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Sebern Fisher

1 week ago

Good science writing does what most scientists can’t do- make their important findings accessible. THE ANGEL AND THE ASSASSIN by Donna Jackson Nakazawa is not only accessible- it is a page-turner.

Her topic is "the tiny brain cell that changed the course of medicine", or microglia. Microglia are the equivalent of white cells in the brain and constitute the most active part of the brain’s immune system. They protect the brain (as angels), except when they are overwhelmed by negative conditions such as environmental toxins and interpersonal toxic stress- the worst of this being developmental trauma. Microglia are responsible for synaptic pruning and they target synapses that are no longer active- the cell biology behind ‘use it or lose it’ in the brain. This fact was only established in 2012, and the lymphatic system in the brain was certified in 2015! (Body workers, of course, knew this long before- but now it’s mapped). Over-pruning and the release of stress chemicals (as assassins) due to unrelenting and inescapable threat may be the most significant common mechanism behind many, if not all, psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.

Our best prevention, then, is reducing toxic stress and keeping synapses active so they don’t signal the microglia to ‘eat me’. One approach that Nakasawa highlights is neurofeedback which keeps neurons firing and reduces stress. She explores other avenues too, such as intermittent fasting- and all with stories of real people using these approaches.

It is a compelling and important read. The release date is January 21st, but you can pre-order it now. Read this book!

- SF

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