Episode 92: How Hashimoto’s Affects the Brain: 5 Signs of Neuroinflammation
If you’ve been told your thyroid is “normal” but you're still struggling with brain fog, anxiety, or memory issues, this episode is for you. We're diving deep into what I call “Hashimoto’s Brain”, where your immune system impacts not just your thyroid but your cognitive and emotional well-being. You’ll discover how even with normal labs, Hashimoto’s can cause brain inflammation (aka neuroinflammation) and trigger neurological symptoms like mood swings, forgetfulness, and mental fatigue.
We explore the science behind neuroinflammation, how the immune system crosses the blood-brain barrier and disrupts brain function, and why this happens especially in women during postpartum, perimenopause, or times of stress. You’ll learn the real reason why you might feel “off,” foggy, or emotionally flat, and why it’s not “just stress.” This is a crucial conversation for anyone with thyroid issues who feels dismissed by conventional care.
Most importantly, I’ll share my root-cause approach to healing brain inflammation naturally.
This episode answers questions like:
“Why do I have brain fog if my thyroid is normal?”
“What is brain inflammation (neuroinflammation) and how does it affect the brain?”
“Can Hashimoto's cause neuroinflammation?”
“What does Hashimoto's inflammation feel like?”
“What are the neurological symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroiditis?”
“How does Hashimoto’s affect mental health?”
“Is brain fog a symptom of Hashimoto’s?”
From advanced functional testing to anti-inflammatory nutrition, key supplements, gut-brain healing, and nervous system support, you’ll walk away with practical steps to reclaim mental clarity, emotional balance, and confidence in your brain again. If your labs are normal but your mind says otherwise, don’t ignore it, this episode explains why.
DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast and related website is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. It is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat, instead it is designed to help educate and inspire. Always seek the advice of a professional medical practitioner or qualified health practitioner. Never ignore or disregard advice given to you based on information in this podcast or related website and do not delay in seeking medical advice.
Timestamps:
[02:20] - The thyroid-brain connection explained
Discover how thyroid hormones, especially T3, play a critical role in brain function, mood regulation, memory, and neurotransmitter production.
[03:25] - 2 Types of hypothyroidism: systemic vs. brain
Understand the difference between traditional hypothyroidism and functional brain hypothyroidism, where symptoms exist despite normal thyroid labs.
[04:55] - Is Hashimoto’s just a thyroid problem?
Learn how Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune condition, can cause molecular mimicry, leading to immune attacks on brain tissue like the cerebellum.
[06:50] - 5 Signs you may have brain inflammation (neuroinflammation)
Explore common neuroinflammation symptoms like anxiety, emotional detachment, brain fog, and difficulty concentrating, even with normal labs.
[08:00] - The blood-brain barrier: the forgotten piece in thyroid healing
Discover 5 major reasons your blood-brain barrier becomes “leaky” and how this allows inflammatory triggers to affect your brain: systemic inflammation, gut permeability, chronic stress, blood sugar dysregulation, and toxin exposure.
[11:05] - 4 Symptoms of brain inflammation you can’t ignore
Identify everyday signs your brain is inflamed and your immune system is out of balance, including sleep disruption, word-finding issues, and low resilience.
[13:45] - Testing beyond TSH: 5 labs that reveal the root cause
Learn which advanced labs reveal brain-based inflammation and autoimmune activation even when your thyroid tests look “normal”. 5 things we can look at/test that conventional medicine doesn’t.
[15:50] - 5 Practical tools to reverse brain inflammation naturally
Uncover five core tools to reduce neuroinflammation: anti-inflammatory nutrition, targeted nutrients, gut-brain healing, nervous system regulation, and circadian alignment.
“You could have normal thyroid levels on a standard blood test, a TSH with a normal range, maybe even a decent free T4. But if T3 isn’t reaching your brain cells in adequate amounts or if inflammation is blocking your cells from responding properly and taking that T3 up, you might still be feeling mentally exhausted, foggy, low, and emotionally reactive. This is central hyperthyroidism or functional brain hypothyroidism, and it’s far more common than people realize”
Essential learnings from this episode…
You can have “normal” thyroid labs and still suffer from brain fog, anxiety, and mood swings. This is known as functional brain hypothyroidism, a form of thyroid dysfunction that traditional testing often misses.
Hashimoto’s isn’t just a thyroid condition, it affects your brain, immune system, and emotional regulation. Autoimmunity can lead to neuroinflammation, even before thyroid hormone levels drop.
Brain fog, forgetfulness, and emotional flatness may be your earliest warning signs. These symptoms often point to a disrupted blood-brain barrier and inflammation, not just stress or aging.
Inflammation in the brain can be caused by gut issues, blood sugar imbalances, toxins, or chronic stress. These root causes trigger microglial activation, an immune response that impairs memory and mood.
You don’t need a diagnosis to start healing. Your symptoms are valid data. Autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s can brew silently for years before lab results show clear dysfunction.
You can reverse brain inflammation with the right tools. Anti-inflammatory foods, neuroprotective nutrients, gut healing protocols, nervous system support, and sleep hygiene can all help restore brain clarity and emotional balance.
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