Peirson Center for Children

08/13/2025

Neuroprotective Effects of Lithium

Most people know lithium as a mood-stabilizing medication. But research is revealing another side: at very low, “nutritional” doses, lithium may protect brain cells, enhance plasticity, and support cognitive function, with minimal side effects.

How?

🧠 Boosts brain growth factors like BDNF and NGF, which promote neuronal survival, repair, and new connections

🧬 Inhibits overactive enzymes such as GSK-3β, linked to tau tangles, amyloid buildup, and neurodegeneration

🔥 Reduces inflammation in key brain regions and calms overactive microglia

💊 Supports nutrient transport - helping B12 and folate enter brain cells more efficiently

🌱 Stimulates neural stem cells, potentially aiding brain repair and resilience

Importantly, many of these benefits are seen at sub-therapeutic levels, the kind found in low-dose lithium orotate supplements, which are widely used as a gentle, over-the-counter form. These doses are far below those used in psychiatric medicine, yet still appear to activate key neuroprotective pathways while minimizing side effects.

A study published on August 6, 2025 in Nature found lithium levels in the brain drop early in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. When they gave low-dose lithium orotate to aging, memory-impaired mice, it restored cognitive performance to that of young adults, making lithium orotate a compelling candidate for human trials.

As our loved ones with Down syndrome grow older, our focus often shifts - from promoting development in childhood to protecting the brain and preventing cognitive decline in adulthood. Low-dose lithium orotate is emerging as one intriguing piece of this long-term brain health strategy.

💡 Supporting brain health is about more than one nutrient or therapy, but lithium’s unique profile makes it a fascinating piece of the puzzle.

Lithium deficiency and the onset of Alzheimer's disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40770094/

Neuroprotective action of lithium in disorders of the central
nervous system
https://www.peirsoncenter.com/uploads/6/0/5/5/6055321/nihms-321617.pdf

Lithium as a Nutrient
https://www.peirsoncenter.com/uploads/6/0/5/5/6055321/lithium.pdf

Inflammation and impulsivity: Is lithium the chill-pill?
https://www.peirsoncenter.com/uploads/6/0/5/5/6055321/girotti2020.pdf

www.peirsoncenter.com

07/21/2025

This is why we do what we do.

When people hear that we help children with Down syndrome, they sometimes ask, “But it’s genetic, what can you really do?” The answer lies in stories like this one.

Dr. Peirson recently published a case report on Hormones Matter about a child with Down syndrome who was severely impacted by thiamine deficiency, a condition that was overlooked for far too long due to a concept called diagnostic overshadowing. This is when doctors assume symptoms are “just part of the syndrome,” critical root causes are missed.

This child didn’t need more medications. He needed someone to ask why his body was struggling He needed doctors to understand how mitochondrial function, energy metabolism, and vitamins play a vital role in health.

We're honored to share his story, with permission from his parents, in hopes it will raise awareness and prevent suffering for other children like him.

https://hormonesmatter.com/the-perils-of-diagnostic-overshadowing/

We hope this article reaches far and wide within the Down syndrome community so that more children like Lev can get the help they need and deserve. Please share to help raise awareness. 💛💙

When diagnostic overshadowing leads to inaction, children suffer unnecessarily.

07/09/2025

💛💙We treat every patient like we would want our own child treated - with time, dignity, and care rooted in extensive research, clinical experience, and deep understanding.

This testimonial from Danielle captures the heart of our mission: to go far beyond the standard 9-minute office visit and provide functional, personalized medical care that truly supports thriving, especially for children with Down syndrome and other complex needs.

We’re honored to walk alongside families like Henry’s on their journey to better health. 💛💙

07/02/2025

🚨 New Blog Post!

Is your child struggling with fatigue, low muscle tone, or chronic constipation, even though their labs are “normal”? Don’t overlook potassium. This often-missed electrolyte plays a critical role in energy, digestion, and neurological function, especially in children with Down syndrome, autism, or mitochondrial challenges.

