The Hidden Link Between Mold Exposure and OCD: Exactly How Mold Can Trigger OCD Symptoms

When you think of mold, chances are you associate it with respiratory symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, or congestion. But what if I told you symptoms of mold exposure go far beyond an allergic reaction? In my telehealth functional medicine clinic, I’ve seen the profound impact that mold exposure can have on all aspects of a person’s health, including your brain and nervous system.

While these symptoms seem unrelated on the surface, patients continue to come to me struggling with anxiety, depression, brain fog, and OCD-related intrusive thoughts and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Sadly, many of my patients have spent years searching for answers with little to show for it. That is, until I start to make the connection between their symptoms and chronic toxic mold exposure.

While more research needs to be done to fully understand this connection, studies are starting to show that mold toxicity can influence many of the same pathways associated with OCD. Let’s take a deeper look at this emerging connection between mold exposure and OCD and how this could impact how we approach OCD now and in the future.

What is OCD?

In order to better understand how OCD and mold are connected, we first need to know more about this condition and how it manifests. Short for obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD is a complex mental health condition characterized by two distinct patterns — obsessions (intrusive, unwanted thoughts and urges) compulsions (repetitive behaviors).

Unfortunately, OCD is commonly misunderstood as simply the desire for extreme order and tidiness. While that can play a role in some people’s cases, this condition often goes far deeper. Without proper management, OCD can significantly impact a person’s daily life, constantly having to battle unwanted thoughts and extended periods of time spent devoted to acting out their compulsions. Some examples of obsessions include contamination anxiety or thoughts of self-harm and compulsions that can manifest as excessive hand washing, repeating actions multiple times, or creating “rules” to avoid certain outcomes.

What causes OCD?

While there is no single cause of OCD, emerging research is revealing a truth that we have known in functional medicine for years in relation to many different conditions, and that is that inflammation likely plays a larger role than once thought. In fact, studies have found that brain inflammation is significantly higher in those diagnosed with OCD. (1)

Although brain inflammation is rising as the common denominator in OCD, what triggers brain inflammation is different for every person. Some of the most common triggers for neuroinflammation include: 

• Chronic infections (2)
• Gut dysbiosis (3)
• Autoimmune conditions (4) 
• Mast cell activation (5) 
• Environmental allergens and toxins (6)

Now this is where mold enters the conversation.

READ MORE: Is Your OCD Actually Autoimmune? A Deep Dive Into The Immune System & Your Mind

Understanding mold toxicity

The problem with mold growth is that it is insidious — hiding in out-of-sight, dark places, quietly wreaking havoc on our health before we realize what’s happening. Not all mold is bad, but there are certain types like aspergillus, penicillium, fusarium, and stachybotrys (also known as black mold) that release mycotoxins that can lead to a condition known as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) or mold-related illness.

Symptoms may include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Brain fog
• Memory problems
• Headaches
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Sleep disturbances like insomnia
• Dizziness
• Hormonal imbalances
• Digestive distress

What is interesting about CIRS is that a lot of the symptoms overlap with OCD. We’ll learn why in a minute, but before we go any further it’s important to note that not everyone responds to mold exposure in the same way. Some individuals appear particularly vulnerable due to genetic mutations, immune dysfunction, or problems with detoxing. 

How does mold affect your brain?

Now that we understand that mold can affect inflammation and that inflammation can play a role in OCD, let’s take a deeper look into the exact mechanisms behind this connection.

Neuroinflammation 

Micoglia are a type of immune cells that act as your brain’s defense system by triggering acute inflammation. But the problem happens when the threat doesn’t subside and inflammation becomes chronic. When your microglia are constantly on high alert to mycotoxin exposure, they end up releasing an onslaught of inflammatory cytokines.

In my telehealth functional medicine clinic, I see a lot of patients with mold-related anxiety struggling with symptoms that overlap with OCD. One possible explanation involves your brain’s threat-detection systems. Inflammatory cytokines can influence the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, two areas of the brain involved in fear processing, leading to heightened levels of anxiety, repetitive thoughts, and intrusive fears. (7)

Blood-brain barrier dysfunction 

The blood-brain barrier is exactly what it sounds like — a barrier between your bloodstream and your brain. When this barrier is compromised (also referred to as “leaky brain”) from mycotoxins or other factors, toxins and various inflammatory compounds are allowed to pass through, triggering neuroinflammation that further damages this protective barrier. It’s a vicious cycle.

