested Neurotransmitters in Tommy's brain. Based on Tommy's behaviors, such as: irritability, repetitive behaviors, lack of motivation, waking up in the middle of the night among others, our nutritionist decided to test for the following neurotransmitters:

SEROTONIN: An adequate amount of serotonin is necessary for a stable mood, as well as, to balance any excessive excitatory (stimulating) neurotransmitter firing in the brain. Serotonin controls processes in the body, such as: carbohydrate cravings, sleep cycle, pain control, appropriate digestion and auditory processing. If there is an issue with auditory processing, this directly affects language development. 

GABA: This neurotransmitter is mainly responsible for inhibitory signals between neurons. It also contributes to motor control, vision, and other cortical functions. It is also responsible for memory storage. 

GLUTAMATE:  80% of brain's neurons release glutamate. In high levels is toxic. Glutamate’s most vital function as a neurotransmitter is in cognitive activities like memory and learning. 

DOPAMINE: One of its functions in the brain is to regulate mood and movement; therefore, it is required to be in balance for body and brain optimal performance. If it is too high or too low, we can have focus issues such as: forgetting easily what has just been learned or read, or not being able to stay on task.  Dopamine is also responsible for our desire to get things done —in other words, for our motivation.  It also has important roles in pleasure and subjective feelings of happiness.

NOREPINEPHRINE: This neurotransmitter can cause 'anxiety' at elevated levels as well as some 'mood dampening' effects. This neurotransmitter is most involved in the “fight or flight” response under stressful situations. Norepinephrine also works as a hormone. As a neurotransmitter, Norepinephrine helps to regulate state of being awake or reactive to stimuli, dreaming, and moods. As a hormone, norepinephrine increases blood pressure and heart rate, as well as, constricts blood vessels; which are responses that occur when we feel stress.

EPINEPHRINE: It is what we know as adrenaline. It control attentiveness and metal focus.

When it is in elevated levels is a factor  that contributes to restlessness, anxiety, sleep problems or server stress.  Epinephrine also regulates heart rate and blood pressure.

Sample collection on August 14, 2012

Neurotransmitters are tested by urine sample. So collecting the urine sample for the test wasn't a fun process because I always did something wrong and I had to star over again. So every time that I failed collecting the sample, I had to request a sample kit at our Nutritionist's office, which make the whole process longer. But I kept trying until I got it right. 


Discussion of Test Results on September 2011

Serotonin: 310.9 EXCESSIVE, OUT OF A  HEALTHY RANGE

This is the cause of Tommy's auditory processing issues. The treatment will also focus on place its level into the normal range. 


GABA: 6.8 in the preferable range. PERFECT LEVEL

I was expecting it completely off, based on all scientist research I have read about the GABA receptor and Trisomy 21. Scientists have found a deficiency of the GABA receptor in people with Trisomy 21. But one more time, Tommy has broken stereotypes...Yahoo! 

Glutamate: 189.7 EXCESSIVE, OUT OF A HEALTHY RANGE

The high levels of Glutamate are a concern for our nutritionist, because glutamate in an elevated level is considered pure toxin. So we have to work on lowering it to an adequate level and support his lever to realize toxins. 

Dopomine: 370.1 EXCESSIVE, OUT OF A HEALTHY RANGE

We have to work on lowering his Dopamine to a normal range, so Tommy will be able to get back the motivation he lost.

Norepinephrine: 95.0 EXCESSIVE, OUT OF A HEALTHY RANGE

The excessive level of NOREPINEPHRINE indicates that Tommy is under an extreme anxiety. If there is ANXIETY, it also means that the cortisol levels are too high. Further testing was not necessary to check for cortisol because the levels of NOREPINEPHRINE already proof he has anxiety. The treatment will be focused on lowering his norepinephrine levels, as well as, the cortisol. 

Epinephrine: 15.1 EXCESSIVE, OUT OF A HEALTHY RANGE

The treatment will also focus on place its level into the preferable range.

So based on the test results, a treatment was formulated to get the neurotransmitters on balance by supporting the adrenal and thyroid glands, as well as, the natural liver's detoxification function.

Our nutritionist has become a very important member of our team to help Tommy to reach his full potential. I advise to any parent who is rising a child with a genetic disorder to work with a nutritionist right since the beginning. I started my own nutritional intervention since I was pregnant with Tommy and I do believe that it made a huge different for him. He is one of the healthiest kids that are seen at our local Down syndrome clinic. He just goes there for his annual check-ups. If I had met our nutritionist when I was pregnant, without a doubt, I would be working with her since then.

Testing is the only way to find the right treatment and biochemical balance to formulate an individualized wellness plan for a person with T21 or any person. I am TRILLED that Tommy's GABA receptor is in a perfect range because due to the inflammation in his gut it could be completely off, but GOD knows everything! He always shows me that he is by my side even when I think and I cannot go on. Tommy's GABA receptor is the logical explanation to me, why he was doing developmentally good previous to the hospitalization. This is the reason why he recalls events from the past. For example: One day, I showed him a photo of a cockroach and I named it in English. The next day at bath time, he began to sing "La Cucaracha" (cockroach) a Spanish song we hadn't sung for so long (Tommy is simultaneously bilingual, not doubt about it). So I will focus on protect his GABA neurotransmitter, as well as, getting all the other neurotransmitter on balance and that Tommy's gut can completely heal. 


Biochemical unbalance in the brain has not been rule out as a possible cause of my son's regressions and sensory issues.

Note: Due to there are a lot information to share, I will do this post in several parts. In my next post, I will talk about our experience with the neurotransmitter treatment and nutritional intervention.