January 31, 2008 – 8:00 pm
The proverbial apple a day can keep the neurologist away–and the oncologist, say Cornell University investigators. Rats fed the equivalent of an apple a day were 17 percent less apt to develop breast cancer. Eating the equivalent of three apples a day cut risk 44 percent. Further, apple antioxidants, mainly quercetin, protected rats’ nerve cells from the type “oxidative” damage that triggers neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, researchers found. Quercetin is also high in onions and berries. (Chang Y. Lee, J of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Dec. 2004) (Rui Hai Liu, J Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Mar., 2005)
To your brain health,
Daniel
January 29, 2008 – 4:58 pm
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
January 27, 2008 – 3:48 pm
Every once in a while when I feel hungry, I will share a brain healthy food tip. As the son of an avocado farmer, let’s talk about God’s butter. Avocados contain:
- 18 out of 20 essential amino acids
- 7 fatty acids, including omega threes
- more protein than cow’s milk
- 65-80% water (don’t forget the brain is 80% water)
- the most easily digested source of fat and protein in a whole food
Don’t eat too many of them, as they are calorie dense. But a little avocado a day is good for your brain. You are what you eat. Your brain needs healthy nuitrition. Eat foods rich in nutrients and avoid the ones that poison your body.
My new PBS special, Change Your Brain Change Your Life has been picked up by 53% of the PBS stations across the U.S. It is a very exciting time. We are going to have a special internet pre-screening fo the show, with a live chat. Sign up for my free e-newsletter Brain In The News to find out when.
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
January 23, 2008 – 12:41 am
“You are so handsome Daniel. Your ears are big and your head looks like a beehive. I just love you.” Chloe, age 4.
This was the highlight at dinner tonight. Our 4 year old could not restrain her love for me. She was so happy to have me home. Not everyone would be pleased to have big ears and a head like a beehive, but if it works for her, I am OK with it.
Having a four year old at home makes the idea of brain health come alive from across the vast generations of my life. When I saw the article below today, it reminded me of the caution and concern we need to have for our children. They depend on us to give them the right opportunities, the right diet and healthy structure so they can grow and develop properly. For those children that have ADD we need to be extra careful with allowing unlimited use of video games or television. Beware and be thoughtful.
Eur Psychiatry. 2008 Jan 16: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and video games: A comparative study of hyperactive and control children. Bioulac S, Arfi L, Bouvard MP. Centre Hospitalier Charles Perrens, France.
INTRODUCTION: This study describes and compares the behavior of hyperactive and control children playing video games. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 29 ADHD children and 21 controls aged between 6 and 16 years playing video games. We used the Child Behavior Checklist and the Problem Videogame Playing scale (PVP scale). This instrument gives objective measures of problem use, which can be considered as an indication of addictive videogame playing. We designed a questionnaire for the parents, eliciting qualitative information about their child’s videogame playing. There were no significant differences concerning frequency or duration of play between ADHD children and controls but differences were observed on the PVP scale. None of the controls scored above four whereas 10 hyperactive children answered affirmatively to five or more questions. These children presented a greater intensity of the disorder than the other ADHD children. CONCLUSION: While no differences concerning video game use were found, ADHD children exhibited more problems associated with videogame playing. It seems that a subgroup of ADHD children could be vulnerable to developing dependence upon video games.
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
January 19, 2008 – 2:05 am
This week I was interviewed on NPR’s program Justice Talking with Margo Adler, granddaughter of famous psychiatrist Alfred Adler. You can listen to the program at http://justicetalking.org/viewprogram.asp?progID=643.
It is a fascinating, balanced look at the use of neuroimaging in the legal system, as well as using brain scans in clinical practice.
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
