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As the legalization of cannabis expands in the U.S., interest is skyrocketing in the drug’s potential as a therapy for physical and psychological issues. Many teens see legalization as a green light to light up. But even though some research suggests possible therapeutic effects for people with anxiety, depression, and PTSD, other studies point to marijuana’s negative effects on young, developing brains.

1. Increases the risk of depression and suicidal behavior

Using marijuana before the age of 18 significantly increases the risk of developing depression, suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts in young adulthood, according to a 2019 review of 11 studies involving more than 23,000 people. The study concluded, “This is an important public health problem and concern, which should be properly addressed by health care policy.”

2. Impairs cognitive function

Decades of research shows that marijuana impairs brain functions, such as memory, learning, and attention. Adolescents who use cannabis frequently have been shown to experience a decline in IQ, perform more poorly in school, and are more likely to drop out. Later in life, they have higher rates of unemployment and tend to have lower rates of satisfaction with their life in general.

3. Disrupts the brain’s maturation process

During the teenage years, the brain is undergoing rapid development. A process called myelination takes place, coating neurons with a protective white-colored sheath that helps speed communication in the brain. This important process, which gives the brain’s white matter its color, isn’t completed until a person’s mid-20s. Heavy cannabis use as an adolescent can interfere with this process, damage the brain’s white matter, and result in a higher incidence of impulsivity, especially in teens who started smoking marijuana prior to the age of 16.

4. Reduces blood flow to the brain

A 2016 brain imaging study on nearly 1,000 cannabis users showed overall decreased blood flow compared to a healthy group of nonusers. The brain region most likely to be affected in marijuana users in this study was the hippocampus, which is involved in memory, moods, and learning. Low blood flow on brain SPECT imaging has also been seen with ADHD, depression, suicide, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and more. Any addictive substance can ruin lives and ruin families, and marijuana is no exception. Amen Clinics takes a 360-degree approach to treating addictions — addressing any co-existing conditions and using a whole suite of strategies to enhance overall brain health. If you’re concerned about an adolescent’s cannabis use, reach out today to make an appointment online or by calling 888-288-9834. Most of us think of our teens and 20s as the years when life is full of parties and good times. But it isn’t always fun and games for every 14- to 27-year-old who make up “Generation Z”. Disturbing research shows that teens and young adults are more likely to feel stressed, depressed, or even suicidal compared with millennials when they were the same age. The researchers noted a 71 percent increase in young adults reporting psychological distress and a 63 percent jump in those with symptoms of depression. Among adolescents, the incidence of depressive symptoms jumped by 52 percent. And nearly twice as many in the GenZ population have thought about suicide. And that was before the pandemic! The stress, fear, worry, boredom, and frustration since the arrival of COVID-19 is hitting adolescents and young adults harder than any other age group. According to a survey by the CDC, young adults ages 18-24 are experiencing the highest levels of depression and anxiety, and 25% of them have had serious thoughts about suicide. Aside from the obvious effects of the pandemic, what’s behind the rise in mental illness in young adults? Researchers point to two likely culprits.

2 Biggest Drivers of Mental Health Issues in Young Adults

1. Excessive Tech Use

Being tethered to our smartphones isn’t helping our mental health. Several studies have found that heavy social media use is associated with a greater risk for anxiety and depression, loneliness, feelings of isolation, self-esteem issues, and suicidal thoughts. In a study of over 1 million teens, researchers found that those who had less time screen time and more face-to-face time with friends were happier than those who spent more time on the internet, playing computer games, doing social media, texting, using video chat, or watching TV. Another study from 2018 found that when college students limited social media time to no more than 30 minutes a day for three weeks, they reported significant reductions in depression and loneliness, as well as less anxiety and FOMO (or “fear of missing out”). Tech addiction is real, and teens are particularly vulnerable to it. With the pandemic, tech usage has skyrocketed even higher. One study showed that internet providers have seen increases in usage of 40% to 100% compared to pre-pandemic statistics.

2. Lack of Sleep

Sleep is vital for mental health, and teens need more of it than adults. For optimal cognitive function, teens require about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night, but less than 9% are getting adequate shut-eye. Research has found a link between a lack of adequate sleep and mental illness in teens. One study that looked at nearly 28,000 high school students found a 38% increase in symptoms of depression and a 58% rise in suicide attempts for every hour of sleep lost. This same study also found that sleep deprivation was also tied to a 23% increased risk for substance abuse. Addiction is often associated with co-existing mental health issues. An online survey from Harvard Medical School about how the pandemic is affecting the mental health of young people found that sleep disruption is the most common symptom. In May 2020, over 75% of young adults experience trouble sleeping. By October, that percentage had dipped slightly to about 72%. Addiction to technology and lack of sleep not only increases the risk of mental illness but can also disrupt the important processes that are taking place in the developing brain. The brain continues developing until a person’s mid-20s, so it’s critical to address issues that could interfere with healthy development. Mental health issues in young people can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we use brain SPECT imaging as part of a comprehensive evaluation to identify any underlying brain health issues. As an essential medical practice, Amen Clinics locations are open and available for in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.

