Mycotoxins and Mold
Environmental mold, a fungal growth that is a common occurrence in homes and workplaces, can cause profoundly serious medical and psychological problems. People who have been exposed to mold are susceptible to airborne mold spores that create mycotoxins within their bodies. These mycotoxins are devastating. Mycotoxins are a neurotoxin, which literally means a poison to the brain. For instance, one mycotoxin, Trichothecene, is a substance the US military experimented with as a chemical weapon. Another one, Ochratoxin A, has been known to cause encephalopathy. And we have only just begun to learn of the destructiveness of mycotoxins!
Many of the health problems caused by toxigenic molds include: muscle and joint pain, fatigue and weakness, neurocognitive dysfunction, sinusitis, headache, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems, anxiety/depression/irritability and insomnia, to name just a few. Mycotoxins have been shown to influence a wide range of cognitive functions, such as memory, problem-solving, attention, executive functioning and higher cortical processing and visual perceptual skills. People exposed to mold often complain of “brain fog,” severe fatigue, difficulty understanding and poor organization. Emotionally, people have pronounced psychological disturbances. For many who have unremitting medical symptoms, have lost jobs, lost their homes, suffered financial losses and the loss of vitality in their life, depression and anxiety can become debilitating.
Through my work with environmental disease treatment centers, I have evaluated hundreds of individuals who have been exposed to mold and have mycotoxicosis. The scientific research in my area, the neuropsychology of mycotoxicosis, is severely lacking, but my experiential knowledge with those who have been poisoned by mycotoxins is extensive. As such, I offer neurocognitive evaluations specifically to address mycotoxicosis. And, thanks to Covid 19, I have learned how to administer fundamental neurocognitive assessments via telehealth.
