Written by Dr. Diane Mueller
Neurological symptoms of mold exposure can be scary and severe.
Mycotoxins (mold toxins) can cross the blood brain barrier and cause damage to the nervous system. The mycotoxins due this in several ways. Firstly, when we inhale mycotoxins, they go through our olfactory system (smell system), which gives them a direct route into the brain. In addition, certain situations such as high cholesterol or toxins known as LPS (from certain bacteria) can cause the blood brain barrier to be leaky and this allows more mycotoxins in as well.[1]
One study found 19 different mycotoxins on average in the systems of people that had neurological diseases including serious things such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. [1]
Further studies have shown that mycotoxins can actually cause the cells of then nervous system to die, which is part of where the symptom picture comes from. You can learn about what other symptoms mold causes HERE.
Neurological Symptoms of Black Mold Exposure are as follows (see our blog Black Mold Symptoms for full symptom list):
Different molds produce different toxins.
Different toxins will cause different symptoms in the body.
Examples of specific toxins and what they cause:
Aflatoxins: Aflatoxins are carcinogenic and toxic to the liver. Then can cause immune dysfunction which can make us susceptible to other diseases. These toxins cause a calcium influx to many cells (including nervous system cells), which can cause cellular death.[1]
Ochratoxin is carcinogenic, toxic to the liver and kidney and is also an immunosuppressant. Ochratoxin exposure can also lead to toxic metal accumulation in the body. Ochratoxin A can impact the hippocampus of the brain, which can negatively impact memory. This toxin can lead to neurological disorders.[2]
At our medical clinic, most of the people that we find positive for Lyme Disease through testing do not remember a tick bit or ever having the classic Lyme Disease Rash.
Zearalenone can increase estrogen and can lead to female hormone imbalances. It can also impact the nervous system and cause mood swings. It can harm the DNA and cause damage and cellular death to the nervous system cells. [1]
Trichothecenes are one of the big toxins from black mold. This toxin is incredibly neurotoxic. It harms the nerves, the liver and the immune system. It disrupts protein synthesis, which can lead to protein breakdown all over the body including the hair.
Citrinin is a toxin that increases a lot of oxidative stress in the body and can lead to cellular damage and cell death.
Patulin is toxic to our nervous system. It can invade our red blood cells which causes shortness of breath and anemia. In addition, it can negatively impact our digestive tract.
You can see that many of these different mycotoxins can cause cellular death of the nerves. The death and dysfunction of nerves will lead to the variety of diseases mentioned above. Unfortunately, it is all too common that people are diagnosed with neurological diseases (sometimes terminal) and are not given this very helpful information. Check out our blog called Mold Toxin Test in order to read about how test properly for mold illness. Many times, doctors just run mold allergy tests, which are improper for looking for the accumulation of toxins that cause these neurological diseases.
[1] Agahi
F, Juan C, Font G, Juan-García A. Neurotoxicity of zearalenone’s metabolites and beauvericin mycotoxins via apoptosis and cell cycle disruption. Toxicology. 2021 May 30;456:152784. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152784. Epub 2021 Apr 16. PMID: 33872728.
Malekinejad H, Aghazadeh-Attari J, Rezabakhsh A, Sattari M, Ghasemsoltani-Momtaz B.Neurotoxicity of mycotoxins produced in vitro by Penicillium roqueforti isolated from maize and grass silage. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2015 Oct;34(10):997-1005. doi: 10.1177/0960327114565493. Epub 2015 Mar 5. PMID: 25743727.
Lipopolysaccharide-induced blood-brain barrier disruption:roles of cyclooxygenase, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and elements of the neurovascular unit. J Neuroinflammation. 2015 Nov 25;12:223. doi: 10.1186/s12974-015-0434-1. PMID: 26608623; PMCID: PMC4660627.
[1] Arce-López B, Alvarez Erviti L, De Santis B, Izco M, López-Calvo S, Marzo-Sola ME, Debegnach F, Lizarraga E, López de Cerain A, González Peñas E, Vettorazzi A. Biomonitoring of Mycotoxins in Plasma of Patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. Toxins (Basel). 2021 Jul 10;13(7):477. doi: 10.3390/toxins13070477. PMID: 34357949; PMCID: PMC8310068.
Park S, Lee JY, You S, Song G, Lim W. Neurotoxic effects of aflatoxin B1 on human astrocytes in vitro and on glial cell development in zebrafish in vivo. J Hazard Mater. 2020 Mar 15;386:121639. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.12163 . Epub 2019 Nov 21. PMID: 31787402.
[1] Mateo E, Tonino RPB, Canto A, Monroy Noyola A, Miranda M, Soria JM, Garcia Esparza MA. The Neurotoxic Effect of Ochratoxin-A on the Hippocampal Neurogenic Niche of Adult Mouse Brain. Toxins (Basel). 2022 Sep 6;14(9):624. doi: 10.3390/toxins14090624. PMID: 36136561; PMCID: PMC9501519.
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