Brain SPECT imaging has dramatically influenced the way we diagnose and treat our patients. In Part 1 of this blog, you learned the basics about brain SPECT imaging and why it is considered the future of psychiatry. In Part 2, you discovered some of the common patterns seen in SPECT brain scans. In this part, you will discover three additional brain SPECT imaging patterns, what causes them, and the corresponding interventions.

Brain SPECT Imaging Pattern 4: Hyperfrontality (frontal lobes work too hard)

SPECT Scan: Hyperfrontality Examples

OCD: Hyperfrontal pattern

Anxiety with obsessive thoughts: Hyperfrontal pattern

In this pattern, the frontal lobes of the brain are working too hard. We saw this pattern in a 37-year-old woman who came to see us because she was having trouble in her relationship and at work. Her husband complained that she was very negative and argumentative. At work, whenever something didn’t go as planned, she would stew about it for hours and miss deadlines. We diagnosed her with overfocused anxiety and depression and treated her with a combination of exercise, supplements, and specific foods. The treatment helped her relax, feel happier, and be more flexible in all areas of her life. Hyperfrontality can be seen in the following conditions:

• Obsessive-Compulsive disorder spectrum
• Oppositional defiant disorder
• Autism spectrum
• People who get stuck, worried, rigid, inflexible (when things get upset is things don’t go their way)
• Overfocused depression or anxiety (can’t stop thinking bad thoughts)

Interventions:
Increase serotonin to calm the brain through the following:

• Exercise
• Diet
• Supplements (5HTP or saffron)
• SSRIs (antidepressant medication, if necessary)

Brain SPECT Imaging Pattern 5: Hypofrontality (low frontal lobe activity)

SPECT Scan: Hypofrontality

This pattern shows decreased activity in the front part of the brain

Hypofrontality indicates low activity in the frontal lobes. We noticed this pattern in a 7-year-old boy, who was restless, fidgety, unable to focus, and doing poorly in school. While he was at rest, his brain scan showed full even activity, but when he performed a concentration task his frontal lobes decreased in activity—an indicator of ADHD. In people who don’t have ADHD, the frontal lobes typically increase in activity while concentrating. With the right diagnosis and interventions, the boy was better able to pay attention in class and his grades improved. Hypofrontality is associated with:

• ADHD
• Schizophrenia
• Traumatic brain injury
• Medications
• Predicts relapse in alcoholics
• Lack of conscientiousness
• Lack of forward thinking
• Some forms of depression

Interventions:

• Exercise
• Stimulating supplements, such as green tea, l-tyrosine, and rhodiola
• Stimulants, if ADHD
• Stimulating antipsychotics, if needed
• Stimulating antidepressants or SAMe, if depressed

Brain SPECT Imaging Pattern 6: Temporal Lobe Abnormalities

SPECT Scans: Temporal Lobe Examples

Intermittent Explosive Disorder: Low prefrontal and left and right temporal lobe activity (arrows)

Social Skills Issues, trouble reading social cues: Low right temporal lobe activity

This pattern indicates one or both of the temporal lobes are unbalanced. We saw this pattern in a 23-year-old man, who came to see us when his employer told him he would be fired if he didn’t get his anger under control. The young man would suddenly lash out at coworkers for no reason and then go back to being pleasant. After seeing temporal abnormalities in his SPECT brain scan, he began hyperbaric oxygen therapy and started following a ketogenic diet, which helped him gain control of his anger. Not only did he keep his job, he got promoted to a managerial role and gained the trust of his colleagues. Temporal lobe abnormalities can be seen in:

• Temporal lobe epilepsy
• Temporal lobe dysrhythmia
• Dyslexia
• Mood instability
• Irritability
• Intermittent explosive disorder

Interventions:

• Ketogenic diet
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
• Anti-seizure medications
• Memory-enhancing medications or supplements, if memory is the problem

How does identifying these brain SPECT imaging patterns influence treatment?

In a 2012 study we conducted, we asked 7 psychiatrists to evaluate 109 consecutive charts without scans and then with scans. In 8 times out of 10, adding the scan into the review changed the diagnosis and/or treatment. In over 1 in 5 cases, the scan revealed an unexpected brain injury, and in another 1 in 5 cases, it revealed unexpected toxicity. And 60 percent of the time, it changed the medications or supplements recommended.
With brain SPECT imaging, do patients get better faster?

