The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is created by Rupa Health, the best way to order, track & manage results from 30+ lab companies in one place for free. The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is a weekly one-on-one conversation with renowned medical experts, specialists, and pioneers who are influencing the way we look at our health and wellbeing. This week we’re joined by Brendan Vermeire, Functional Medicine Consultant and Founder of Metabolic Solutions. In this episode, Brendan Vermeire talks about mental health, from depression, anxiety, and neuroinflammation to dementia and Alzheimer's. Brendan is a mental and metabolic health researcher, functional medicine educator, board-certified holistic practitioner, personal trainer, writer, speaker, and host of The Holistic Savage podcast. He is also the owner and founder of the Metabolic Solutions Institute for Functional Health and Fitness Practitioners and the Metabolic Solutions Research & Education Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to "changing the way the world views mental health" through advancing the science of mental health dysfunction. Key Takeaways: Debunking the classic psychiatric narrative The current model of mental health treatment in the psychiatric world offers limited treatment options, such as pills or therapy, with little consideration for underlying causes of inflammation or other factors that could contribute to mental health issues. As a result, mental health practitioners like Brendan focus on studying more predominant theories, such as cytokine or neurotrophic ones. Inflammation and mental health symptoms Brendan represents inflammation as "the cleansing fire the immune system uses to fight off pathogens and remodel tissues." Inflammation can be driven by anything, including food, mold, viruses, or pathogens. Most people aren't aware of it, but the average American is inflamed at a low chronic meta-level, which drives the chronic disease epidemic, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. The role of neuroplasticity in mental health Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt in response to experiences and environmental factors. It is a crucial process that underlies learning, memory formation, and the recovery of function after brain injury. Interventions that promote neuroplasticity, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based practices, and physical exercise, effectively improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, which may help to promote positive changes in brain structure and function. How does the microbiome affect mental health? Changes in the microbiome can affect our mental health. Multiple research suggests that the microbiome composition can impact the brain through various mechanisms, including neurotransmitter regulation, inflammation, and immune system modulation. Additionally, some studies have found that a diverse and healthy microbiome is associated with better mental health outcomes. The Mental M.A.P. The Mental M.A.P. (Microglial Activation Profile) is a sophisticated lab panel that assesses the likelihood of microglial activation and neuroinflammation by evaluating multiple serological blood, urine, and even stool markers, as well as other core functions like methylation and nutrient imbalances. Also, check out Brendan’s recommended lab testing: The Mental M.A.P., C-reactive protein test, Homocysteine, Thromboxane B2, and Kryptopyrrole Order these tests through Rupa Health - https://www.rupahealth.com/reference-guide