Nutritional Neuroscience Introduction

Hello! My name is Sean Gallagher and I am a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University '20 where I studied Neuroscience and Philosophy. For two years, I was involved in research that studied early life development and the transition to parenthood. During this time, I studied the correlations between stress and the development of the amygdala/pre-frontal cortex circuitry. Since adolescence, I have been fascinated by the adaptability and regenerative properties of the human body, particularly the brain. During my undergraduate study, I began to delve into the structural and biochemical factors that affect the human brain. Interestingly enough, these factors can influence the emotional, cognitive, structural, and behavioral capacities of the human being. Within the scope of this blog, I hope to explore the role of nutrition on the health and wellness of the human brain.

Conventional western medicine seems to be fixated on prioritizing assuaging symptoms rather than addressing the root causes of underlying health conditions. It has become my personal mission to research the ways in which supplementation, diet, elimination of toxins, and other integrative functional medicine practices can address health conditions. Over the next few weeks, I will address the role that nutrition can play in benefiting overall brain health.

-Sean Gallagher

VU Neuroscience '20

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Cognitive Benefits of Tea

We all know about the cognitive benefits of drinking coffee. However, for many, consuming coffee leads to a jittery feeling with the added inconvenience of a diuretic effect. For me, tea was the alternative I sought to boost my cognitive function without these side effects. A recent study led by researchers from the National University of Singapore revealed that regular tea drinkers have better-organized brain regions that are associated with healthy cognitive function. So what does this mean? In order to realize the cognitive effects of tea, it must be consumed regularly. Additionally, the degree to which the organization of brain regions occurs is highly dependent on the individual. To take advantage of these benefits, regular tea drinking has been defined as 4 times per week. In this specific study, green tea, black tea., and oolong tea were the types consumed. These results demonstrate that drinking tea regularly has a protective effect against age-rel...

Enhance your Learning Ability with Blueberries

My high school Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry teacher always joked about eating blueberries before his test days, but I never really understood why. Turns out, he was right. It wasn't until my time at Vanderbilt studying Neuroscience that I learned about the amazing benefits to memory capacity and function that blueberries enhanced. In fact, grabbing a handful of blueberries has been demonstrated to help fight dementia. In addition, blueberries fight off the harmful effects of free radicals, keep blood vessels clear of plaque, and may help lower blood pressure. Because of the interconnectedness of the human body, these benefits enhance brain function. As early as 1999, studies found that giving blueberries to older rats helped them to navigate mazes more efficiently. Since then, over 200 studies have been conducted demonstrating the efficacy of blueberries for slowing the progression of Alzheimer's, boosting memory, and lowering inflammation. One research stu...

The Second Brain: Gut-Brain Axis

As a young adult who has experienced non-celiac gluten sensitivity for nine years, I have understood firsthand the connection between gut symbiosis and cognitive function. However, it wasn't until my undergraduate years that I began to grasp the detrimental effects of a gut-brain axis that is off-kilter. For me, inflammation in my gut which created gut dysbiosis began to wreak havoc on my cognitive capacities. Besides physical manifestations of this inflammation such as migraines, I experienced brain fog, memory impairment, and many other cognitive deficits. The consumption of gluten in my diet was the primary culprit for inflammation in my gut which translated to cognitive deficits, but gut dysbiosis can occur in a myriad of other forms. Abuse of alcohol, prescription drugs, and refined foods can also contribute to a compromised gut-brain axis. So what is the gut-brain axis? Essentially, it is the bidirectional link between the central nervous system and the en...

Nutritional Neuroscience

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