This is one of the most common questions I hear. We do outcome studies on all of our patients—we have over 7,000 outcomes on our patients. At the end of 6 months, if they are treated at Amen Clinics 84 percent of our complicated patients report being improved. And quality of life scores go up in 85 percent of patients. You can change your brain and change your life.

The Amen Clinics has been using brain SPECT imaging with its patients since 1991 and has the world’s largest functional brain imaging database related to brain health/mental health issues with over 150,000 SPECT scans on patients from 120 countries.

If you or someone you know would like more information about brain SPECT imaging at Amen Clinics, watch these two videos, or to make an appointment, visit us online or call: 888-288-9834.

https://youtu.be/iF58Ke4Er3c

SPECT Made Ridiculously Simple with Dr. Daniel Amen Part 1

https://youtu.be/POoP7ZS3zt0

SPECT Made Ridiculously Simple with Dr. Daniel Amen Part 2

When it comes to psychiatry, brain imaging changes everything. In Part 1 of this blog, you learned the basics about brain SPECT imaging and why it’s considered the future of psychiatry. In this part, you will discover some of the common patterns seen in SPECT brain scans, what may be causing them, and the corresponding interventions.

Brain SPECT Imaging Pattern 1: Scalloping/Overall Decreased Activity

SPECT Scans: Scalloping Examples

Inhalant Abuse: Moderate to severe scalloping

Chemotherapy and Radiation: Moderate to severe scalloping

One of the first things I learned from our brain imaging work is that drugs and alcohol are bad for the brain and lead to a pattern called scalloping or overall decreased activity. Over the years, I realized that some people who didn’t use drugs or alcohol had the same pattern. When we see this pattern, we ask why. For example, I met with a couple who failed marital therapy. The husband had been a good-natured guy when they married 15 years earlier, but in the past 8 years, he had developed a bad temper and would lash out at his wife. It turned out the guy worked in a factory that finished furniture and he was being exposed to toxins all day long that were damaging his brain. It would be easy to say the guy’s a jerk and you should divorce him, but the harder question is to ask why? When this man got out of that toxic environment and followed other treatment recommendations, the anger diminished and their marriage survived.

Scalloping can be caused by:

• Toxicity (drugs or alcohol)
• Chemotherapy
• Environmental toxins
• Carbon monoxide poisoning (firefighters)
• Anoxia (near drowning episode, heart attack where you stopped breathing)
• Infections
• Hypothyroidism
• Severe anemia

Interventions:
Stop the toxin.

Treat infections.

Brain rehab program (put the brain in a healing environment)

• Care about the brain
• Avoid things that hurt the brain
• Do things that help the brain
• Neurofeedback
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
• Medications and/or supplements

Brain SPECT Imaging Pattern 2: Overall Increased Activity

SPECT Scans: Overall Increased Activity Examples

Bipolar Disorder, Manic: Overall increased activity

Lupus Flare: Overall increased activity

Ring of Fire ADHD: Overall increased activity

Obsessional Psychotic State: Overall increased activity

This pattern is commonly seen in bipolar disorder during manic episodes; in inflammatory processes, such as lupus or other autoimmune disorders; and in types of ADHD that are typically made worse by stimulant medication. We call this pattern in ADHD the Ring of Fire. One mother brought her 10-year-old son to see us after he had been diagnosed with ADHD and placed on stimulant medication (Ritalin). On the medication, his symptoms had worsened, and he would scream and throw temper tantrums when asked to do something. When we scanned his brain, it showed the Ring of Fire pattern. After changing his medication and his diet, his behavior improved tremendously.

Interventions:

• Work up and treat inflammation, such as lupus, or food allergies
• Eliminate allergens
• Calming interventions – GABA, magnesium, anticonvulsants

Brain SPECT Imaging Pattern 3: Traumatic Brain Injury

SPECT Scans: Traumatic Brain Injury Examples

Fall from roof: Frontal and left temporal lobe damage

Motorcycle accident: Damage to whole right side of brain

Traumatic brain injuries are more common than you think. In fact, 40 percent of the patients we see at Amen Clinics have experienced a brain injury. I worked with a captain in the Marines, who had suffered multiple head injuries while on duty. Although he seemed to have healed physically, he began experiencing intense headaches, became prone to angry outbursts, and had trouble concentrating and focusing. When he saw the damage to his right temporal lobe on SPECT, he was determined to improve his brain health. On our brain rehab program, the headaches went away and he felt a dramatic improvement in his personality and focus.

