COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 594
The pattern of antibody elevation across these classes provides
critical clinical information about the stage, chronicity, and
potential triggers of BBB dysfunction [51, 52].
Why Array 20 Matters: The Consequences of BBB Disruption
The blood-brain barrier is essential for protecting the brain from
environmental toxins, gut-derived endotoxins, chemical exposures,
infectious agents, and systemic immune activation [53, 54]. When
the BBB is breached, brain tissues are exposed to inflammatory
triggers with far-reaching consequences:
Neuroinflammation and Brain Fog
Microglial activation and neuroinflammatory cascades impair
cognitive function and mental clarity [55, 56]
Cognitive Decline and Memory Loss
Persistent BBB dysfunction contributes to progressive cognitive
deterioration and memory impairment [57, 58]
Mood Disorders
Inflammatory signaling across a compromised BBB influences
neurotransmitter metabolism and neural circuitry involved in mood
regulation [59, 60]
Neurodegenerative Diseases
BBB dysfunction accelerates protein misfolding, oxidative stress,
and neuronal death in conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
disease [61, 62]
Autoimmune Neurological Conditions
Exposure of brain antigens to the peripheral immune system can
trigger autoantibody production against neural tissues [63, 64]
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