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Take a close look at yourself in the mirror. If your skin seems dry, you reach for the moisturizer. Spot a pimple and you dab it with a bit of acne medication. Notice a few split ends and you call the hairdresser for a haircut. Basically, whenever you see a problem with your body, you try to fix it yourself or get professional help to take care of it. But most people never consider the health of their brain because they can’t see it. Many of us walk around with brains that need help, but we don’t realize it, so we don’t do anything to address the issue. That’s at the heart, or should I say brain, of the problem. Understanding and optimizing your brain is often the missing link to being successful in your quest for a better body.

Follow these 10 basic principles to love and nurture your brain so that you can have the best body possible:

Your Brain is Involved in Everything You Do

As the executive control center of your entire body, your brain controls everything you do. The moment-by-moment functioning of your brain is responsible for the way you think, feel, eat, and exercise. The impact of the brain on your body is at the core of your health and well-being. The decisions your brain makes can steal or add many years to your life!

When Your Brain Works Right, You Work Right

A healthy brain makes it so much easier for you to have your best body possible. When your brain is working at optimal levels, you are more likely to stick to a diet, follow an exercise routine, and adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors. On the other hand, a troubled brain often leads to bad decisions that can steal your health. Your brain can either help or hinder your efforts to have a better body.

The Brain is the Most Complex Organ in the Universe

Your brain only weighs about 3 pounds, but it’s more powerful than even the most sophisticated supercomputer. Even though it represents only about 2 percent of your body’s weight, your brain uses about 25 percent of the calories you consume. It’s estimated that there are more connections in your brain than there are stars in the universe! Your brain is heavily involved in making you who you are…so respect it.

Your Brain is Soft and is Housed in a Hard Skull

Composed of about 80 percent water, the brain’s consistency is somewhere between raw egg whites and Jell-O. The brain is housed in a hard skull and is filled with fluid. Inside your brain skull are a number of bony edges and ridges. Your brain wasn’t made to endure the punishment of soccer headers, tackle football, or boxing. Brain injuries not only damage your brain, they can ruin your body.

The Brain Only Has So Much Reserve

Brain reserve is the cushion of healthy brain function we have to deal with stressful events or injuries. The more reserve you have, the better you can cope with the unexpected. The less you have, the harder it is for you to handle tough times and injuries. Enhance your reserve by maintaining a brain-healthy lifestyle.

Specific Parts of Your Brain Are Involved in Certain Behaviors

There are many parts of the brain and each area can influence your behavior positively or negatively. Trouble in a specific part of your brain can cause certain behavior problems. Each brain system plays a major role in your ability to make good decisions for the health of your entire body. Understanding your brain can help you optimize it.

Many Everyday Activities Help/Hurt the Brain

You may be surprised to learn that common, everyday activities and behaviors are often the source of brain drain. Things that hurt the brain include: drugs/alcohol, obesity, sleep deprivation, chronic stress, dehydration and excessive TV/video games. Common practices that can help your brain are: diet, exercise, supplements, quality sleep, relaxation and meditation. Do you want a healthy or unhealthy brain? The choice is yours.

Brain Imaging Gives Great Insight into Healing

With the help of imaging, we’ve learned that conditions such as obesity, depression, anxiety, and addictions are not single or simple disorders and that one treatment doesn’t fit everyone. Imaging helps us understand individual patients so that we can develop treatment plans specifically tailored to you. Depending on your individual situation, your brain may need to be stimulated or it may need to be calmed down. If we never look at your brain, how can we know the best way to treat you?

It’s Crucial to Know How Your Brain Functions

Since we are all unique individuals, we need to understand how our brain functions. From a brain imaging perspective, there isn’t just one type of ADD/ADHD, anxiety or depression. Understanding your individual variability is critical to getting the right treatment, whether it’s to help your mood, focus, weight or overall health.

You Can Change Your Brain and Body

By targeting specific interventions and lifestyle changes, you can improve your brain and your body. This is one of the most exciting breakthroughs in medicine. Working to enhance your brain can be the answer if you’ve been struggling with diets your entire life, have never been able to stick with a fitness routine, have been trying to quit smoking for years, or want to improve your overall health. To get the body you want, you need to believe in your ability to change your brain. Knowing how your brain works is critical to getting the help you need. One of the best ways you can change your brain and body is with brain SPECT imaging. SPECT helps people understand the underlying psychological or medical reasons for their conditions. 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. At Amen Clinics, we’re committed to treating our patients with the least toxic, most effective regimen. For more information on how SPECT imaging can help provide a customized treatment plan to help heal your brain and body, call us today at 888-288-9834 or visit us online to schedule a visit. For the first 4 years of his life, Eric was a fun-loving kid who loved to play catch with his dad and build things with his Legos. When Eric turned 5, though, something changed. All of a sudden, he would fly into a rage, smashing his Legos and throwing his toys at his dad. The young boy also developed a strange tic—jerking his head to one side and shrugging his shoulders. His parents were at a loss. What had happened to their sweet little boy? They took Eric to a psychiatrist, which led to a long journey and a laundry list of diagnoses—ADD/ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and more. By the time they brought Eric to Amen Clinics, the boy had been to 6 different doctors and was taking multiple medications. But they weren’t working. After a full evaluation at Amen Clinics, which includes brain SPECT imaging, lab work, and neuropsychological assessments, a different diagnosis emerged—PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections), which is considered a subset of PANS (pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome). Still considered controversial in traditional medicine, PANS/PANDAS are very real conditions linked to infections that lead to harmful changes in the brain. Controversial in traditional medicine, PANS/PANDAS are real conditions linked to infections that cause harmful brain changes.
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“This is not likely going to be on the radar screen of most mental health doctors and yet it’s a huge problem for the person with it because they’re likely to be misdiagnosed, drugged, or even hospitalized,” says physician Marc Filidei, DO, Director of Integrative Medicine at Amen Clinics.

THE BASICS ABOUT PANS/PANDAS

PANS/PANDAS, which affects an estimated 10% of children diagnosed with OCD or Tourette’s syndrome, is believed to occur when an infection triggers a misdirected immune response that results in inflammation of a child’s brain. In the early days of research on this condition, experts focused specifically on strep infections as a trigger that attacked areas in the front part of the brain. Now, scientists have broadened their investigations and found that many different types of infections may attack the brain and lead to a variety of neuropsychiatric problems. Some of the bacterial or viral infections associated with PANS/PANDAS include: These infections are believed to cross the blood-brain barrier to attack brain tissue. Neuroimaging studies show that PANS/PANDAS tends to impact the basal ganglia of the brain. These large structures deep in the brain are involved in habit formation. According to Dr. Filidei, “If your body is attacking your brain, you can have dramatic problems.” In a video on PANDAS and PANS with Dr. Filidei, he adds, “Personally, I think this goes far beyond kids with OCD. I think there’s a very high likelihood that this same process is going on with a lot of mental health conditions.” In the young boy Eric’s case, his sudden behavioral changes stemmed from a strep infection when he was 5 years old.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF PANS AND PANDAS

The hallmark trait for PANS/PANDAS is sudden acute and the debilitating onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms. These life-changing issues may include: These acute and severe emotional and behavioral changes often don’t go away. They are not temporary. They can stick around.

COVID-19 AND PANS/PANDAS

Although researchers have documented an increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders related to COVID-19, they are still investigating the virus’ relationship with PANS/PANDAS. A 2021 survey of 670 PANS/PANDAS families attempted to gain a greater understanding of how the pandemic and lockdowns were affecting those with the condition. According to the findings, the percentage of those experiencing increases in the following symptoms were as follows: Emerging research is looking into the possibility that infection with COVID may trigger the onset of PANS. For example, a 2021 study in The Lancet featured case studies of 2 children with PANS whose symptoms started within a few weeks of testing positive for COVID. One of the cases was a 12-year-old boy who developed a compulsion to wash his hands excessively, facial tics, and fears about coming into contact with handles, among other symptoms. The other boy, 13, was diagnosed with COVID and subsequently developed facial and vocal tics, compulsions, hyperactivity, aggressiveness, a lack of appetite, attention problems, and irritability.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS FOR PANS/PANDAS

When diagnosing these conditions, functional brain SPECT imaging, as well as labwork, can be invaluable. On SPECT scans, overall decreased blood flow or a pattern called scalloping are signs of a potential infection. Seeing these patterns on brain scans prompts Amen Clinics physicians to investigate further to determine if underlying infections may be the root cause of a child’s condition. In this case, blood tests for common viral and bacterial infections can be very helpful.

CAN PANS/PANDAS BE TREATED?

