Introduction

The brain is part of the central nervous system where its main function is to send out neuron signals all throughout the body in a bidirectional connection as it sends the information back. When there are unwanted pathogens that disrupt the neuron signals, it can cause the entire body to be dysfunctional and cause unwanted problems to the brain, gut, musculoskeletal, and immune system. Through the use of functional neurology, many healthcare providers have found ways to help individuals by dampening the effects of neurological disorders from progressing further. In this 2 part series, we will be taking a look at what is functional neurology, its relationship with functional medicine, and how functional neurology can help dampen the effects of neurological disorders. In Part 2, we will take a look at what is ALS and how functional neurology diagnoses ALS. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers who specialized in neurological services. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

 

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, in case you are uncertain here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Is Functional Neurology?

 

So functional neurology is a branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the nervous system. Functional neurology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and diseases involving the central and peripheral nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue, such as muscle. Studies have found that functional neurology is one of the many specialties that are within the world of chiropractic practices. Within chiropractic practice, many chiropractors will start manipulating the spine on patients causing a sense of relief on the spinal nerves. When the spinal nerves are disrupted it causes an imbalance to the nerve output in the body, thus resulting in an unhealthy body and chronic neurological disorders will develop over time.

 

What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is system biology that is based on an approach and focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease. Since each symptom or differential diagnosis may be one of many
contributing to an individual’s illness. Research studies show that functional medicine is represented as a therapeutic partnership between the patient and the practitioner that focuses on the underlying causes of many diseases from a systems biology perspective.

 

How Do They Work Together?

This combination of neurology with functional medicine demands that everyone should understand the disease that they are experiencing, understand the diagnosis which includes the natural history of the disease and standards of care in managing the disorder, along with the ability to consider the unique factors that cause the disease in the individual patient. What this means is that talking with a healthcare provider about what is making a person feel horrible can provide them with the answers that they have been searching for. With the application of functional medicine and functional neurology combined, is how many providers guide the patient through a program that ultimately accomplishes a change in the disease trajectory and a transformation of the individual affected by the disease (functional medicine). Some the examples that functional neurology and medicine actually look include:

• Mental Status
• Cranial Nerves
• Motor Examination
• Bulk, Tone, Power
• Coordination
• Sensation
• Pain/Temperature
• Vibration/Proprioception
• Deep Tendon Reflexes and Primitive Reflexes
• Gait and Station

 

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HCTP Therapy

Stem cells* or HCTP (human cellular tissue products) are part of regenerative cellular treatment that helps boost the body’s own natural healing process. Both international and nationally affiliated clinics and distribution organizations use HCTP to help repair and regenerate damaged cells, diseased organs, and tissues back to their original function in the body. With many upcoming research studies about the beneficial factors of HCTP, many individuals can begin their wellness journey pain-free from chronic disorders.

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Functional Neurology & Neurological Diseases

Since functional neurology deals with diagnosing and treating neurological disorders, research has shown that functional neurological disorders are related to how the brain functions and not to the damage that was caused to the brain’s structure. With this, many healthcare providers can give patients an early diagnosis and treatment to help with the recovery process. Other research studies have also found that when someone has functional neurological disorders, they can function normally like everybody else, however, their brain is unable to send and receive the neuron signals properly causing a disconnection to the lobes’ function and emotional processing in the brain.

 

Functional Neurology & Alzheimer’s Disease

 

So the term “Alzheimer’s disease” actually refers to an aggregate of neuropathologic changes and thus is defined in vivo by biomarkers and by postmortem examination, not by clinical symptoms. Research studies have shown that Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that causes the brain to go into atrophy and causes the brain cells to die. As a common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease causes deficits in two or more areas of cognition, and it progressively worsening of memory and other cognitive functions. There are no actual disturbances of consciousness as more studies show that the manifestations of Alzheimer’s include the disturbances in the brain’s area where memory and language do function. Alzheimer’s disease occurs between ages 40 and 90, most often after age 65; and with the absence of systemic disorders or other brain diseases that in and of themselves could account for the
progressive decline in memory and cognition due to this progressive neurological disorder.

 

Functional Neurology & Chronic Inflammation

 

Inflammation in the body in its acute form is beneficial as it makes sure that it repairs the damaged area. As research studies have shown that inflammation is a fundamental, complex response that eliminates infections and the initial cause of cell injury. Even though it is beneficial in its acute form when it turns into chronic inflammation it can cause tissue damage to the organs and can affect the brain. This is known as neuroinflammation and studies have shown that neuroinflammation is an inflammatory response that is within the brain or the spinal cord. When the inflammatory cytokines are attaching themselves to the neuron signals, it can weaken the blood-brain barrier and cause many unwanted symptoms to the brain. Some of the risk factors that can cause inflammation include:

• Poor sleep habits
• Eating inflammatory foods
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Chronic stress
• Social isolation
• Environmental toxins
• Chronic infections

 

Conclusion

All in all, functional neurology helps deal with the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders in the brain. When there are neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and chronic neuroinflammation that are causing the brain to stop sending the neuron signals all throughout the body, can cause it to develop into chronic illnesses over time. Through the combination of functional neurology and functional medicine, many health care providers can help many individuals understand what is happening and can guide them on their wellness journey to be pain-free.

 

References

Bland, Jeffrey. “Functional Medicine: An Operating System for Integrative Medicine.” Integrative Medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), InnoVision Professional Media, Oct. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4712869/.

DiSabato, Damon J, et al. “Neuroinflammation: The Devil Is in the Details.” Journal of Neurochemistry, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5025335/.

Margach, Russell W. “Chiropractic Functional Neurology: An Introduction.” Integrative Medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), InnoVision Health Media Inc., Apr. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6413643/.

Medical Professionals, NINDS. “Functional Neurologic Disorder.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2 Aug. 2021, www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Functional-Neurologic-Disorder.

Schachter, Armand S, and Kenneth L Davis. “Alzheimer’s Disease.” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, Les Laboratoires Servier, June 2000, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181599/.

Skaper, Stephen D, et al. “An Inflammation-Centric View of Neurological Disease: Beyond the Neuron.” Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, Frontiers Media S.A., 21 Mar. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871676/.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Alzheimer’s Disease.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 19 Feb. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Functional Neurologic Disorder/Conversion Disorder.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 11 Jan. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/conversion-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355197.

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