Oxidative stress

Not only have studies found that those with OCD have higher levels of oxidative stress, research has also shown mycotoxins to be a trigger for oxidative stress. This is important to note since your brain is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress as it contains high concentrations of fatty acids that are more susceptible to oxidative damage. (8)

Neurotransmitter signaling

Your gut and brain are inextricably connected through what is known as the gut-brain axis. These two systems are in constant communication with one another and what happens to one tends to affect the other. There have been many studies linking mold exposure to dysbiosis and leaky gut syndrome, but we tend to forget how these gut dysfunctions affect neurotransmitter production, mood, and cognitive function, specifically when it comes to OCD. (9) This is likely due to the fact that many of your brain’s beneficial neurotransmitters are all made in your gut:

• Serotonin: Close to 95% of your body’s “happy” neurotransmitter is made and stored in your gut.
• GABA: This neurotransmitter is responsible for helping regulate anxiety and fear.
• Dopamine: Responsible for reward processing, approximately 50% of your body’s dopamine is produced in your gut.
• Norepinephrine: Your “fight-or-flight” response is managed by this neurotransmitter.

Multiple studies have found that individuals with OCD tended to have altered functioning of various neurotransmitters including GABA and serotonin. (10,11)

Mast cell activation

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a condition where mast cells in your body mistakenly release excessive amounts of chemicals including histamines. MCAS can be triggered by many things, but mycotoxins are often a huge underlying contributor. When your body releases too many histamines, it can result in anxiety, brain fog, a racing heart — all things that can coincide with OCD. On the flip side, studies on animals have found that when brain histamine is low it can also contribute to heightened feelings of anxiety. (12) 

A functional medicine approach to OCD

While the exact approach to overcoming OCD is going to vary between individuals, if you believe your case could be related to mold exposure there are quite a few things you can do to start your healing journey.

1. Get tested for mold

The best way to confirm whether or not mold is a factor in your OCD case is to get mold testing done for these markers: 

• C4a: Healthy levels of this protein can indicate a strong immune system. High levels on the other hand can lead to tissue damage and chronic inflammation. This is one of the most obvious indicators of a current mold exposure.
• Transforming Growth Factor Beta1: While important to the health of your cells, when high, this cytokine can have pro-inflammatory effects and indicate a potential mold exposure. (13)
• MMP-9: This enzyme works to stimulate the immune response but when high can contribute to out-of-control inflammation and is correlated with mold exposure.
• ACTH/Cortisol: Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) controls the release of your body’s stress hormone, cortisol, which can be high in cases of mold exposure.
• SOCS3: This acronym stands for “suppressor of cytokine signaling 3,” which can be elevated directly from mold exposure or from other imbalances caused by mold, leading to a variety of symptoms. (14)

LISTEN: Mycotoxin Masterclass: A Functional Medicine Approach To Healing From Inflammatory Mold Illness

2. Assess your environment

Has your home or work had water damage to it? Are your co-workers or family members experiencing the same symptoms? Do your symptoms improve the longer you are away from your environment? Asking these self-assessment questions, such as whether you notice a musty odor, is another helpful tool for determining if mold is hiding in your environment and has become a factor in your case. If your answers and lab results are consistent with possible exposure, go straight to the source and have a mold inspection done to your home or work environment and utilize tools like a dehumidifier to control moisture and condensation and work on improving your ventilation.

3. Support detoxification pathways

Not only can you support your body’s detoxification pathways through certain foods, there are also several herbs and supplements that can help with supporting the body through mold detoxification. 

To make things simpler, I’ve put together all of my favorite herbs and supplements for tackling mold toxicity and exposure here.

4. Lower inflammation

The good news about inflammation-fighting strategies is that it is not targeted to one area of inflammation. Whether you are struggling with neuroinflammation or inflammation in your gut, following an anti-inflammatory diet, taking anti-inflammatory supplements, or incorporating anti-inflammatory therapies into your routine can go a long way to minimize symptoms.

Bringing it all together

Even though the connection between mold exposure and OCD is continuing to evolve, it’s impossible to deny the similarities and underlying mechanisms behind mold toxicity and OCD. In my telehealth functional medicine clinic we understand that the body is deeply interconnected. It’s very rare that a health problem stands completely on its own, unaffected by the rest of your body. In cases of OCD, especially when symptoms are accompanied by fatigue, brain fog, respiratory problems, or other unexplained inflammatory issues, we run a comprehensive health history to help determine whether or not environmental factors such as mold exposure are at the source.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe. 

Photo: Unsplash.com

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