The good news is there are treatments that can be effective for PANS/PANDAS. Getting a proper diagnosis is the key to finding the right treatment plan. Treating the underlying infection is a critical step in the process. Other treatment methods include plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), which were shown to be effective in the treatment of PANDAS in a 2015 study in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Natural therapies may include changes in diet, reducing exposure to environmental toxins, and learning stress-management techniques. For Eric, treating the infections, improving his diet and gut health, and other treatment strategies were beneficial and helped him return to being the kind, loving youngster his parents knew he could be. The sudden acute onset of neuropsychiatric issues like OCD, anxiety, or aggression 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. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Do you think how you age and when you die is left to the fate of good or bad genes? Think again. “Only about 5 to 20 percent of the aging process has to do with our genes,” says Johnny Bowden, author of The Most Effective Ways to Live Longer. “The rest has to do with how we treat our bodies, which determines whether, like a light switch, we turn the good genes on and the bad genes off.” Conquer them and you slow down the aging process and help prevent heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. And you’ll look and feel younger than your peers.

Here are the 5 steps:

1. Lessen Exposure to Free Radicals

Not unlike the way rust attacks a car, free radicals attack our cells, damage our DNA and accelerate aging. Things to avoid: cigarettes, trans fats, excess sun exposure, charred meats, and pesticides. Though fruits and vegetables are great sources of antioxidants that fight free radicals, try to buy the “dirty dozen” (produce with highest chemical residue) in organic form: • Peaches • Apples • Blueberries • Bell Peppers • Celery • Nectarines • Strawberries • Cherries • Imported grapes • Spinach & Kale

2. Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation that becomes chronic is now considered to be a major player in many diseases of aging including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. The Mediterranean diet based on fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, oils, grains and little meat appears to reduce inflammation. Other great anti-inflammatory foods include many spices (like turmeric) and dark chocolate (70 percent or higher cacao content). Exercise is another great way to lower inflammation. Aim for a moderate amount of steady exercise like brisk walking, swimming, or biking for 30 to 45 minutes five days a week—the amount most experts recommend. But don’t overdo it to the point of soreness and extreme fatigue, since too much exercise can actually increase inflammation, at least temporarily.

3. Limit Sugar

When too much sugar mixes proteins and fats it forms molecules called Advanced Glycation End products, or AGEs that promote aging. Limiting your intake of sugar-filled foods in general will also help. The American Heart Association now recommends that women consume no more than 100 calories per day of added sugars, and men no more than 150 calories per day.

4. Lower Stress

Being under constant pressure initiates the release of a variety of stress hormones that make your pulse race and cause your blood pressure to rise. The hormone cortisol gets released to lessen these effects, but if stress is constant, and cortisol stays chronically elevated it can shrink a part of the brain called the hippocampus, essential for long-term memory. It can also lead to the accumulation of belly fat, causing inflammation and insulin resistance. Regularly practicing relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga or contemplative prayer help manage stress, but even closing your eyes for 5 minutes and breathing deeply at intervals through the day can help. Getting too little sleep can also increase cortisol, so make sure to aim for 7 to 8 hours a night.

5. Protect and Repair DNA with Super Foods

This point is closely related to the above, because controlling oxidation and inflammation and avoiding toxins are all part of protecting your DNA. When we age or have disease our DNA is duplicated but not as well. Think of a Xerox machine that produces a copy of a copy of a copy… and so on. The final copies are not very clear. We want “clear reproductions” when it comes to duplicating our DNA within. Many spices are also amazingly protective. I think it is good idea to include a reputable, high quality super “green” or “super food” type powder as part of your health regimen. You can mix the powder in your smoothie or mix it with juice as an added boost to your brain, energy and longevity.

Improve Your Brain Health

At Amen Clinics, we have spent decades helping people just like you improve their brain health. Call us today at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit. Did you know that six percent of the population will have a significant mood disorder sometime in their life? Only 20 to 25 percent of these people ever seek help. This is unfortunate, because mood disorders are treatable. And treatment can be further enhanced by supplementing with omega-3 fish oils. Let’s dive in!

The History of Inherited Omega-3 Deficiency

Multiple findings directly correlate with the rise in ADHD and other mood disorders since the 1990s. Many parents of today’s teens were born in the 1960s and 1970s, a time period in which farming methods and dietary values shifted significantly for the worse.

During the 1960s and 70s:

• Omega-3-deficient oils like corn and soy oil became prevalent. • Farm animals moved from eating grass to grain. Since omega-3s are present in grass and algae, much of today’s grain-fed cattle contain less of these essential fatty acids. • Processed convenience foods (which are high in omega-6s) gained popularity.