In my latest blog post, I explore:

- How low potassium affects brain and muscle function
- The connection between potassium and thiamine
- Potassium-rich foods and targeted repletion strategies
- Why “normal” lab values aren’t always optimal

👉 Read now:
https://www.peirsoncenter.com/articles/metabolic-health-starts-with-this-often-ignored-electrolyte

On Instagram you'll find a link in our bio.

Let’s stop dismissing correctable symptoms and start supporting deeper healing.

06/10/2025

🌟 I'm honored to be speaking at the Fall MAPS 2025 Conference in Phoenix, AZ (Sept 4-6) on genomics-informed, whole-child care for Down syndrome, a topic that’s deeply personal and clinically urgent.

This year’s theme is Genetics in Practice, but don’t worry if “genetics isn’t your thing.” This conference is designed for real-world clinicians, not just researchers. Whether you're new to genomics or looking to deepen your toolkit, you'll leave with practical, patient-centered strategies you can apply right away.

Sessions span:

-Psychiatric genomics
-Mitochondrial and metabolic support
-Personalized nutrition
-Oral restrictions & neurodevelopment

And more...

Use my code PEIRSON20 for 20% off registration
Register here: https://www.medmaps.org/events/fall2025/

👉 If your child’s doctor has ever expressed interest in functional medicine or supporting children with special needs from a root-cause perspective, please share this with them. This might be the conference that transforms their practice.

Let’s connect, learn, and grow together as we bring precision care to the children and families who need us most.

06/09/2025

🥬✨ Support Stomach Acid Naturally - Kid-Friendly Edition! ✨🍋

Many kids (and adults!) can benefit from better stomach acid production to improve digestion and nutrient absorption. Here are some natural ways to support gastric acid:

💚 Food-Based Boosters
- Sauerkraut & fermented veggies: stimulate digestive secretions
- Celery: promotes gastric juice production
- Bitter greens (like arugula or endive): activate bitter receptors
- Ginger: encourages acid + enzyme production
- Fresh lemon or lime juice (diluted): stimulates acid release
- Apple cider vinegar (1 tsp in water before meals): mimics and promotes stomach acid
– Warm lemon water: a gentle pre-meal ritual
– Celery juice: often used to support overall digestive health

👶 Kid-Friendly Celery Juice Recipe
Make it in your blender - no fancy juicer needed!

Ingredients:
- 4-5 stalks organic celery (chopped)
- ¼ cup filtered water (add more to blend)
- Optional: a few apple slices or a bit of pear for sweetness
- Optional: small squeeze of lemon

Instructions:

-Blend all ingredients until smooth.
-Strain through a fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag.
-Serve immediately for max freshness.

Pro Tips for Picky Littles:

🥤 Start with 1-2 oz and go slow
🍐 Add a splash of apple or pear juice
🍓 Blend into a smoothie with banana + berries
🎉 Call it “Green Power Juice” or “Super Juice” to make it fun!

Support digestion the gentle, nourishing way - one sip at a time 💚

06/05/2025

❗ Important Read for Parents of Children with Down Syndrome

Did you know that commonly prescribed diuretics like Lasix can worsen nutrient deficiencies that are already common in children with Down syndrome, like thiamine and magnesium?

These nutrients are essential for brain development, energy, and even heart and lung health. And yet, they’re often depleted with medications like Lasix.

In my latest blog post, I break down:
🔹 Why kids with Down syndrome are already at risk
🔹 How Lasix worsens the problem
🔹 The link between thiamine deficiency and pulmonary hypertension
🔹 What symptoms to watch for
🔹 What you can do to protect your child

Click the link to read the full post and find out what every parent and provider should know:

https://www.peirsoncenter.com/articles/why-diuretics-like-lasix-can-be-harmful-for-children-with-down-syndrome

05/30/2025

Children and adults with Down syndrome are at higher risk for impaired glucose metabolism, even without overt diabetes. This includes blood sugar instability, mitochondrial dysfunction, and post-meal fatigue. But why?