On brain SPECT imaging, TBIs can appear in different forms, including:

• Focal deficits (one area affected)
• Asymmetries, where one side is hurt, but the other side not)
• Decreases of the prefrontal cortex (91%) and temporal loves (70%)

Interventions:

Brain rehab program:

• Care about the brain
• Avoid things that hurt the brain
• Do things that help the brain
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
• Medications and/or supplements that are area specific

In Part 3 of this blog, you will discover three additional common brain SPECT imaging patterns, the conditions they are associated with, and the corresponding interventions.

If you or someone you know would like more information about brain SPECT imaging at Amen Clinics, watch these two videos, or to make an appointment, visit us online or call: 888-288-9834.

https://youtu.be/iF58Ke4Er3c

SPECT Made Ridiculously Simple with Dr. Daniel Amen Part 1

https://youtu.be/POoP7ZS3zt0

SPECT Made Ridiculously Simple with Dr. Daniel Amen Part 2

At Amen Clinics, we’ve been using brain SPECT imaging since 1991. Let me briefly share how I fell in love with the brain imaging work we do. In 1972 I was an infantry medic where my love of medicine was born. After about 18 months I was retrained as an X-ray technician and developed a passion for medical imaging. As our professors used to say, “How do you know unless you look?”

In 1979, as a second-year medical student, someone I loved tried to kill herself, and I took her to see a wonderful psychiatrist. Over time, I realized that if he helped her, which he did, it would not only help her, but it would also help her children and even grandchildren as they would be shaped by someone who was happier and more stable. I fell in love with psychiatry because I realized it had the potential to help generations of people. But I fell in love with the only medical profession that virtually never looked at the organ it treats. I knew we could do better.

Why is brain SPECT imaging considered revolutionary in psychiatry?

How can you know what’s going on inside your head if nobody ever looks? Experienced psychiatrists can tell if someone is likely to have ADHD, OCD, or bipolar disorder without the benefit of these tools. But without functional brain imaging tools like SPECT, clinicians will never be able to know the underlying brain patterns of the patients they treat, so they are handicapped to throw medicated tipped darts in the dark at their patients. Brain SPECT is a state-of-the-art brain mapping tool that can give psychiatrists more information to help their patients more effectively.

Here is a quick primer on brain SPECT imaging and why it can be important to help you or your loved ones.

What is SPECT?

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a nuclear medicine study that evaluates blood flow and activity in the brain. Basically, it shows three things: healthy activity, too little activity, or too much activity. Then based on what we see, our job is to balance your brain—to calm it down if it is working too hard or stimulate it if it is underactive.

SPECT SURFACE VIEW

A healthy “surface” scan, looking down from the top, shows full, even symmetrical activity. The color is not important, it’s the shape that matters. Surface scans help us see areas that are healthy and those with low activity.

Healthy Surface SPECT Scan: Full, even, symmetrical activity.

SPECT ACTIVE VIEW

A healthy “active” scan shows the most active parts of the brain. Here blue is average activity and red (or sometimes red and white) are the most active parts of the brain. In a healthy scan, the most active area is in the cerebellum, at the back/bottom part of the brain, which makes up just 10 percent of the brain’s volume but houses half of the brain’s neurons.

Healthy Active SPECT Scan: Grey is average activity, white is top 15% showing most active areas of the brain.

With SPECT, you can see healthy vs. unhealthy brains. Look at the following scans of people with Alzheimer’s disease or who have addictions.

SPECT Scan Alzheimer’s disease: Severe decreases in back half of the brain.

SPECT Scan Marijuana Addiction: Marked decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes.

What does brain SPECT imaging teach us about the brain?

One of the big lessons we’ve learned from brain imaging is that mild traumatic brain injury ruins people’s lives. Your brain is very soft, about the consistency of soft butter, and the inside of your skull is very hard and has sharp, bony ridges. Your brain can be easily damaged. About 40 percent of the patients who come to Amen Clinics have experienced a traumatic brain injury. And so many of them don’t realize that brain injuries and concussions, even if you don’t pass out, are associated with a high degree of mental health challenges. Brain SPECT imaging shows evidence of traumatic brain injuries, even mild ones that happened decades earlier. Recognizing an underlying brain injury can be an important factor in healing mental health symptoms.

What is the biggest discovery brain SPECT imaging has revealed about psychiatric issues?

One of the biggest things brain SPECT imaging has taught us is that psychiatric issues—ADHD, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, addiction, and more—are not single or simple disorders. They all have multiple types. It’s critical to know your type in order to get treatment that is targeted to your specific needs.

What are some of the ways SPECT brain scans improve treatment?

