123: The Impact of Infections & Toxins on Dopamine & ADHD with Dr. Miles Nichols

What is dopamine? 

How does it affect ADHD symptoms? 

What types of things can affect dopamine levels in the body? 

In this episode of  the Soaring Child podcast, Dr. Miles Nichols joins the show and dives deep into how dopamine functions in the body and the impact that infections and toxins can have on both dopamine levels and ADHD symptoms. 

Dr. Miles Nichols is not just a functional medicine doctor; he's also someone who has walked the path of health challenges and emerged with a determination to help others find their way through similar struggles. He has a focus on Lyme disease, mold illness, gut health, thyroid dysfunction, and autoimmunity. Dr. Nichols has turned his personal battles into a professional crusade to uncover the underlying causes of these conditions. From founding the Medicine with Heart Clinic in Colorado to establishing an institute for educating doctors in functional medicine, and authoring two pivotal books, Dr. Nichols has dedicated his life to this mission.

Link Mentioned in the Show: 

Thriving with ADHD Book - adhdthriveinstitute.com/book

 

Key Takeaways: 

[4:52] Often overlooked factors that contribute to attention challenges in children

[9:46] Factors that create antibodies against dopamine receptors

[16:10] How can environmental or infectious agents contribute to altering the function and even sometimes structures in the brain?

[23:58] What is dopamine and how does it play into attention issues?

[29:38] How sugar affects dopamine

[32:20] What lab testing is available to assess brain function, dopamine, and structure changes that could contribute to attention issues?

[37:03] What are some initial steps parents can take at home based on this information?

[41:26] Where to find Dr. Miles Nichols online

 

Memorable Moments:

”There are some triggers for neuro-inflammation that may play a bigger role, I think, in attention issues than a lot of people appreciate.”

“It is not uncommon at all that I find - especially in children and adults with attention issues - that there are antibodies…against dopamine receptors…There are some known triggers that can cause…the immune system to start to attack dopamine receptors.”

”Without even changing dopamine at all, we can change the way in which dopamine impacts mood, focus, and drive.”

”It appears as though glycine has a calming effect on the brain. It also seems that it has an effect for temperature regulation, it can improve sleep…”

”For many children and for many people struggling with attention issues is that higher doses of glycine - paired together with looking at causes of toxins and infections and other things like that - can be quite useful and I don’t see it being talked about very often.”

”Dopamine is what we call a neurotransmitter or sometimes it’s referred to as a hormone…Neurological effects and attention effects are part of it. Pleasure is associated with dopamine.”

”In some ways, we can think of dopamine as part of the reward system of the brain.”

”Attention is money when it comes to consumerism and business.”

”It takes more and more stimulus to drive the motivation and pleasure.”

”Because the levels of dopamine are so variant, going up and down, it’s less valuable to get a snapshot in time level of dopamine. There are precursors to dopamine and there are nutrients and we can look at nutrient testing. I find nutrient testing to be quite helpful.”

”If diet isn’t dialed…if sleep is not there…if there’s overuse of. electronics..some of these basics. I don’t recommend going into the nuances of detailed labs when those basics haven’t been addressed first.”

”A next layer after diet and stress and sleep and electronic use and stimulation… a next layer that’s really helpful for people is to go into gut function…And a sinus swap I like too.”

 

How to Connect with Dr. Miles Nichols

• Website: https://MedicineWithHeart.com 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medicinewithheart/ 

Facebook: https://facebook.com/medicinewithheart

 

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