The Brain and Mycotoxins

Once in systemic circulation, mycotoxins have the ability to impact every organ in the body, but their effects on the brain are among the most consequential. This paper reviews the published evidence linking mold and mycotoxin exposure to a range of neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis. Research has linked mycotoxin exposure to the development of ASD through multifactorial mechanisms involving mast cell activation and the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Post-mortem examination of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease has revealed a significant presence of molds within brain tissue. Published studies have also linked ochratoxin A to neurodegenerative diseases through apoptosis and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. The development of nervous system–directed autoantibodies has been correlated with exposure to toxic molds, underscoring a clinically significant association between environmental exposure and the onset of autoimmune neurological disorders. Mycotoxins can cross the blood-brain barrier — a structure with 400 miles of vessels and 13 gallons of blood flowing through it hourly — by inducing oxidative stress in the endothelium and astrocytes, resulting in increased permeability and further entry of mycotoxins into neural tissue. Nasally inhaled mycotoxins can also cause significant damage to the olfactory bulb, demonstrating that even localized environmental exposure can produce profound and far-reaching effects within the brain. The paper emphasizes the importance of recognizing mycotoxin exposure as a potential cause of neurological developmental disorders (PANS, PANDAS, ASD) and neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS).