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Brian, age 6, was very excited the day he lost his first tooth and even more thrilled when he found a dollar under his pillow the next morning from the tooth fairy. He was so happy he secretly pulled out another tooth after school. Two days later, he tried to pull out a third tooth. Over the next month, Brian pulled out three more teeth. His mother was worried about why her boy was pulling out his teeth.

Denise was 13 when she pulled a knife on her mother. The teen had been having problems with her temper for a while, but this latest incident had escalated to a whole new level. Her mother was starting to feel afraid of her own daughter.

Bonnie, age 15, seemed to go out of her way to irritate her parents and teachers. She knew how to push all their buttons with her bad behavior and managed to get them to yell at her. It’s like she wanted to pick a fight. “I just start screaming at her because she says terrible things,” her dad says.

Why did these kids have behavioral problems? They all came from loving homes, and the parents were doing their best to find solutions.

You may be dealing with behavior issues in your own children—impulsivity, compulsive behaviors, anger or aggression issues, negativity, nervousness, disruptive talking, inappropriate actions, manipulation, or others. The answers, as these parents discovered, lie in the brain.

Behavior Problems are Brain Problems

Each of the parents in the examples above was so concerned they took their children for an evaluation that included brain SPECT imaging. SPECT measures blood flow and activity in the brain and shows three things: healthy activity, areas with too much activity, and areas with decreased activity. The results for these children showed abnormal activity.

Brian’s brain scan revealed marked increased activity in his frontal lobes. When this part of the brain is overactive, people may end up getting “stuck” on certain thoughts and behaviors. In Brian’s case, it was compulsively pulling out his teeth.

Brian’s Scan:

Denise had two SPECT studies—one at rest and the other during concentration. At rest, her brain showed mild decreased activity in the back half of her left temporal lobe. When she tried to concentrate, the activity in her left temporal lobe completely shut down. The temporal lobe is involved in emotional stability, and problems in this area are associated with anger and aggression issues.

Bonnie’s brain scan at rest showed normal activity, but during concentration, there was a decrease in activity in her prefrontal cortex, which is a sign of ADD/ADHD. This area of the brain is associated with impulse control, forethought, and judgment. When the activity is low here, children may be conflict-seeking as a way to stimulate the brain. Playing “I Bet I Can Get You to Yell at Me” is like an adrenaline rush for them.

Getting Help for Your Child’s Troubled Behavior

Many parents simply hope their children will “grow out of” their problem behaviors. But left untreated, these issues can cause lasting consequences that continue or even worsen in adulthood. For example, children who don’t get the help they need are more likely to drop out of school and to abuse drugs and alcohol. They also tend to have trouble getting a job and earn less money in their lifetime. The costs are emotional, physical, and financial.

Getting the right treatment is critical. As you have learned from the brain scan results of these three children, behavioral problems are not all the same. They are associated with different brain patterns, which means they have different treatment needs. Understanding what is happening in your child’s brain is the first step to finding the most effective treatment to improve their behavior. Amen Clinics has helped thousands of children—including Brian, Denise, and Bonnie—overcome a variety of behavioral problems to improve their success in school, enhance their ability to make friends, and create a happier family life. We use brain SPECT imaging to help find targeted solutions as part of a brain-body approach to healing. If you’re concerned about your child’s behavior, speak with a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

As a college freshman, Jenna was a competitive track and field athlete who loved spending her days in her running shoes. By the time she reached her sophomore year, however, things had changed. She was filled with sadness, felt like she had no energy, and had lost interest in training. When she mentioned it to her primary care doctor, she was diagnosed with major depression and given a prescription for antidepressants.

The medication boosted her mood—a lot! She felt like she was on top of the world. It also filled her with so much energy, she felt invincible and began training all day and staying up all night doing her homework. She also became sexually aggressive, hitting on the other track athletes even though she had a steady boyfriend. She even came on to her coach multiple times, which didn’t go over well and ended up with her almost getting kicked off the team.

What went wrong?

A Common Misdiagnosis

Jenna had been misdiagnosed. In reality, she had bipolar spectrum disorder (BSD), formerly known as manic-depressive disorder. People with bipolar disorder experience dramatic swings in mood, energy, and activity levels, going from depressive episodes to manic episodes in a cyclical pattern. The antidepressants Jenna took not only failed to work, but they were also making her worse by triggering a manic episode.

Jenna isn’t alone. Among people diagnosed with major depression, about one in three are estimated to actually have bipolar disorder. This is due to the fact that the two conditions share many of the same symptoms.

Shared Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder and Depression

Depressive episodes of bipolar disease are characterized by:

These symptoms are very similar to those typically associated with depression. Women with bipolar disorder tend to experience more depressive episodes, which may increase their risk of being misdiagnosed with depression.

Manic Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

On the other side of the spectrum in bipolar disorder are manic episodes.

Manic episodes are characterized by:

Some people with bipolar disorder don’t experience mania to this level. They have what’s called “hypomania,” which is a less severe form of mania. People may feel like they have better energy than usual and a brighter mood but not so much that they engage in risky behavior.

The Key to Healing

The good news is that bipolar disorder responds well to proper treatment. Getting an accurate diagnosis is key. Jenna had struggled for a few years before she decided to get a brain scan to find out what was really happening in her brain. The brain imaging test called SPECT, along with a complete personal history and other assessments pointed to bipolar II disorder.

There are at least 4 types of bipolar disorder, including:

Knowing her condition type helped develop a treatment plan personalized for her needs. And seeing her brain scan helped her understand that her condition was real, so it encouraged her to take her medication regularly. Compliance is a problem for many people with bipolar disorder because when they start to feel better, they don’t believe they have a problem at all and often stop taking their medication. For Jenna, seeing was believing.

With the proper treatment and good compliance, Jenna’s moods stabilized, and she eventually became a successful and well-liked track and field coach at her alma mater. At Amen Clinics, we use leading-edge brain imaging technology called SPECT as part of an overall evaluation to accurately diagnose and treat bipolar disease. If you or a loved one is suffering from dramatic mood swings that are impacting your relationships or your performance at work or school, schedule a visit or reach out today to speak to a specialist at 888-288-9834.

David was struggling with his memory along with other issues and was growing concerned about it. Afraid his forgetfulness was a sign of dementia, he went for a brain imaging test called SPECT to see what was really happening in his brain. David’s brain scan looked toxic, and it turned out he was taking a cocktail of medications, including antianxiety pills (benzodiazepines), which have been found to harm the brain and accelerate memory problems. Making adjustments to his medications made a huge difference in his memory.

DAVID’S BRAIN

HEALTHY BRAIN

If you can’t remember where you left your keys, if you blank on your neighbor’s name, or if you forget to pick up bananas at the grocery store, you may be wondering if it’s a serious condition or just everyday forgetfulness. Many people worry that Alzheimer’s disease may be the underlying cause of their memory issues, but there are several causes of forgetfulness that are far more common…and far easier to fix.

Seven Causes of Forgetfulness

1. Not Enough Zzzzz’s

A number of studies link sleep problems to a higher risk of memory issues. Scientists have found that while you sleep, your brain cleans out toxins that build up throughout the day. Without adequate sleep, the brain’s waste management crew does not have enough time to do its job, and trash piles up, causing brain fog and memory problems. One study in Nature Neuroscience found that in elderly people, a lack of deep sleep caused a 55% drop in memory the next day. Other research in Nature Neuroscience shows that sleep, and especially slow-wave sleep, is critical for memory consolidation regardless of a person’s age.

Solution: Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Create a nighttime routine to help promote restful sleep.

2. Underactive Thyroid

SPECT scans of people with low levels of thyroid hormone show overall decreased brain activity, which can cause symptoms often seen in dementia, such as cognitive impairment and brain fog. In fact, research shows that more than 80% of people with low-grade hypothyroidism have impaired memory function. Brain imaging research, including a 2014 study in Thyroid, found decreased brain volume in the hippocampus in people with low thyroid levels. The hippocampus is a brain structure involved in memory and learning.

Solution: Get your thyroid levels checked and optimize them if necessary.

3. Too Much Multitasking

In some cases, forgetfulness may have less to do with memory problems and more to do with distractions. Research shows that juggling too many tasks takes a toll on the brain’s memory centers. If you’re watching TV while playing a game on your tablet while you’re having a conversation with your spouse, it’s no wonder you may be having trouble remembering what they say. A 2020 survey of 2,000 people in the U.S. shows that 6 in 10 Americans experience “multitasking-induced forgetfulness.” The top 3 things people forget, according to the survey, are passwords, items they need while grocery shopping, and where they put their keys.

Solution: If you want to have better recall, pay attention to the information you want to remember. Put your phone down, mute the TV, and listen.

4. Head Trauma

A single fall off your bike, a slip off a ladder, or a car accident that causes you to hit your head can have lasting consequences on your memory. Many people don’t connect the dots from a head injury that may have occurred weeks, months, or even years earlier to forgetfulness.

Solution: Healing the underlying brain trauma with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, neurofeedback, and other therapies can help restore cognitive function.

5. Your Medicine Cabinet

Many common medications—such as sleep aids, cholesterol-lowering drugs, or those anti-anxiety pills like David was taking—can mess with your memory. For example, sleeping pills act on brain pathways involved in the memory-making process. In findings released at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2019, older adults who said they used sleep medications “almost always” or “often” were 43% more likely to develop dementia compared with seniors who never or only rarely took them. Cholesterol is critical for healthy brain functioning and decreased levels can interfere with memory. And benzodiazepines for anxiety lower activity in areas of the brain involved in memory formation.

Solution: Talk to your doctor about treatment methods that don’t compromise brain activity and memory.

6. Untreated ADHD

A lack of focus is a common sign of ADD/ADHD, but many people don’t realize that forgetfulness can also be a symptom of the condition. Some of the hallmark symptoms of ADD/ADHD—including short attention span, distractibility, and disorganization—may contribute to problems with recall. Typically, people with this common condition struggle with short-term memory or working memory rather than long-term memory. A 2012 review in Clinical Psychology Review found that children with ADD/ADHD have statistically significant issues with working memory compared with healthy peers. Newer findings from a 2020 study suggest that it’s the attention-related encoding and retrieval processes that are compromised in individuals with ADD/ADHD. This results in an inability to prioritize important information.

Solution: Treating ADD/ADHD, naturally or with medication, may improve focus, attention, and organization.

7. Untreated Depression

Research, including a 2018 study in Psychological Medicine, shows that untreated depression significantly increases the risk of memory problems. In fact, depression doubles the risk of cognitive impairment in women and quadruples it in men, according to findings in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Some researchers believe that late-life depression may, in fact, be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. One-third of all patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are reported to suffer from depression, which then accelerates the progression to full-blown dementia, according to a 2017 study in JAMA Psychiatry. 

Solution: Treating depression is critical to keep your memory sharp. Understand that depression is not just one thing. There are 7 types of the condition that each requires their own unique treatment plans. Knowing your type is key to finding the solutions that will help you feel happier and more hopeful.

Memory loss and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. We also offer a comprehensive Memory Rescue Program to find the root causes of memory loss and treat them accordingly. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.

 

We’re all searching for ways to stay healthier, be sharper, and feel happier in our lives. And in today’s digital world, it’s becoming even harder to find what’s most fulfilling in life. Is it the size of your bank account? The number of followers on your Instagram feed? The number of awards on your shelf? None of the above, according to science.

To find the answers, a decades-long Harvard study has been following over 700 men throughout their lifetimes. About 60 of the original volunteers are still living and every few years, they have their blood drawn, they get their brains scanned, and they answer many personal questions.

The conclusions? The researchers say it all boils down to one thing: love.

“The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period,” said Robert Waldinger, the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, in a TED Talk.

It’s simple. People who have close relationships with family and friends live longer, are physically healthier, have better memories, and feel happier.

Social Connections and Brain Health

Social connections play a major role in cognitive function and mental health. Did you know that family dysfunction can trigger depression? Or that loneliness is considered a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease? Think about the fact that the 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 50 who have no significant other and no living children have the highest rate of suicide and an increasing incidence of drug addiction. Loneliness is a killer.

The Social Media Scam

Although you may think the rise of social media is helping us connect, it is actually getting in the way of our relationships. Research on adolescents shows an association between social media and depression, anxiety, loneliness, inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, oppositional defiant disorder, sleep problems, a drop in self-esteem, and the dreaded FOMO (fear of missing out).

Your Social Circle—One of the 4 Circles of Brain Health

Your social connections are one component of the “4 Circles” of health and illness:

This means that your social circle—along with your biological, psychological, and spiritual circles—can either boost your health and happiness or drag it down. To have a healthy brain, optimal cognitive function, and good mental health, it’s important to optimize all 4 circles.

5 Steps to Strengthen Your Social Circle

To strengthen your social circle, try these 5 easy ways to connect.

Think quality, not quantity.

When it comes to social connections, it’s the quality that counts, not the numbers. Having a wide circle of acquaintances isn’t as important as having close companions.

Avoid unhealthy people.

We tend to pick up the habits and thoughts patterns of those closest to us. Be very careful in choosing your friends and significant other.

Limit social media.

Set limits on how much time you spend on social media.

Spend time with those you love.

Relationships require time to grow. Make time to foster your connections with friends and family, whether it’s going to lunch, taking a hike, or going to a museum or sporting event together.

Adopt positive relationship habits.

To improve your connections with others, be sure to listen when they speak and notice what you like about your friends and family more than what you don’t like.

At Amen Clinics we use the 4 circles as part of a balanced, comprehensive approach to assessment and healing. If you have memory issues or mental health problems and are looking for a path to treatment that encompasses your whole being, call 888-288-9834 to speak to a specialist or schedule a visit online.