SPECT brain scans can:

• Show evidence of trauma, exposure to toxins like chemotherapy, or infections like Lyme disease (treating the underlying problem may help alleviate psychiatric symptoms)
• Show if medications are toxic (This is one of the main reasons why I rarely prescribe benzodiazepines because they are harmful to brain activity)
• Help prevent mistakes (You never want to stimulate a brain that’s already working too hard or calm a brain that isn’t working hard enough.)

How can SPECT brain scans help people with mental health disorders and addictions?

Brain SPECT imaging can be very powerful in treating people with psychiatric illnesses and/or addictions because it:

• Breaks denial
• Increases compliance
• Helps understand comorbidities
• Encourages follow-up scans (helping determine if treatment needs to be adjusted)
• Decreases stigma (helping you see that the problem is medical not moral)
• Decreases shame, guilt, self-loathing, and anger (helping you understand that your issues are not a personal failure)
• Increases, compassion and forgiveness for families

How does brain SPECT imaging offer hope to people struggling with mental health conditions?

Seeing before-and-after brain scans shows that you are not stuck with the brain you have. You can change your brain and change your life.

SPECT Scans: Before Treatment and After Treatment

Low overall blood flow:

Marked overall improvement:

In Part 2 of this blog, you will discover some of the common patterns seen in SPECT brain scans, what they mean, and the corresponding interventions.

If you or someone you know would like more information about brain SPECT imaging at Amen Clinics, watch these two videos, or to make an appointment, visit us online or call: 888-288-9834.

SPECT Made Ridiculously Simple with Dr. Daniel Amen Part 1

SPECT Made Ridiculously Simple with Dr. Daniel Amen Part 2

Did you know that psychiatrists are the ONLY medical specialists who rarely look at the organ they treat? Psychiatrists today still diagnose and manage conditions the same way they did back when Abraham Lincoln was being treated for depression: conduct a brief interview, quickly assess the symptoms, form a diagnosis based on those symptoms and then prescribe a high-powered medication. This method makes the patient a guinea pig and often does more harm than good since many medications come with adverse side effects. At Amen Clinics, our primary goal is to improve your brain health and overall quality of life. If you’re dealing with a mental health problem, know that you’re not alone and that you’re not stuck with the brain you have – you can change it and we can help with the right method. Our well-researched and proven process results in higher-than-average success rates utilizing the least toxic, most effective solutions to diagnose and treat your brain.

What We Treat

At our clinics, we treat a wide array of mental health conditions, including: • Emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder • Behavioral challenges such as addictions, weight control, anger • Cognitive problems such as brain fog or memory issues • Brain injuries such as concussions and TBIs (traumatic brain injury) • Learning or concentration issues such as ADD (attention deficit disorder), also known as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) If you’re struggling with any of these symptoms, it would be insane not to get an image of your brain.

Take a Look

At Amen Clinics, we believe that you can’t possibly know what’s going on inside your brain unless you take a look. Imaging changes everything. It removes the guesswork from the standard psychiatric approach of prescribing high-powered medications to mask symptoms, which is like throwing darts at a dartboard in the dark. By contrast, the Amen Clinics approach is to look inside the brain and treat it with as natural a regimen as possible. We treat the root of the problem rather than just the symptom. Amen Clinics has provided education and insight on the clinical use of brain imaging in psychiatry. Over the past 30 years, Amen Clinics has built the world’s largest database of brain scans related to emotional, relational and behavioral problems. Our study is comprised of brain SPECT images.

What is SPECT?

SPECT stands for Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography. Because brain activity is directly related to blood flow, SPECT effectively shows us the patterns of activity in the brain. SPECT allows physicians to look deep inside the brain to observe three things: areas of the brain that work well, areas of the brain that work too hard and areas of the brain that don’t work hard enough. Amen Clinics has performed over 150,000 scans on patients from age 3 to 103. In addition to diagnosing and treating patients with symptoms such as ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, autism, addiction, head trauma and many other complex or resistant psychiatric problems, we’ve also scanned many health-conscious individuals interested in learning more about their brains and how to keep them optimized far into the future.