One answer lies in thiamine (vitamin B1) and other B vitamin deficiencies that can occur secondary to malabsorption. These deficiencies can affect enzymes needed for glucose metabolism, especially transketolase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. These enzymes are essential for mitochondrial ATP production and are thiamine-dependent.

On top of this, gene overexpression on chromosome 21 (like SOD1, CBS, and DYRK1A) contributes to oxidative stress and methylation imbalances, increasing the metabolic demand and possibly depleting B vitamin stores faster.

Children with Down syndrome may benefit from individualized support to keep glucose metabolism efficient, protect mitochondrial health, and prevent downstream effects like fatigue, brain fog, and inflammation.

What can help?
Functional labs that assess B-vitamin status, glycolysis, and mitochondrial function, like an organic acid test, can be incredibly helpful for identifying underlying metabolic imbalances and guiding individualized care. Personalized support with active B1 (like benfotiamine or TTFD), methylation nutrients, a healthy diet, and an active lifestyle can significantly support glucose metabolism and promote better health and development.

www.peirsoncenter.com

05/14/2025

🧬 Children with Down syndrome share a diagnosis, but biochemically, they are anything but the same. One key reason? Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These are tiny variations in their DNA that can impact everything from detoxification and methylation to neurotransmitter balance and nutrient metabolism.

In trisomy 21, the effects of SNPs can be amplified or altered by overexpression of genes on chromosome 21, making it even more important to look at each child as biochemically unique. This is why some children respond beautifully to certain supplements, while others need a completely different approach.

At our clinic, we offer interpretation of genetic panels from , a company specializing in at-home DNA testing focused on key health-related SNPs. Their panels, like MaxFunction and The Works, assess critical genes involved in:

-Methylation (e.g., MTHFR, COMT)
-Detoxification pathways
-Neurotransmitter balance
-Vitamin metabolism (B12, folate, D)
-Oxidative stress and inflammation
-Food sensitivities and metabolic traits

🧪 To make this information clinically actionable, we combine genetic information with functional lab testing, including organic acid tests (OATs) and comprehensive stool analysis, to understand how genes are expressing in real time.

A SNP may suggest potential trouble using folate, but is methylation truly impaired? Is oxidative stress elevated? Is the gut inflamed and impairing nutrient absorption? Only functional labs can tell us that.

By merging DNA analysis with functional testing, we build truly individualized protocols that support each child’s development, immunity, cognition, and resilience.

✨ Personalized medicine for children with Down syndrome isn’t just possible, it’s essential.

05/13/2025

Exciting News!

We're honored to share that Dr. Peirson will be speaking at the upcoming Medical Academy of Pediatrics and Special Needs (MAPS) conference this fall!

Supporting children with Down syndrome is one of the deepest passions of her clinical work. She's thrilled to have the opportunity to teach fellow physicians how she approaches care for these remarkable children using a blend of genomics, functional medicine, and a whole-child perspective.

If you know a physician or healthcare provider (MD, DO, ND, DC, PA, or NP) who is passionate about pediatrics, neurodevelopment, or integrative care, please share this with them! The MAPS conference is a powerful learning environment for clinicians who want to better serve complex pediatric populations.

https://www.medmaps.org/events/fall2025/

Here’s a glimpse of what she'll be presenting:

Title of Talk: Beyond Chromosome 21: Translating Genetic Insight into Whole-Child Care for Down Syndrome

Abstract: Children with Down syndrome (Trisomy 21) share the common feature of an extra copy of chromosome 21, yet significant heterogeneity exists in their clinical presentations, neurodevelopmental trajectories, and systemic health. A range of modifiable factors shape their health and development beyond the presence of an extra chromosome. In this lecture I will explore how advances in our understanding of chromosome 21 overexpression can inform targeted, individualized care, while also honoring the powerful influence of environmental, nutritional, immunologic, and mitochondrial factors on neurodevelopment and quality of life.

I will review key genes on chromosome 21 known to impact brain development, oxidative stress, methylation, and immune function, and examine how these insights can be translated into meaningful clinical interventions. Emphasis will be placed on bridging genomics with functional medicine approaches, including support for gut health, nutrient absorption, and personalized supplementation strategies.

