Why a neuro checkup?
Do you suffer from:
Mood, behavioral disorders
Professional, family, post-traumatic stress,
Burn out
Sleeping troubles
Regular intake of psychotropic drugs
Resistance to conventional antidepressants
Behavioral Effects of Calorie Restriction
Neurotransmitters are molecular mediators that ensure communication between neurons and ensure the optimal functioning of our brain in the face of various situations encountered during our life. Our mood, our behaviors, our thoughts, our emotions are largely influenced by these important molecules acting at the level of the brain
Norepinephrine is a very psychoactive neurotransmitter. It creates a favorable ground for arousal, learning, sociability, sensitivity to emotional signals and sexual desire.
Noradrenaline will be broken down into MHPG which will be eliminated in the urine. Measurement of the level of this metabolite indicates the activity of central noradrenergic neurons.
Adrenaline is released in the blood mainly in cases of intense emotions: fear, anger, stress. Adrenaline makes it possible to mobilize the whole organism to face a danger. Its secretion leads to a series of immediate physiological responses throughout the body: increased heart rate, increased force of the heartbeat, increased blood pressure, dilated bronchi, increased oxygenation of muscles and brain, elevation blood glucose, etc.
VMA is the end product of epinephrine degradation. Measurement of the level of this metabolite indicates the activity of central adrenergic neurons.
Serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in the control of many brain functions: wake / sleep cycles, thermoregulation, hunger / satiety behavior, sexual behavior, etc.
Psychoaffective disorders such as depression, anxiety and dementia are associated with functional abnormalities of serotonergic neurons.
It is 90% secreted by cells in the small intestine. At the CNS level, serotonin, not crossing the blood-brain barrier, is synthesized in situ by serotonergic neurons from tryptophan, an essential amino acid.
In the event of inflammation, the metabolism of tryptophan is transformed into kynurenin rather than serotonin.
A high kynurenine / typtophan ratio therefore indicates a state of cerebral inflammation, which is a risk factor for numerous dysfunctions and pathologies.
Serotonin is degraded 5-HIA eliminated unchanged in the urine which gives an idea of the activity of serotonin in the brain.
Dopamine is made in the morning around 8 a.m., it is the starter of the day, ensuring motivation, morning dynamism, good memory, curiosity, the ability to develop projects, to face difficulties and especially to have a recuperative sleep. It allows us to adapt to events and different stages of life by modulating our behavior of exploration, vigilance, search for pleasure, excitement and euphoria.
HVA is a product resulting from the degradation of dopamine. Its concentration indicates the activity of central dopaminergic neurons.
Glutamate is the most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, found in more than half of the brain's synapses. Excessive glutamate production is neurotoxic. So, part of the damage caused by stroke or head trauma is caused by this overproduction of glutamate.
Since it does not cross the blood-brain barrier, glutamate is made in neurons from its precursors, namely glutamine and alpha-ketoglutarate.
GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that decreases the electrical activity of neurons. This neurotransmitter causes a decrease in the state of alertness and a reduction in anxiety. This explains why the many drugs that increase brain amounts of GABA are anxiolytics, antiepileptics, anesthetics, and sleeping pills.
GABA is also involved in nerve transmission to the muscles, GABA having a relaxing effect on them.
Ultrasensitive CRP is not a specific marker of brain activity. It is the benchmark marker for local and / or generalized inflammation.
CRPus is a protein synthesized by the liver and released into the plasma. It plays a role in the immune system. The more the CRP level is increased, the greater the intensity of the inflammation.
Vitamin B9 and B12 are essential cofactors of methylation, a biochemical process essential for normal nervous system activity.A vitamin B deficiency status is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline
Cortisol is the stress hormone. It was this which allowed our prehistoric ancestors to activate physiological processes (increase in heart rate, dilation of blood vessels, release of insulin to bring more sugar into the cells) to flee from the danger (a ferocious animal for example). Nowadays, acute stress is rarely but rather chronic (work, family…). Unfortunately, the physiological processes remain the same with disastrous consequences: cognitive disorders, problems with falling asleep or even sleep disorders, chronic fatigue, a risk factor for possible memory disorders or even Alzheimer's disease.
A deficient morning cortisol can be suggestive of professional exhaustion (burn-out).
DHEA is a steroid hormone made in the nervous system from cholesterol, independent of the peripheral glands. It antagonizes the functioning of the GABA receptor, which results in a calming effect.
DHEA has effects on cognitive functions, mood and neuroprotection.
DHEA decreases from the age of 40 and has implications in aging and in the occurrence of age-related pathologies.
SHBG is a protein produced in the liver and whose role is to bind strongly to sex hormones (testosterone and estradiol) in order to limit their action. For the same total testosterone level, the higher the SHBG level, the less active testosterone there is in the cells (free testosterone).
Several conditions can affect the level of SHBG: diet, oral contraception, liver failure, thyroid problem, rapid weight loss, insulin resistance, inflammation.
A large increase in SHGB is a significant risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia.
The inflammatory profile (only for the neuro and inflammation assessment): when the brain is in inflammation, its functioning is slowed down. Neurotransmitters can no longer attach properly to the receptors and pathologies such as depression, neurodegenerative disease can appear. This inflammation can originate in the brain itself but also in any other organ in the body. Inflammation is said to rise in the brain. Knowing its inflammatory profile will make it possible to offer a personalized treatment against immune and neuronal imbalances.
To know the details of the immune profile
The neuro-inflammatory profile is strongly recommended in the following cases:
psychological and somatic symptoms linked to “poorly” managed stress,
cognitive and / or mood disorders,
forms of asthenia linked to neurotransmitters,
of treatment and follow-up: - Parkinson's, - Demonstrated depression, - Smoking cessation, medication, etc.,
eating disorders,
restrictive diets,
resistance to conventional antidepressants
The amino acid profile (only in the complete neuro balance sheet): some amino acids are the precursors of cerebral neurotransmitters, others themselves play the role of neurotransmitters. Whether they are in deficit or in excess, an amino acid can therefore be a risk factor or cause of the appearance of certain pathologies.
For example glycine, controls food consumption, behavior and homeostasis of our organism. Tryptophan is involved in depressive syndromes. Tyrosine can improve facets of cognitive control in stimuli where cognitive demands are high.
Finally, don't forget that your brain communicates bidirectionally with your digestive system and in particular your intestinal bacteria. This is why it also seems important to know the state of your gut microbiota to manage a brain function disorder.