Benefits of SPECT Imaging

There are many advantages to taking a look inside your brain. Brain SPECT imaging can: • Help identify if there has been brain trauma • Show brain blood flow deficits NOT visible in anatomical studies, such as CT or MRI • Identify affected brain systems • Help determine if there are co-occurring conditions that need treatment • Increase treatment compliance by showing pictures of results • Provide scientific documentation that may help with special services or legal issues

The Amen Clinics Method

The Amen Clinics Method combines the information gathered from SPECT imaging along with questionnaires, neuropsychological testing, and a detailed clinical history, which concentrates on 4 specific areas of your life: biological, psychological, social, and spiritual. After gathering all this information, we’re able to create a targeted treatment plan specifically for your needs. Although treatment plans vary based on individual results, our aim is to use the least toxic, most effective solutions to help alleviate your symptoms. We prefer to heal the brain naturally, which means our doctors typically recommend diet, exercise and supplements first and foremost before medications. A lesson that SPECT imaging has taught us is that one treatment doesn’t fit all. We can help you and your loved ones overcome the stigma and suffering associated with ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, brain injury, addictions, memory issues, and other emotional and cognitive issues. If you’re ready to regain control over your life, call us today at 888-288-9834 or visit us online to schedule a visit. When you hear the word “addiction,” the first thing that pops into your head is probably drugs or alcohol. Gambling or sex addictions might also register as types of negative habits. Or perhaps even the digital obsession many have with their devices. But video game addiction? Is there really such a thing?

Is It Really an Addiction?

Most people would agree that video game binges or all-night marathons aren’t beneficial to your health, either physically or mentally. But is there a time limit that should be observed by gamers? Is there a way to know for sure when video game playing becomes excessive…or even addictive? The World Health Organization recently evaluated the harmful effects of spending too much time playing video games. Based on scientific evidence, the WHO has classified “gaming disorder” as a serious addiction. However, the agency claims that the condition only affects 3% of gamers. Although the American Psychiatric Association hasn’t labeled excessive gaming as a mental health condition, the organization does admit that the disorder warrants further clinical research.

Addiction Begins in the Brain

The brain is the supercomputer that runs everything in your life. It plays a central role in your vulnerability to addiction and your ability to recover and maintain sobriety. Understanding the brain’s role in addiction, prevention, and treatment is the key to helping people break free from their addictions. Until then, they will continue to fuel their addictions with daily habits and actions that pollute the brain and make it even harder for them to break free from those addictions. One way to help identify addiction in the brain is with SPECT imaging. Overloaded work schedules, not getting enough sleep, and living with strained relationships all can lower brain function, and make it more difficult to fight addiction. Eating a fast food diet, guzzling sugary sodas, and gobbling unhealthy snacks deprives the brain of proper nutrients, which decreases your ability to think clearly and make good decisions. Isolating yourself from family and friends to hide your addiction also has a negative effect on your brain that can further intensify your addictive behaviors.

The Brain’s Reward System

Your motivation to either commit or quit harmful acts is tied to the biological makeup of your brain and your brain’s reward system. This system is an intricate network of neurotransmitters that are critical to human survival. Your self-control circuit is comprised of: 1. the brain systems that drive you to seek out things that bring you pleasure and, 2. the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which applies the brakes when you’re about to engage in risky behavior. In the addicted brain, the underactive PFC can create an imbalance in the reward system and cause you to lose control over your behavior. When this happens, you’re more likely to fall victim to your cravings. Having low activity in the PFC often results in impulse control problems and poor internal supervision.

ADHD and Video Game Addiction

Many individuals with ADHD, who can barely spend ten minutes doing mundane tasks such as paying bills or preparing their taxes, can easily lose themselves for hours on end playing video games. The stimulation, novelty, and excitement grabs and maintains their interest. Without these stimuli, they can be apathetic, fatigued, or spacey. A recent study found that gamers with ADHD symptoms may be at a greater risk for developing video game addiction. Up to 23 percent of people who play video games report symptoms of addictive behavior. If you know someone who can’t put down the controller, here are some practical strategies that can help them overcome Video Game Brain:

Healthy Pleasure Centers

Deep inside the brain, your pleasure centers respond to several neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine. When dopamine is depleted, depression and low motivation are much more likely to occur – it can be harder to find your sense of joy and lift yourself out of a funk. Boost dopamine naturally by engaging in meaningful and pleasurable activities on a regular basis. Do work that you love, get consistent exercise and take time to have fun with your loved ones.

Boost Your PFC

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is responsible for helping you be goal-oriented, socially responsible, and productive in every area of your life. Decreased activity in the PFC has been associated with lack of forethought and poor judgment. Exercising self-control is one of the best ways to strengthen your PFC. To develop your PFC, you can practice saying no to the things that aren’t good for you and, over time, you’ll find it easier to do the right thing. Also, supplements, green tea, and Rhodiola can increase blood flow to the PFC which can help you make better decisions.

“Then What?”

