When it comes to brain health, there’s one line of defense that many of us don’t even know exists and yet it plays a pivotal role from the earliest stages of life: the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
What is the Blood-Brain Barrier?
The BBB is a sophisticated protective filter between the bloodstream and the brain. Made up of tightly connected endothelial cells, supported by astrocytes and pericytes, this barrier acts like a high-security fence, allowing essential nutrients to enter while keeping harmful substances out.
Why It Matters in Childhood
While the adult BBB is relatively robust, in children it is still developing. This means it is more permeable and vulnerable to disruption, especially during critical neurodevelopmental windows. Disruption to the BBB early in life can increase the risk of behavioural challenges, learning difficulties, and inflammatory-based conditions later on.
How the Gut and Brain Are Connected
The gut-brain axis is another layer of complexity. The vagus nerve and chemical messengers allow gut bacteria to influence brain function. When gut health is compromised—due to diet, stress, toxins, or imbalanced microbiota—it can also affect the BBB. Proteins like zonulin, which regulate tight junctions in both the gut and brain, are elevated in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), showing how gut and brain barriers are closely linked.
Common Disruptors to BBB Integrity
Research has shown that several modern-day factors can compromise the BBB:
• Chronic stress and elevated cortisol can loosen the BBB’s tight junctions
• Systemic inflammation—such as from poor gut health or toxins—can increase permeability by up to 5x
• Environmental exposures, including glyphosate (a herbicide), mold, and EMFs, may weaken both gut and brain barriers
• Nutritional deficiencies, poor sleep, and emotional stress in childhood are key triggers for long-term BBB disruption
Signs Your Child’s Brain May Be Under Stress
The signs of BBB disruption and neuroinflammation aren’t always obvious. Some children show:
• Behavioural issues or meltdowns
• Learning and attention difficulties
• Sensory sensitivities or anxiety
• Sleep issues and mood swings
Often, these are dismissed as ‘just how kids are,’ but they can be subtle signs that the brain’s protective systems are under strain.
Supporting the BBB Naturally
Good news: there are natural ways to support and even restore BBB integrity. These include:
• Omega-3 fatty acids (especially DHA)
• B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and antioxidants like glutathione
• Anti-inflammatory compounds such as curcumin and resveratrol
• Regular movement, quality sleep, and time outdoors
• Reducing toxin exposure in the home, food, and personal care products
Conclusion:
Emerging evidence suggests that nervous system health directly impacts the BBB. Chiropractic adjustments can affect the pre-frontal cortex, and thereby support autonomic balance, help regulate inflammation, and improve brain-body communication. In children, this may be especially relevant as their brains and nervous systems are still wiring up.
If you choose to adopt these principles into your daily life, it is important to also consider spinal health and mobility as a key element that ensures your body can exercise and function effectively. Spinal health is crucial, as it supports our body’s structural balance and movement abilities, which are integral to our overall health and vitality. Book an appointment with one of our chiropractors to see if chiropractic care could be of benefit for you. Together, we can ensure that your lifestyle is as robust and dynamic as the interconnected systems within each of us.
References
Pardridge, W.M. (2005). The blood-brain barrier: bottleneck in brain drug development. NeuroRx.
Varatharaj, A. & Galea, I. (2017). The blood-brain barrier in systemic inflammation. Brain Behavior & Immunity.
Menard, C. et al. (2017). Social stress induces neurovascular pathology promoting depression. Nature Neuroscience.
Banks, W.A. et al. (2015). Effects of systemic inflammation on BBB permeability. Neuroscience.
Najjar, S. et al. (2013). Neurovascular unit dysfunction with blood-brain barrier hyperpermeability. Journal of Neuroinflammation.
Shlosberg, D. et al. (2010). Blood-brain barrier breakdown as a therapeutic target in traumatic brain injury. Nature Reviews Neurology.
Lucchinetti, C. et al. (2000). The pathology of MS: insights from biopsies and autopsies. Brain Pathology.
Kanoski, S.E. et al. (2010). Western diet impairs BBB function. Physiology & Behavior.
Fasano, A. (2012). Zonulin and its regulation of intestinal barrier function. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Harvey, L. et al. (2020). Nutritional strategies to maintain BBB integrity. Nutritional Neuroscience.
Lelic D, Niazi IK, Holt K, Jochumsen M, Dremstrup K, Yielder P, Murphy B, Drewes AM, Haavik H. Manipulation of Dysfunctional Spinal Joints Affects Sensorimotor Integration in the Prefrontal Cortex: A Brain Source Localization Study. Neural Plast. 2016;2016:3704964
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