The last two weeks I have been traveling around the country on a 15 city tour for my new PBS special and for the book.  I try my best to eat well and get enough sleep.  Of course, I take my supplements (NeuroVite, NeurOmega and Brain Vitale) and try to exercise most days.

The trip has been unbelievably gratifying and a bit emotionally overwhelming.  Everywhere I go people tell me that my work has changed their lives.  Yesterday I was in the Atlanta airport and someone came up to me and told me he had seen my PBS Special three times and it helped him so much. He was off to the PGA Golf school to try to make the PGA tour and he now understood that he needed a better brain to be his best.  The day before in Raleigh in a Border’s Bookstore a clerk told me she read Change Your Brain, Change Your Life and it helped her so much.  On a plane, a stewardess told me she had seen the special in three different cities and it meant so much to her because her mother has Alzheimer’s disease and she wants to prevent it in herself.

The principles in the new book, as well as the other ones, can change your life.  We must start taking brain health seriously!

With gratitude,

Daniel

I had two encounters over the weekend that highlights how important this work is.

1. I was at San Diego’s Wild Animal Park on Saturday with my wife and daughter on the way to my live appearance at the PBS station KPBS on the campus of San Diego State.  A young Indian mother recognized me from our PBS show Change Your Brain, Change Your Life.  She said, “You are the one!”  I stood there silent, not knowing exactly what she meant and she repeated, “You are the one on TV, the brain doctor.  After we see your show we are good for a few days, then you come on again to remind us what to do.  It is so helpful.”

2. On Sunday I was again with my wife and daughter, walking our bulldog Frasier on Balboa Island, getting in some last minute family time and exercise before leaving today on the two week PBS tour and another woman stopped me and said, “You are the brain doctor!  I have to get your book.  My husband and I are out here walking because of you.  My husband wouldn’t listen to me, but he listened to you.”

The work we do at the Amen Clinics is very important and has the potential to change many lives and even potentially our society as a whole.  I hope you get a chance to see the show and read the book.  My belief is that your life will be better.

To your brain health,

Daniel

There are inconsistent findings about the efficacy of magnesium in the prophylaxis of migraine attacks and there is no study of magnesium prophylaxis focused on migraine subtypes without aura. In this double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study; we tried to evaluate the prophylactic effects of oral magnesium in migraine patients without aura. The prophylactic effects of 600 mg/day oral magnesium citrate supplementation were assessed by means of clinical evaluation, visual evoked potential and statistical parametric mapping of brain single photon emission computerized tomography before and after a 3 month treatment period. The results of 30 patients with migraine without aura (20-55 years old with 2-5 migraine attacks per month) on magnesium treatment were compared with those of 10 patients with similar properties on placebo treatment. Migraine attack frequency, severity and P1 amplitude in visual evoked potential examination decreased after magnesium treatment with respect to pretreatment values (p < 0.001). In a comparison of the effects of magnesium treatment with those of placebo, post/pretreatment ratios of migraine attack frequency, severity and P1 amplitude in Mg treatment group were found to be significantly lower than those in placebo treatment group (attack frequency p = 0.005, attack severity p < 0.001, P1 amplitude p < 0.05). Cortical blood flow in inferolateral frontal (p < 0.001), inferolateral temporal (p = 0.001) and insular regions (p < 0.01) increased significantly after magnesium treatment with respect to the pretreatment; while such significant changes of cortical blood flow were not observed with placebo treatment. These results have made us think that magnesium is a beneficial agent in prophylaxis of migraine without aura and might work with both vascular and neurogenic mechanisms. 

Reference — Köseoglu E, Talaslioglu A, Gönül AS, Kula M.  The effects of magnesium prophylaxis in migraine without aura.  Magnes Res. 2008 Jun;21(2):101-8.

Joe’s Story: from Abuse to Recovery 

The Making of a Serial Killer 

Joe was sexually and physically abused as a toddler and placed in the foster care program.  He was receiving therapy and psychiatric care through the county, however his symptoms worsened by the day. At age seven he had to be physically restrained by the police for beating up on his foster mom during a temper outburst. Joe was placed in special education classes due to his behavior of kicking, cursing and running away at any opportunity. Though Joe was sweet at times, Joe had thoughts of both dying and killing and heard voices in his head. Likened to a serial killer, the family was told to “put Joe in a psychiatric facility since he would probably just get worse”. 

Instead they found Recovery Assistants Foundation! 

Healing the Child RAF assisted this family with the technology of a SPECT Scan at the Amen Clinic revealing Joe’s brain function during times of stress and calm. RAF assisted with a psychiatrist to treat Joe based on the SPECT Scan findings. Therapy was added to work with Joe’s scars due to the abuse and his abandonment issues. Joe’s foster family was assigned a coach from RAF who educated them with resources and a support system to help them work through Joe’s mental health needs, with the school systems and personal weariness.  

Today, Joe attends regular classes at school with his peers; he no longer hears voices in his head nor does he run away or rage violently. His scan assisted with targeting two appropriate medications for his brain chemistry issues. Due to his tremendous emotional growth he is even being weaned off therapy sessions. Joe is now capable of telling his foster mom how much he loves her! 

Joe is just one out of 62 million children and adults in the United States suffering from a mental health disorder. Untreated mental health disorders can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse, violence and even suicide. Four of the top ten disabilities are mental health disorders. They are very costly to families, communities and the health care system if not diagnosed appropriately. 

