The Nutri-Link 2026
Brain Health Programme

Webinar 1

Friday 15th May 12:00 – 13:00

The Hormone-Gut-Neuroinflammation Loop: How Hormones & the Gut Microbiome Shape Mood, Anxiety & Emotional Regulation:

In this first of the five live brain health programme webinars Dr Elisabeth Philipps will introduce some of the key root causes of what shapes our brain health from childhood through to senior years. This live session sets the scene for a deeper understanding of brain health by exploring the intricate biological dialogue between four main systems:

• Hormonal (endocrine) signalling
• Gut microbiome ecology
• Immune and inflammatory pathways
• Brain and emotional regulation

Together, these form a feedback loop that can profoundly influence mood, anxiety, stress responses, and emotional regulation - far beyond the traditional “mind-only” view of mental health. You will learn how stress and sex hormones cortisol, oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone interact with the gut microbiome; the role of gut bacteria in producing mood-regulating neurotransmitters; how inflammation travels from the gut to the brain and why chronic stress can create a self-reinforcing emotional loop influencing anxiety and depression, mood swings, focus, and overall mental wellbeing: especially relevant for perimenopause, menopause, and PMDD conversations.

This live session supports group discussion and integrates emerging research from neuroscience, psychoneuroimmunology and microbiome science to show how the brain and body systems communicate and sometimes miscommunicate with emphasis on practical, science-based strategies to support emotional regulation through lifestyle, nutrition and carefully selected food supplements.

Webinar 2

Monday 18th May 12:00 – 13:00

Balancing Neurotransmitters for Improved Mood & Cognition:

In this webinar Antony will identify the most common neurotransmitter imbalances, their symptomatic expression and how to help to correct them with targeted nutritional support.

Neurotransmitter imbalances contribute to the pathophysiology of numerous psychiatric and neurological conditions, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative diseases. These imbalances often involve disruptions in synthesis, release, receptor function, or reuptake, leading to altered excitatory-inhibitory balance or networked signaling (e.g., monoaminergic pathways interacting with glutamatergic systems).

Evidence from reviews and meta-analyses indicates that serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine (noradrenaline), GABA, and glutamate are among the most frequently implicated in common disorders, particularly mood and psychotic conditions. Acetylcholine imbalances are less commonly associated with widespread psychiatric dysregulation but play a role in cognitive and motor impairments.

Antony will present the metabolic pathways for these neurotransmitters, indicating the precursor amino acids and the enzyme co-factors for their progression. He will introduce a lab test which provides a guide to identifying what needs support, which can be used alongside symptomatic assessment

Webinar 3

Friday 22nd May 12:00 – 13:00

Burnout, Blood Sugar & Cognitive Decline: Spotting the Signs & Knowing the Difference:

In today’s high-pressure world, symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, low motivation, forgetfulness, and emotional overwhelm are increasingly common. But how do you know whether these signs point to burnout, blood sugar dysregulation, or early cognitive decline?

In this webinar Elisabeth will explore how these three conditions can look remarkably similar on the surface - yet arise from very different underlying biological and psychological processes.

1. Burnout and the Nervous System. Learn how chronic stress affects the brain and body, including:

• Emotional exhaustion and mental overload
• Reduced concentration and memory
• Changes in motivation, mood, and stress resilience
• The role of the stress response and adrenal system

2. Blood Sugar and Brain Function. Discover how unstable glucose levels can mimic or worsen cognitive symptoms:

• Brain fog, irritability, and fatigue
• Energy crashes and poor focus
• How insulin resistance impacts memory and mood
• Why diet and metabolic health matter for mental clarity

3. Cognitive Decline: When to Pay Attention. Understand the early warning signs that may suggest more serious cognitive changes:

• Persistent memory loss
• Difficulty with language or problem-solving
• Changes in personality or executive function
• Differentiating normal aging from pathological decline

You will gain a clear, practical framework for understanding the overlaps and distinctions, how to recognise red flags early and respond with functional medicine solutions and interventions such as relevant tests and food supplements more effectively.

Webinar 4

Friday 29th May 12:00 – 13:00

Environmental Toxins and Cognitive Decline:

Antony will explore the connection between environmental toxins, particularly toxic metals and insecticides, and reduced cognitive function, memory loss, and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). He will describe how these exposures disrupt neuronal homeostasis through oxidative stress, protein misfolding, and inflammation, aligning with functional medicine principles of networked physiology involving neuro-endocrine-immune-metabolic axes.

Antony will present evidence from epidemiological, animal, and cellular studies that indicates moderate to strong associations with cognitive decline, notwithstanding that causality remains multifactorial, interacting with genetics, aging, and lifestyle. No matter where you live, there is an ever-increasing risk to the population from environmental toxins, which needs to be mitigated with protective nutritional measures.

Antony will identify meaningful functional tests to assess the status of both toxic metals and the most common environmental non-metal toxins, as well as presenting strategies for the reduction and elimination of these toxins in order to minimise their role in brain disorder

Webinar 4

Monday 1st June 12:00 – 13:00

The Neurodivergent Nervous System: Supporting Focus, Sleep & Emotional Stability Naturally:

Neurodivergence is not a disorder to be fixed, but a unique expression of nervous system function shaped by genetics, environment, metabolism, and life experience. In this webinar Elisabeth will explore how neurodivergent nervous systems across all generations - including those associated with ADHD, autism, sensory processing differences, and heightened emotional sensitivity - can be better understood and supported through a whole-body, systems-based approach that influence attention, sleep quality, emotional regulation, and stress resilience rather than focusing solely on symptom labels

Using a functional medicine framework, Elisabeth will discuss contributing factors such as: Neurotransmitter pathways; Neuroinflammation and immune activation; Nutrient deficiencies (e.g. magnesium, B vitamins, omega-3s); Mitochondrial and energy metabolism; Gut-brain axis and microbiome imbalances; Sleep-wake rhythm disruption and cortisol patterns.

You will learn evidence-informed, non-pharmacological strategies including:

• Nervous system regulation tools (breathing, vagal tone, sensory modulation)
• Nutritional and metabolic support for brain function
• Sleep optimisation strategies tailored for neurodivergent profiles
• Lifestyle interventions to reduce cognitive overload and burnout

Elisabeth will offer a compassionate, science-informed framework to help those working with neurodivergent nervous systems - shifting from symptom suppression to root-cause understanding, personalised support, and long-term nervous system health through diet and food supplements.