David PerlmutterPresident,, Perlmutter Health Center · Board-Certified Neurologist | Functional Medicine Pioneer | #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author | International Speaker | Host of The Empowering Neurologist Podcast

What is a Leaky Brain?

19 Apr 2015 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:08

In this brief presentation, Dr. David Perlmutter explains the concept of a "leaky brain," drawing a parallel to the well‑known phenomenon of leaky gut. He describes how the blood‑brain barrier (BBB) normally protects the brain from bacterial components, toxic chemicals, and harmful proteins, but that this barrier can become permeable, allowing immune‑stimulating substances to enter the brain. The breakdown of the BBB is linked to various neurodegenerative conditions, and Perlmutter notes that the mechanisms underlying leaky gut may also contribute to a leaky brain. He emphasizes the seriousness of a leaky brain compared to a leaky gut and points listeners to his book Brain Maker for an in‑depth exploration of the topic.

Chapters

Over the past decade, we've heard a lot of information about so-called leaky gut, where the gut becomes permeable and then certain components that normally would have resided within the gut actually get out and stimulate the immune system, leading to things like inflammation. Well, we now understand that a similar situation can actually occur in the brain, where this blood-brain barrier that keeps the brain sort of as a sanctuary away from things like bacterial components and damaging chemicals and proteins can also be breached, and actually some of the same mechanisms that are involved in causing a leaky gut may actually translate to cause a leaky brain as well. Well, it's one thing to have a leaky gut, but you sure as heck don't want to have a leaky brain. This breakdown of the blood-brain barrier has been seen in a variety of brain degenerative conditions, so this is a very important topic that we explore in very great depth in Brain Maker. Very important.