There is a wonderful front page article today in the Wall Street Journal about the impact of brain injuries in our society by Tom Burton.
I have been doing brain imaging work for 17 years and feel that the most important thing I have learned from looking at more than 41,000 brain scans is that brain injuries change people’s whole lives and no one knows about it because we never look at the brain for people who have learning, emotional or behavioral problems.
The research on brain imaging and brain trauma is very exciting. We do a study called brain SPECT imaging, which measures blood flow and activity patterns. Opposed to MRI or CT which looks at the anatomy of the brain, SPECT looks at function. According to about 10 studies, SPECT is more sensitive in picking up brain injuries than MRI or CT.
Brain imaging shows us who has had a brain injury, what the possibilities for rehab are and how treatments can affect brain function in individual patients. We often do before and after therapy brain scans to see how the brain has changed. Imaging helps families and doctors understand difficult or challenging behavior, rather than just tell traumatized patients that they are faking or have a personality disorder (this happens very commonly in the real world), and it helps predict who the brain injury may actually set up for dementia. Knowing that a brain injury is present and its impact on the brain itself helps everyone.
I am going to Fort Carson, CO to share our work with the military physicians February 11th. They have been using brain imaging for the past few months with brain trauma, as it is the signature wound of the Iraq war.
You can see a brain trauma SPECT image at http://amenclinics.com/ac/waystohelp.php?refWays=brain_trauma. There are over 72 scientific articles on brain SPECT and brain trauma (for a summary see http://amenclinics.com/bp/research/tables_detail.php?recordid=23), yet the technology remains dramatically underutilized, which hurts people.
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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Dr Amen,
I’ve heard you speak and have several of your books; all of which I enjoy very much. Lately I’ve been wondering if the damage, especially the very small, and re-myelated (sp?) nerve damage from multiple sclerosis lesions (certainly a form of brain damage) would show on SPECT imaging. I’ve had RRMS for many years, and lately my MRI’s were clean. I know my MS hasn’t gone away, in fact I’ve reached a place where my deficits are more bothersome. Many of us in the MS community would love to know there was an alternative to those MRI’s.
Keep up your wonderful work!
Thanks,
Jeane O’Connor
My husband had a AVM removed in the right frontal lobe of his brain in 1993 and he has never been the same emotionally and relationally….not one doctor has ever addressed that.
I also have a 32 yr. old son who was hit by a car and suffered a severe concussion…his behavior has not been the same. Please advise.
Dear Dr. Amen,
I have been a fan of your books for a number of years. I am a USAF veteran who has been trying to get help from the VA in regard to a SPECT scan. They have told me that SPECT scans are still considered experimental and they will not pay for one. I was exposed to many toxins during my service.
Thanks,
Chris
I have a question that I hope you can answer. I am a school nurse and in September a little boy will be in Pre K and was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and a form called AMEN. I have never heard of it but would like to find info before school starts. I have met the family because they have a daughter in 1st grade that has severe allergies. I guess they cannot be compared to what her brother has. All his Mom has been able to tell me is the boy had 3 episodes of not being able to ambulate. Normally, he is very active. He tires easily. She said initially they were unable to get a diagnosis in the small local hospitals. He was sent to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and was given “the antibodies of 1,000 people” for treatment. Can you explain?
Thank you! Pat
I have a question that I hope you can answer. I am a school nurse and in September a little boy will be in Pre K and was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and a form called AMEN. I have never heard of it but would like to find info before school starts. I have met the family because they have a daughter in 1st grade that has severe allergies. All his Mom has told me is the boy had 3 episodes of not being able to ambulate. Normally, he is very active. He tires easily. She said initially they were unable to get a diagnosis in the small local hospitals. He was sent to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and was given “the antibodies of 1,000 people” for treatment. Can you explain?
Thank you! Pat
and pictures and explanations in your adress so