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 Dr. Andy Wong, Co-founder of Capital Integrative Health. In this episode, Dr. Andy Wong talks about the importance of brain health, including how physical and mental health are connected, the effects of alcohol consumption on cognitive decline, and how to take proactive measures to protect brain health. Dr. Andy Wong is a board-certified internal medicine doctor trained in integrative and functional medicine. He specializes in investigating the root cause of health issues and working with patients to optimize their health and wellness. Dr. Wong is trained in the Bredesen protocol for the reversal of cognitive decline and is also specialized in acupuncture, functional medicine, and nutrition. Key Takeaways: No brain, no gain Brain health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. It is intimately tied to who we are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It contains our life stories or experiences. It also mediates our emotions, both joy and sadness, feelings and thoughts. A healthy brain also helps us cultivate meaningful relationships. From a root cause medicine perspective, the brain is the organ that helps to influence all the others, so you have to continuously develop and exercise it. What is an inflamed brain? Neuroinflammation is basically inflammation of the nervous system, which is mediated by the innate immune cells of the brain called microglia that protect neurons. They can become inflamed and damage the neurons if they get out of control leading to symptoms such as brain fog, anxiety, fatigue, memory loss, or depression.. What causes brain inflammation? Alcohol is one major trigger for this type of inflammation, as it disrupts the blood-brain barrier and increases chemical messengers like NF kappa beta. A recent study from the UK showed that even two drinks a week is associated with cognitive decline. Other causes are dysregulated blood sugar, toxins, mycotoxins, an inflammatory diet, hypoxia (low oxygen), and gut inflammation. Physical and psychological stress can also lead to brain inflammation which can cause issues with memory, anxiety, depression, and brain fog. The root cause of depression Depression was recently discovered not as a cause of serotonin deficiency but rather by unchecked chronic brain inflammation. Physical and mental health are tied together. If someone has depression, they might have fatigue, body aches, or other physical issues. Dr. Andy Wong’s practical advice Focus on food by making eighty percent of meals whole food based. Sleep is an active process for the brain, during which it detoxifies beta-amyloid plaques that may contribute to Alzheimer's. So get enough sleep by aiming for seven or eight hours of sleep per night, with two hours before midnight to promote detoxification. Start a mindfulness practice such as yoga or exercise routine. Also, check out Dr. Andy Wong’s recommended lab testing: functional MRI, CT scan, neurology antibody testing, blood molecular tests, apolipoprotein E genetic testing, fasting blood sugar test, insulin testing, hormone testing, micronutrient testing, vibrant testing, omega check test, online neurocognitive testing. Order these tests through Rupa Health - https://www.rupahealth.com/reference-guide