More about RAF 

Recovery Assistants Foundation is a charitable 501© 3 organization that offers HOPE for recovery for those struggling with mental health conditions such as ADD, ADHD, depression, addictions, bi-polar, anxiety disorders and the results of childhood abuse .  

The Foundation provides support services and programs designed to treat the whole person, by addressing their needs in the areas of mental, physical, nutritional and spiritual wellness.  

RAF’s clients generally are unable to function optimally in school, in the workplace or at home, and come to the Foundation through a Mental Health Provider or by word-of-mouth. 

Working with the Amen Clinics (ACI), provides RAF a sound benchmark of what condition the client is experiencing and what treatment program will support their recovery.  The SPECT scans provide the most accurate diagnosis and are seen as the “wave of the future” in the tailoring of treatment to meet the individual needs of each person.  The treatment of mental health conditions could include a combination of medication, therapy, good nutrition and physical fitness.    The Amen Clinics provide the client and RAF with the results of the SPECT scan and the prescribed treatment program.   At that point, RAF assigns a personal coach to walk along-side the client, supporting them during their recovery process, usually for a period of one year. 

RAF recommends psychiatrists and therapists that are using cutting-edge treatment options like the SPECT scans, so that a circle of caring providers can work together for the benefit of the client.  RAF knows that this approach helps suffering people change their lives and experience the opportunity to be all that they were destined to be.  For instance, Sonya was a young girl being treated for ADHD.  Her doctor had her on medication for three years with no relief of her symptoms.  RAF assisted with the cost of the SPECT scan and found out that Sonya wasn’t ADHD even though the symptoms were similar!  She was bi-polar.  Now she is on the right medications and doing well.  Her mother wrote “you have saved my daughter from mental torment and stimulants that weren’t even working”.  

Another Story of Hope and Healing 

“RAF is a huge part of my testimony; this organization has helped to bring health, hope, wholeness and happiness to my life which was depressed, sick, empty, hurting and desperate.  RAF has amazing people working on their staff and has great resources to help others.  Before RAF helped me, I was burnt out and spiraling downward, there was no way I could even see straight on where to even begin in my recovery.  I am so grateful that RAF approaches recovery as helping the whole person I feel much more balanced and healthy because of it.  RAF is an amazing ministry/organization that sometimes feels like the best kept secret that I wish more people knew about and supported.  Thank you RAF”.  Danielle C. 

The cost of SPECT scans and other required treatment is typically shared between RAF, the client and the client’s insurance.  RAF has a Client Advocate on staff to assist with state and federal benefit information.  RAF provides the coaching program at no cost to the client.  RAF is supported by grants and private donations.  A recent auditor’s report shows that $ .80 of every dollar that is donated to RAF goes directly to the cost of programs for their clients. By the generosity of others, RAF has been able to help nearly 3,000 individuals receive treatment for their mental health disorders over the last 11 years! If you are a professional that is interested in donating a service such as therapy or psychiatric visits, or, you would like to join our team of volunteers to help with fundraisers or other projects, please call RAF’s Director at (714) 560-0120.   

If you become a RECOVERY ASSISTANTS PARTNER, be assured that your investment will be monitored and used wisely.  You may send your tax –deductible contribution to: Recovery Assistants Foundation, P.O. Box 10363, Santa Ana, California 92711.  You can also go to http://www.recoveryfound.org/html/index.htm to learn more information.

Here is Part Four of Six of what you can expect in the book.  

Increase Your Brain’s Reserve   

Have you ever wondered why certain stresses or injuries affect some people and not others?  I have.  I have wondered why some people get depressed after losing a parent while others, although sad, keep going; why some people, after a minor head injury, seem to really be affected, while others don’t; or why some people can work many hours straight, while others are completely spent after a short period of time.  Several years ago, after looking at many thousands of brain scans, I started to think about the concept of “brain reserve.”  Brain reserve is the cushion, margin or extra neurons that we have to deal with unexpected events or insults.  The more reserve we have, the more stresses or injuries we can handle.  The less reserve, the more vulnerable we are. 

When we are conceived, let’s say, we all start with the same reserve.  Many things can erode it, many things can boost it.  For example, if your mother smoked, drank much alcohol or was under constant stress when she was pregnant with you, she decreased your brain’s reserve.  If she took fish oil, listened to classical music and mediated every day, likely she increased your reserve.  If you fell down a flight of stairs at age three, were exposed to chronic stress from an alcoholic mother or father during childhood, were sexually molested as a child or teenager, drank too much alcohol or used drugs you decreased or limited your brain’s reserve.  On the other hand, if you were fed a healthy diet, took fish oil, were raised by loving, consistent parents and were exposed to many different kinds of learning your brain’s reserve was likely increased.    

Anything that harms brain function, starts to erode your brain’s reserve.  Here are some factors known to decrease brain reserve.

Prenatal or birth injuries

Brain injuries

Excessive alcohol

Drug abuse

Negative thinking

Poor diet

Environmental toxins

Chronic stress

Lack of sleep/sleep apnea

Smoking

Excessive caffeine

Too much television or violent video games

Lack of exercise 

Likewise, maintaining a brain healthy life will increase your reserve or hardiness to deal with pending stresses or trouble.  I always want to be increasing my brain reserve, to deal with the crises that inevitably will come my way.  Here are a number of ways to do it.

Positive social connections

New learning

Healthy diet

A daily multiple vitamin

Fish oil

Learning music

Regular exercise

Dancing (of course, without drinking)

Positive thinking

Gratitude

Meditation 

If you wish to stay healthy during stressful times, you need adequate brain reserve.  Start working today to add more neurons to your life.