Healing Strategies for Neuroinflammation 

Documenting Hope and Akhil Autism Foundation hosted the Healing Strategies for Neuroinflammation event for individuals with autism, ADHD, traumatic brain injury, OCD, PANS/PANDAS, depression, anxiety, and more. You can watch the replay below. Please note that you will be asked to provide your email address at the 30-minute mark to continue viewing the replay.

What if many of today’s most challenging neurological and psychiatric conditions share a common root, neuroinflammation, and what if the brain has a far greater capacity to heal than we’ve been led to believe? Listen in to this powerful event that brings together leading clinicians, researchers, and parents to explore one central question:

What can be done to improve brain health and restore function when inflammation is driving dysfunction?

In this fast-paced and information-rich experience, each speaker delivered a focused 10-minute talk offering both a high-level understanding of their specialty and practical, actionable strategies for supporting brain healing.

What You’ll Learn

In this 90-minute program + 30 minutes of Q&A, you’ll learn:

• What neuroinflammation is and how it impacts brain function across conditions
• Why so many children and adults today are stuck in patterns of dysregulation—and how to shift them
• The role of the nervous system, immune system, and microbiome in brain health
• Emerging and accessible tools that support brain repair and resilience
• Real-world stories of recovery and possibility

Featured Topics & Speakers

Neuroinflammation Overview – Josh Madsen DC

Josh Madsen introduced the concept of neuroinflammation, describing it as the chronic activation of the brain’s immune system, especially microglia, which results in impaired neural function and developmental delays. He emphasized that neuroinflammation is a modifiable mechanism rather than a fixed diagnosis, driven by triggers like toxins, infections, mitochondrial dysfunction, stress, and diet—summed up in his “TIMED” framework. He explained how ongoing inflammation disrupts cell-level function, damages the blood-brain barrier, and hinders energy production, which can manifest as a range of symptoms including anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, and motor delays. Josh Madsen advocated for a comprehensive approach, focusing on alleviating triggers, improving gut and nervous system health, and utilizing anti-inflammatory therapies such as photobiomodulation and nutritional supplements.

Vagus Nerve & Nervous System Regulation – Navaz Habib DC

Navaz Habib focused on the importance of the vagus nerve for regulating neuroinflammation and achieving a balanced nervous system state. He outlined how chronic stress of all types keeps the body in a sympathetic, “accelerator” mode, preventing healing, and detailed the role of the vagus nerve as the body’s “brake” that enables rest, digestion, and recovery. Navaz provided key strategies to improve vagal tone: diaphragmatic nasal breathing with focused exhalation, optimal sleep routines, and interventions that support the gut microbiome and oral health. He emphasized that true healing from inflammation is only possible when the body leaves a fight-or-flight state and enters parasympathetic dominance, attainable through conscious regulation practices and environmental awareness.

Photobiomodulation – Loren Liming DC

Loren Liming discussed the role of photobiomodulation (laser/light-based therapy) in supporting neurological healing, reducing inflammation, and improving cellular energy production. He explained that neuroinflammation leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, which then causes oxidative stress, creating a feedback loop of worsening symptoms. Loren Liming described how photobiomodulation stabilizes and restores cellular function, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines, and shifts microglia from a reactive to a healing state. The therapy promotes synaptic function, cerebral blood flow, and neuroprotection. He stressed the importance of working with experienced providers who can calculate optimal dosages and protocols, and integrating photobiomodulation with other foundational health approaches for the best outcomes in brain development and recovery.

Movement & Neurodevelopment – Dana Johnson PhD

Dana Johnson highlighted the critical role of movement, neuromotor planning, and physical development in overall brain function and healing. Based on her experience with non-speaking individuals with complex motor needs, she identified “whole body apraxia”—a disconnect between brain intention and bodily action—as a key challenge in autism. Dana explained that motor symptoms often stem from neurological and sensory integration issues, not lack of understanding or motivation. She advocated for tailored motor coaching, exercise, and gradual regulation support—breaking down movements into manageable steps, presuming competence, and emphasizing co-regulation between parent and child. Exercise was described as foundational for reducing inflammation, improving brain plasticity, and supporting mental and physical health in neurodiverse individuals.

At-Home Laser Therapies – Manisha Lad

Manisha shared her journey as a parent and practitioner, applying a variety of biomedical, neurological, and movement-based therapies to support her son Akhil, who has autism. She emphasized the importance of functional medicine, gut health, presumed competence, and motor integration work (such as reflex integration methods). Manisha described discovering photobiomodulation and other energy- and vibration-based therapies, noting significant improvements in regulation, initiation, and overall function with careful, educated use. She advocated for persistent education, holistic experimentation, and strong advocacy, noting that individualized pathways and trusting the process are key for families dealing with complex neuroinflammation.

Gut Microbiome & Brain Health – Sabine Hazan MD

Sabine Hazan presented on the essential relationship between the gut microbiome—particularly bifidobacteria—and neuroinflammation, autism, and Alzheimer’s disease. She shared clinical cases showing improvements in neurological function following microbiome restoration via fecal transplant and highlighted emerging evidence that reduced levels of bifidobacteria are common in both autism and Alzheimer’s patients. Sabine Hazan emphasized the complexity and individuality of the microbiome, the need for rigorous testing, and the limitations of current commercial stool tests. Her ongoing research aims to better identify and target problematic gut microbes, ultimately developing validated tools and therapies to support brain health via the gut-brain axis.

Reducing Total Load – Beth Lambert

Beth Lambert acted as host and synthesis provider, introducing the topic and speakers and framing neuroinflammation as a multidimensional issue requiring cross-disciplinary collaboration and root-cause approaches. She described Documenting Hope’s mission to empower families to identify and reduce their child’s “total load” of stressors—from environmental toxins to emotional stress—while simultaneously increasing resilience through nutrition, movement, and supportive therapies. Beth Lambert reinforced the message that parents have a unique advantage in understanding and supporting their children’s recovery due to their day-to-day closeness and knowledge.

Healing Neuroinflammation with Nutrition – Greer McGuinness RD

Greer McGuinness detailed the profound influence of functional nutrition and the gut microbiome on neuroinflammation and developmental health. She noted that up to 80% of children with autism have gut dysbiosis and that diet is often high in ultra-processed foods and low in crucial nutrients, in part due to severe food selectivity and feeding disorders. She emphasized the need to reduce ultra-processed foods, identify individual food sensitivities, repair the gut, and use targeted supplements to decrease inflammation and promote brain recovery. She advocated for incremental changes and individualized, test-driven therapeutic plans, positioning foundational nutrition as a critical pillar for neurodevelopmental healing.

Key Discussions

Who Can Benefit from Listening to This Replay

• Parents of children with autism, ADHD, or developmental challenges
• Individuals navigating brain injury, mood disorders, or cognitive decline
• Practitioners seeking a root-cause, systems-based understanding of brain health
• Anyone interested in the body’s innate capacity to heal when given the right support

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