In this episode of Huberman Lab, Dr. Gary Steinberg provides insights into preserving brain health and function. He offers an overview of strokes and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), covering prevention strategies and innovative treatments like clot removal techniques and stem cell therapy.
Steinberg discusses the role of neuroplasticity in recovery from stroke and TBI, highlighting promising approaches such as vagus nerve stimulation and constraint-induced movement therapy. He also emphasizes the importance of lifestyle factors like exercise, diet, sleep, and stress management in promoting overall brain health and preventing neurodegeneration.
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Dr. Gary Steinberg explains that strokes occur due to clots or hemorrhages disrupting blood flow to the brain. Ischemic strokes (87%) are caused by clots blocking arteries, while hemorrhagic strokes (13%) result from burst blood vessels. Steinberg notes that lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol, and drug use contribute to stroke risk, along with medical conditions like hypertension and heart disease. However, declining smoking rates and better hypertension management have reduced stroke incidence.
For treatment, timely restoration of blood flow via clot-busting drugs and mechanical clot removal is crucial. Steinberg references innovations like catheters for clot extraction and potential curative drugs. He advocates physical therapy to regain function by engaging neuroplasticity, as well as protective measures like mild hypothermia and statins. He supports the new blood pressure guideline of 120/80 or lower for stroke prevention.
Concussions cause temporary neurological deficits like disorientation and imbalance, while severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can lead to lasting disabilities. Steinberg explains that repeated concussions, even in non-contact sports, can cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Post-concussion, rest and gradual return to activity are recommended. Techniques like eye tracking can assess recovery, and constraints on uninjured limbs can promote plasticity.
Challenging past beliefs, Steinberg discusses research showing stem cell transplantation and vagus nerve stimulation as promising for functional recovery post-TBI or stroke. Stem cells may aid recovery by secreting growth factors that induce angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis, rather than directly replacing damaged cells. Early studies suggest stem cell treatments improve outcomes for chronic patients.
Vagus nerve stimulation coupled with therapy also enhances plasticity. It likely works by directly stimulating brain regions, rather than peripheral effects. This FDA-approved chronic stroke treatment has shown meaningful improvements years post-injury.
Steinberg and Dr. Huberman highlight lifestyle factors like exercise, diet, stress management, and sleep hygiene as key for brain health and preventing cerebrovascular issues. Avoiding excess alcohol, smoking, and drugs reduces stroke and TBI risks, as noted by Steinberg.
Therapeutically, mild brain cooling can block cell death and inflammation pathways post-injury. Physical and cognitive activity may also promote neuroplasticity and endogenous stem cell activation, per Steinberg.
1-Page Summary
Dr. Gary Steinberg, a distinguished expert in cerebrovascular health, elucidates the intricacies of strokes, their risks, treatments, and rehabilitation, underscoring the pressing need for public awareness and medical preparedness.
Steinberg vividly describes a stroke as a "heart attack of the brain," caused by an obstruction in blood flow due to either a blocked vessel or a hemorrhage. He details that ischemic strokes, accounting for approximately 87% of all cases, often result from arterial clots which may originate near the heart or in the carotid artery and then lodge in the brain. On the other hand, hemorrhagic strokes, which make up about 13% of strokes, arise from a burst blood vessel, depriving neurons of oxygen and nutrients.
The transient ischemic attack (TIA) is another cerebrovascular event that Steinberg touches upon. Originally defined as neurologic deficits lasting less than 24 hours, TIAs are now more accurately diagnosed with advanced imaging like MR scans, sometimes reclassified as strokes due to detectable brain abnormalities.
Steinberg also cautions about artery dissection caused by neck manipulation, such as that performed by chiropractors, which can lead to ischemic strokes by obstructing vital arterial blood flow to the brain.
Furthermore, Steinberg shares a clinical anecdote about operating on a patient with a vascular malformation in the speech area, a condition that can cause hemorrhagic strokes if it ruptures.
Identifying several risk factors for strokes, Andrew Huberman and Steinberg discuss genetic predispositions like Factor V Leiden, which Huberman carries. Such mutations can lead to increased risk of clotting and bleeding, influenced by lifestyle choices and the mutation's homozygosity or heterozygosity.
They examine behavioral and health factors that can elevate stroke vulnerability, including smoking, high alcohol consumption, and drug use — especially of substances such as cocaine and methamphetamines that result in vascular damage. Huberman and Steinberg also note the involvement of medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
However, recent shifts in lifestyle choices, such as reduced smoking rates and better hypertension management, have contributed to a declining stroke incidence.
