The past three days I have been at UC, Irvine at an exciting conference on brain imaging and genetics. It was fascinating and gave a glimpse into the future of psychiatric medicine. There was a discussion of a hybrid specialty that uses both imaging and genetic research to help understand psychiatric illness. I can see a day within the next 5-7 years where both techniques are used in clinical practice.
Steven Potkin, MD, one of the chairs of the conference, gave a wonderful presentation and started by saying that “Mental illness is reflected in brain function and therefore by brain imaging, which is objective and quantitative, and a useful diagnostic tool.” Combining imaging with genetics will be powerful.
Of course, there are many obstacles, but the Amen Clinics will follow this research closely and start using genetic information when it is useful to our patients.
A healthy body and brain are associated with a healthy, successful life. Strive to keep your brain healthy. Until next time, please know that success starts with a healthy brain. Failure is often the result of a brain gone wrong. The good news is that no matter how bad you have been to your brain it is never too late to change your brain and change your life. To your brain health,
Daniel Amen, MD
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4 Comments
Sounds really good.
I´m from Iceland and I´m really proud of the work DeCODE Genetics (http://www.decodeme.com/) has been doing lately. Would it be possible for the Amen Clinic ti work with them in the near future? Or someone that offers same/similar service. Both companies are making breakthroughs to help mankind so it would be a really good combo in my opinion.
But either way the future is looking much brighter for us that have a different brain than the norm. We are just in the beginning and I can’t wait until this field finally developer’s after doing it very slowly last century.
Thanx Dr Amen for your amazing interest to “watch the brain”, I used brain SPECT to support diagnosis, right after the clinical data and I work more easy when I “see” the brain functional imaging, I do my job at the San Javier Hospital in Guadalajara Mexico. Send you kind regards for you and your staff. Dr. Eduardo Miller-Moellhoff
I have recently had DNA drug reaction profile testing done by Genelex in Seattle, Washington. The results were useful in understanding my treatment resistant depression and why I am unable to tolerate SSRI’s. I am a slower than normal metabolizer in the metabolic pathway CYP2D6, which is the pathway for many of the antidepressants. I was tested for 5 pathways, and am a normal metabolizer for one of the pathways, which makes choosing medicines and doses complicated, but not impossible.
Dr. Amen, have you considered using this DNA drug reaction profile testing in conjunction with your SPECT imaging?
I hope you will have collabration with DeCODe and 23andme to improve brain imaging and genetics. Can’t wait for the improvement of this technology. The idea is ok, but it require ethical considerations when it involves with DNA testing – clients’ privacy issues and etc.