Dr. Spencer Zimmerman: Brain Trauma Effects: How They Change Your Brain-Body Connection and Health

Dr. Zimmerman's passion for brain health stems from his personal experiences with his wife, who, after two car accidents, discovered that she had been unknowingly suffering from symptoms similar to those of his patients. It is essential to recognize that many people have undiagnosed head injuries from accidents or sports that may be impacting their health.There are two categories of head trauma symptoms:Immediate symptoms from the time of injury, such as brain fog, headaches, mood changes, and word-find challenges.Resiliency challenges within the body, similar to autoimmune issues, where you can no longer tolerate things you used to.The brain-body connection is a two-way street and can result in various symptoms, including:FatigueHeadachesADHD and focus issuesDepressionAnxietySleep disturbancesMemory issuesTrouble with word-findEvaluating brain health goes beyond imaging; we must assess functionality. Injuries can cause the brain to not connect as it should, leading to an energy crisis. The brain uses 25-30% of the body's energy, and inflammation can worsen this energy deficiency. Assessing eye movements, tracking targets, and shifting focus points can be essential indicators of brain health.Advanced testing methods, such as video oculography or video nystagmography, are recommended for a thorough evaluation. Brain injuries often make individuals more visually dominant, which means balance is greatly improved with eyes open. Simple balance testing techniques can be used to assess the brain's connection.Factors like stress can lead to poor sleep, blocking the glymphatic system - the brain's cleanup process. This results in a "toxic soup" within the brain. The worse the inflammation and energy crisis, the worse the brain's connectivity, which impacts each aspect of health.There is a direct connection between brain health and autoimmunity. Gut health is essential for healing autoimmunity, but alterations in brain health can impact gut functions like acid and enzyme production and motility. If activities like reading or computer work tire you more than physical exertion, consider testing for brain health.One Step to TakeCheck your balance with eyes open and closed on both firm and soft surfaces to get a better understanding of your brain's connectivity and health.