Addictions are made worse when we literally “wear out” the brain’s pleasure centers from constant exposure to highly stimulating activities, such as drugs, video games, and internet pornography. Take inventory of the adrenaline-producing habits in your life. Eliminate unhealthy ones and take breaks from activities (even good ones) that are becoming compulsive. When fighting an addiction, always keep these two words in mind: “Then what?” Whenever you think about doing or saying something that may have a negative impact on your life, consider the consequences of your behavior. This question can serve as a stop sign to impulses that are about to take you down the wrong path. Brain dysfunction is the #1 reason why people fall victim to addiction. If a loved one is struggling with any form of addiction, our method of integrative psychiatric support can help. Our Full Evaluation of your biological/psychological/social/spiritual history, coupled with two brain SPECT imaging scans (in concentrating and resting states), cognitive testing, and clinical assessment is designed to address unique needs and offer targeted treatment options. If you or someone you know is struggling with a video game addiction, call us today at 888-288-9834 or visit us online to schedule a visit. As a leader in the field of mental health, Amen Clinics has treated an array of psychiatric conditions over the past 30 years and has amassed the world’s largest database of brain scans at 150,000 and growing. Though many people have come to know about us due to the remarkable results we’ve seen with brain SPECT imaging, we also offer a wide range of therapy options at the nationwide Amen Clinics locations. One of the brain health and wellness services we are excited to recommend is IV Nutrient Therapy.

What is IV Nutrient Therapy?

Intravenous (IV) nutrient infusions can help replenish your body’s essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids, and help to restore balanced brain functioning. IV nutrient therapy is ideal for those seeking to detoxify their body, increase immune function, reduce symptoms and improve overall health.

How Does It Work?

At the beginning of a session, a patient will enter the treatment room and sit in a comfortable chair. An IV solution (fluid of vitamins and nutrients) is then administered directly into a vein. The patient will remain seated until the IV bag has been depleted.

Who Does It Treat?

IV therapy is used to treat a variety of conditions and is ideal for individuals who are tired, dehydrated, stressed or struggling with a chronic illness. Treatments are customized based on a patient’s needs. Below are just a few of the conditions IV therapy has been used to treat: • Autoimmune and Neurological Conditions • Memory Problems/Dementia • Anxiety/Depression • Infections • Mold Exposure • Migraines • Fibromyalgia • Heavy Metal Toxicity • Parkinson’s Disease • Lyme Disease • Chronic Fatigue

What Are the Benefits?

IV nutrient therapy is a fast, effective, and natural option for improving your health and wellness. IV treatments infuse nutrients directly into the bloodstream, which allows large doses to be administered without upsetting the stomach, creating absorption issues or losing potency.

Types of IV Nutrient Therapy

Amen Clinics offers IV therapies for a variety of needs and conditions. Here are our specially formulated IVs:

CALM

Also called the Myers Cocktail, the CALM IV is a well-known and highly effective IV formulation for anxiety and relaxation that consists of high doses of B vitamins, magnesium, and other nutrients.

ANTIOX

The mother of all antioxidants, ANTIOX IV can consist of glutathione, alpha lipoic acid (ALA), or both (depending on what’s best for the patient), and can help the brain, liver, intestines and kidneys.

IMMUNE

The IMMUNE IV contains powerful doses of buffered vitamin C and is especially helpful for anyone suffering from an immune disorder or who needs a physical and mental boost.

BOOST

The BOOST IV contains high dose vitamin C and a multivitamin/mineral combination that’s great for those who are worn down by stress or illness, or just seeking to stay healthy and energized. Great for cold and flu season.

CLEANSE COMBO (CHELATION THERAPY)

The CLEANSE COMBO uses specific chelators like ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) to remove toxic metals – including aluminum, cadmium and lead – from the body.

PHOSPHOLIPID EXCHANGE THERAPY (PXT)

PXT can help a range of disorders and is an effective means of detoxifying cell membranes by replacing the bad fats and oils in a person’s membranes with good essential fatty acids, creating younger, healthier membranes.

NAD+

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) is primarily used to generate energy within your cells. NAD has been used to help improve concentration, focus, memory, mood, addiction, age-related diseases and chronic fatigue.

How Many Sessions Are Recommended?

The type of IV therapy and the number of sessions will be determined by an Amen Clinics medical professional trained in IV therapy. Sessions generally last between 30 to 60 minutes.

Is it Safe?

IV therapy isn’t safe for everyone. People with some allergies, on specific medications, or with certain conditions (such as congestive heart failure) may not be good candidates. It’s critical to have a thorough medical consultation before starting IV therapy. Choosing your own concoction, without a physician’s supervision, can be dangerous. The Amen Clinics medical staff are highly trained experts in IV nutrient therapy. These administrators are licensed medical providers. Our infusions are made with 100% certified and sterile ingredients that are FDA registered. Not all services are offered at each Amen Clinics location. Call us today at 888-288-9834 or inquire on our website for availability at a clinic near you.