When discussing interventions, Steinberg explains that timely treatments to restore blood flow, including clot-busting drugs and mechanical removals of clots, are critical. He mentions innovations in acut ...
Strokes and Cerebrovascular Health
The prevalence of concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in sports and other fields has led to deeper discussions on their treatment and management.
Steve Young's experience as a former 49ers quarterback who retired due to a bad concussion brings attention to the serious nature of head injuries. In the past, the long-term sequelae of concussions weren't fully understood, especially when they were not repeated. However, it is now known that repeated concussions can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition found even among high school football players who have suffered multiple concussions. Nerve cells in the brain can become injured or start dying after a head injury—in a process that could unfold over minutes to days.
Symptoms like dizziness after hitting one's head can indicate concussions, resulting in temporary neurological deficits such as disorientation, vision changes, and imbalance.
Gary Steinberg points out that more severe TBIs can cause lasting damage and disability, with evidence of CTE found in autopsies even in those who experienced multiple concussions in less impact-heavy sports like soccer, which has a surprisingly high incidence of concussions, especially in female players.
To manage and recover from concussions and TBIs, several key practices are recommended.
Avoiding further head injury, obtaining sufficient rest without overdoing it, and gradually returning to normal activity are crucial in the aftermath of a concussion according to experts Steinberg and Huberman. In the event of a severe concussion, an MR scan might be advised, though such scans often do not reveal the molecular abnormalities associated with a concussion ...
Traumatic Brain Injuries and Concussions
Recent studies have challenged the long-standing belief that nerve cells in the brain do not regenerate after damage. Dr. Gary Steinberg shares groundbreaking research indicating that stem cells and vagus nerve stimulation are promising avenues for brain repair and functional recovery after conditions like TBI, stroke, and concussions.
Clinical trials have shown encouraging signs that stem cell transplantation into the brain can help patients recover functions such as control over their arms, legs, and speech, even years after a stroke. Steinberg discusses the primary ways stem cells aid in recovery, not by directly replacing damaged cells but by secreting proteins and growth factors that promote native recovery. These include angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels), neurogenesis (growth of new nerve cells), gliogenesis (formation of glial cells), and synaptogenesis (formation of synaptic connections).
Stem cells, sometimes derived from bone marrow donors or fetal neural tissue, have the ability to modulate the immune system, producing an environment that encourages plasticity and the recovery of function. Steinberg emphasizes that their trial utilizing stem cells has shown that these cells are safe, effective, and do not cause tumors.
Almost all patients in Steinberg's trials have recovered to some degree, with many experiencing meaningful improvements. Nevertheless, he warns against clinics offering unproven treatments, such as the case in Florida where patients were blinded by unauthorized stem cell injections. The road to FDA approval and commercialization is fraught with funding challenges, and collaboration between academia and industry may be necessary to finance the costly trials required.
In addition to stem cell therapies, vagus nerve stimulation in conjunction with physical therapy has been FDA-approved as a treatment for chronic stroke. Contrary to previous beliefs tha ...
Neuroplasticity and Regenerative Treatments
In the realm of health and wellness, neuroprotective measures are becoming increasingly pivotal for long-term brain health. Experts Dr. Huberman and Steinberg delve into lifestyle choices and therapeutic approaches that support brain health and offer neuroprotection.
Dr. Huberman stresses the importance of a sleeping environment with controlled temperature for maintaining brain health, as a cooler body temperature is needed for deep sleep, and a rise in temperature is required to wake up feeling refreshed. Steinberg and Huberman highlight the significance of blood pressure and LDL cholesterol regulation and agree that what benefits the heart also benefits the brain, emphasizing blood flow’s importance to cerebrovascular health. The incidence of stroke has decreased, in part, due to better self-care regarding exercise and other lifestyle factors.
Indulging in substances such as alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamines is directly linked to strokes, and avoiding these substances is essential for maintaining better brain health and lowering the risks of stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Steinberg notes that recent studies suggest that abstaining from alcohol might be beneficial for health, countering previous beliefs that moderate drinking provided some benefits. Moderation and informed choices in lifestyle are considered crucial for longevity and brain health. Smoking and the use of hard drugs are also identified as risk factors for strokes, which should be avoided.
Steinberg outlines the advantages of mild hypothermia as a multi-target therapeutic approach, which can block several detrimental pathways, such as the release of excitatory amino acids, calcium influx, inflammation, and programmed cell death. Clinical trials have shown that cooling the brain to 32-34 degrees centigrade in cases of ...
Neuroprotective Measures
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