Recognizing that children with Down syndrome are not defined solely by their genetics, this talk offers a practical, integrative framework for supporting the whole child, blending evidence-based science with a deep respect for individual variability, family context, and the dynamic interplay between genes and environment.

04/28/2025

🌟 New Blog Post! 🌟

Eat to Thrive: Building a Joyful Food Culture for Children with Down Syndrome

Dr. Peirson just published a new blog post inspired by her recent interview with occupational therapist Geralyn Spiesz, OT. In "Eat to Thrive: Building a Joyful Food Culture for Children with Down Syndrome," she shares how nutrition is about more than just food choices. It's about building a relationship with food that nurtures growth, curiosity, connection, and confidence.

This post explores practical ways families can create a positive, low-stress food culture that encourages children to listen to their bodies, try new foods joyfully, and see nourishment as an act of self-care, not a battle. 🍎🥑🥕

Dr. Peirson invites you to rethink how mealtimes can foster a lifelong sense of health, joy, and empowerment for children with Down syndrome.

👉 Read it here:
https://www.peirsoncenter.com/articles/eat-to-thrive-building-a-joyful-food-culture-for-children-with-down-syndrome

04/25/2025

Many parents of children with Down syndrome are surprised (and concerned) when routine labs show a low lymphocyte count. Unfortunately, it is a common lab finding for these children. Children with Down syndrome have unique immune system differences that can make them more prone to chronic lymphopenia (persistently low lymphocyte levels), not just during illness, but even when they seem healthy.

While acute infections can cause temporary dips in lymphocytes, many cases of chronic lymphopenia in Down syndrome are tied to deeper, ongoing imbalances in the body that are often addressable.

Some underlying causes of chronic low lymphocyte counts include:

🔹 Glucose metabolism issues: Blood sugar dysregulation can impair lymphocyte production and survival.

🔹 Vitamin B6 deficiency: B6 is essential for lymphocyte development and activation.

🔹 Choline deficiency: Needed for healthy cell membranes, including those of lymphocytes.

🔹 Zinc deficiency: Zinc is crucial for T-cell (a type of lymphocyte) production.

🔹 Chronic high cortisol levels: Ongoing stress responses suppress lymphocyte production over time.

🔹 Poor sleep quality: Inadequate sleep disrupts immune cell regeneration.

🔹 Protein malnutrition: Lymphocytes are built from amino acids; insufficient protein intake or absorption impacts production.

🔹 Mitochondrial dysfunction: Energy deficits at the cellular level can impair lymphocyte function and survival.

Low lymphocytes don’t just happen randomly. They’re often a signal that the body’s internal environment needs more support.

The good news? Optimizing nutrients, supporting metabolism, improving sleep, and managing stress can make a big difference.

Addressing these foundational areas can help strengthen immune resilience over time.

Wintergerst ES, Maggini S, Hornig DH.
Contribution of selected vitamins and trace elements to immune function. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2007;51(4):301-323.

Prather AA, Janicki-Deverts D, Hall MH, Cohen S.
Behaviorally assessed sleep and susceptibility to the common cold.
Sleep. 2015;38(9):1353–1359.

Christian LM, et al.
Poor sleep quality predicts reduced immune function and elevated inflammatory markers. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2012;26(2):254-261.

Sugiyama K, et al.
Low lymphocyte proliferative response and severe hypoglycemia in vitamin B6-deficient rats. Life Sciences. 2001;70(5):575-583.

da Costa KA, Gaffney CE, Fischer LM, Zeisel SH.
Choline deficiency increases lymphocyte apoptosis and DNA damage in humans. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2006;84(1):88–94.

Wessels I, Maywald M, Rink L.
Zinc as a Gatekeeper of Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 25;9(12):1286.

Cohen S, Danzaki K, MacIver NJ.
Nutritional effects on T-cell immunometabolism. Eur J Immunol. 2017 Feb;47(2):225-235.

Weinberg SE, Sena LA, Chandel NS.
Mitochondria in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity. Immunity. 2015 Mar 17;42(3):406-17.