Do you enjoy drinking soda?

Well, don’t be surprised if you start forgetting where you left your keys, because according to US scientists eating too much sugar can eat away at your brainpower. The recently published study showed how a steady diet of high-fructose corn syrup (like those found in sugar and other refined sweet treats) zapped lab rats’ memories.

The Science

The study was conducted at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) where researchers fed two groups of rats a solution containing high-fructose corn syrup — a common ingredient in processed foods — as drinking water for six weeks. One group of rats was supplemented with brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids in the form of flaxseed oil and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), while the other group was not. Before the sugar drinks began, the rats were enrolled in a five-day training session in a complicated maze. After six weeks on the sweet solution, the rats were then placed back in the maze to see how they fared.

Sugar & The Brain

A closer look at the rat brains revealed that those who were not fed DHA supplements had also developed signs of resistance to insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar and regulates brain function. “Because insulin can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, the hormone may signal neurons to trigger reactions that disrupt learning and cause memory loss,” Gomez-Pinilla said. In other words, eating too much fructose could interfere with insulin’s ability to regulate how cells use and store sugar, which is necessary for processing thoughts and emotions. Everyone is always focused on the effect of high-fructose corn syrup on weight gain and obesity, but this study shows that a high-fructose diet not only harms the body, but harms the brain as well.

What Kind of Sugar Is Most Damaging?

High-fructose corn syrup is commonly found in soda, condiments, applesauce, baby food and other processed snacks. What is worse is that the average American consumes more than 40 pounds (18 kilograms) of high-fructose corn syrup per year, according to the US Department of Agriculture. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is saturated with sugar, high omega-6 fatty acids, excessive calories, trans fats, processed and pesticide-laden foods. People who have a simple, carbohydrate-based diet (bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, fruit juice and sugar) have a 400% increased risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. New research has also linked a sugar-laden diet to Alzheimer’s disease, which some scientists are now calling “type 3 diabetes.” Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity are national health epidemics that continue to grow. The answer is NOT to see them as individual, separate disorders, but rather as different outcomes of the same unhealthy lifestyle that have exactly the same cure. The best way to prevent Alzheimer’s is to eliminate all the risk factors that are associated with the disease—and the good news is that most of them are either preventable or treatable.

We Can Help

Being serious about brain health has no age limit, especially when a better brain can help improve your focus, mood, and memory. You can create a brain-healthy life by learning how to love and care for the most important part of your body- your brain. To learn how we can optimize your health, please call us today at 888-288-9834 or visit us online to schedule a visit. Most people have heard a glass of wine before bed isn’t always bad but that is false. Relying on a drink to fall asleep is an unhealthy crutch many people depend on. While alcohol can initially deepen sleep during the early part of the night, it also disrupts sleep during the latter part of the night; this is called a “rebound effect.” According to recent findings, alcohol does allow healthy people to fall asleep quicker and sleep more deeply for a while, but it reduces rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Alcohol Before Bed is Linked to Dysfunctional Sleep Patterns

Drinking alcohol before bed is linked with more slow-wave sleep patterns called delta activity. That’s the kind of deep sleep that allows for memory formation and learning. At the same time, another type of brain pattern—alpha activity—is also turned on. While you may fall asleep quickly after drinking, it’s also common to wake up in the middle of the night. One explanation is that alcohol may affect the normal production of chemicals in the body that trigger sleepiness when you’ve been awake for a long time, and subside once you’ve had enough sleep. After drinking, the production of adenosine (a sleep-inducing chemical in the brain) is increased, allowing for a fast onset of sleep. But it subsides as quickly as it came, making you more likely to wake up before you’re truly rested.

Alcohol Before Bed Blocks REM Sleep

Another reason people get lower-quality sleep following alcohol is that it blocks REM sleep, which is often considered the most restorative type of sleep. With less REM sleep, you’re likely to wake up feeling groggy and unfocused. Alcohol causes your whole body to relax, including the muscles of your throat. And that makes you more prone to snoring and sleep apnea.

Alcohol is Not Good For Your Brain

Not only will alcohol disrupt your sleep but it’s also bad for your brain. Even moderate amounts of alcohol can affect brain function and studies show that people who drink every day have smaller brains than nondrinkers. And when it comes to the brain, size matters!

Sleep Your Way to A Better Brain

The Amen Clinics biomedical evaluation is part of the Amen Method Four Circles Approach to mental and physical health. We treat each patient as an individual and take a full personal history before beginning SPECT imaging or recommending any treatment program. Call us today at 888-288-9834 or schedule an appointment online.