The Future of Omega-3 Deficiency

Although many infant formulas are now fortified with DHA, an important omega-3 fatty acid for brain development, many American children eat a consistent diet of processed convenience foods that are completely void of omega-3 fatty acids and extremely high in poor-quality omega-6 fatty acids. Diets lacking omega-3 fatty acids can have worsened effects over consecutive generations. This means that we may very well see a continued, and even elevated trend of cognitive impairment conditions in both the young and old over time. In general, Americans eat 11 to 30 times the amount of omega-6s as compared to omega-3s. When this ratio is out of balance, omega-6s promote inflammation within the brain and other tissues in the body. Foods such as: • Vegetable oils • Baked goods • Crackers • Cereals are high in omega-6 fatty acids. Furthermore, high heat and processing de-stabilizes these oils, making them even more pro-inflammatory. Do your best to limit omega-6s – the brain health of your grandchildren may depend on it. But the good news keeps coming. Unlike psychiatric drugs, the side-effects of Omega-3 fatty acids tend to be positive. Omega-3s are good for multiple areas of the brain and body, such as: • Heart • Skin • Hair • Nails • Overall health Our experienced staff will help you learn more about your brain. If you’re ready to take control over your future, call us today at 888-288-9834 or visit our website to schedule an appointment. The brain-body connection is real and more apparent than you might think. While some disease is hereditary, bad health is often born out of unhealthy choice and behaviors. When your brain suffers, so does your body, but it’s never too late to change your brain, and your life. Alzheimer’s disease is expected to triple by 2050, and there is no cure on the horizon. Alzheimer’s disease affects 50 percent of people age eighty-five and older. If you are fortunate to live until you are eighty-five or beyond you have a one-in-two chance of losing your mind along the way. To make matters worse, recent brain-imaging research has demonstrated that Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia actually start in the brain decades before you have any symptoms. Depression is one of the greatest killers of our time. It affects 50 million Americans at some point in their lives and has increased 400 percent since 1987. Depression is associated with suicide, divorce, job failure, heart disease, obesity, and dementia. Depression doubles the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in women and quadruples it in men. Attention deficit disorder (ADD), also called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is now being diagnosed more frequently than ever. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that nearly one in five high-school-age boys and 11 percent of school-age children overall have received a diagnosis of ADD, including an estimated 6.4 million children between the ages of six and seventeen. Many people underestimate the devastating consequences of ADD. Yet, when left untreated, it is associated with school underachievement and failure (35 percent never finish high school), drug and alcohol abuse, job failure, divorce, incarceration, obesity, depression, and dementia. Obesity is a serious national crisis with two-thirds of Americans over- weight and one-third obese. Obesity increases inflammation, which is a low-level fire in the body that destroys our organs and is a risk factor for more than thirty medical illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, depression, and dementia. There are many published studies, including two by the research team at Amen Clinics, that report as your weight goes up, the size and function of your brain go down. If you are not a warrior for the health of your brain and the brains of those who depend on you, ADD, depression, dementia, premature aging, diabetes, obesity, and premature death are the consequences for your loved ones and yourself. Do not be a victim; if you are ready to start fighting for yourself and your loved ones we can help you! Call Amen Clinics at 888-288-9834 or visit us at online. Diabetes is a disease that no one wants to have. When insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels, becomes deficient or ineffective, the body suffers from chronically high blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes results when inadequate amounts of insulin are produced; type 2 develops when the body doesn’t use insulin properly. In both cases, the resulting damage to blood vessels harms every organ in your body, including your brain. Being overweight (diabetes + obesity = diabesity) makes things worse. Recent research revealed that people with early stage Type 2 diabetes who were also overweight had more severe and progressive abnormalities in brain structures and cognition than normal weight type 2 diabetics. The temporal lobe, which is one of the first brain regions to show changes in Alzheimer’s disease, was particularly vulnerable. Both Daniel and Tana Amen have lost loved ones and friends to the scourge of diabetes. They have seen first-hand how devastating the disease can be to someone’s health, happiness and life—and to their families. But diabetes doesn’t have to ruin your life. This is a disease that can be prevented—and even, in some cases, reversed—through simple lifestyle changes such as losing weight, exercising more and eating a healthy diet, with more fiber, vegetables and fruit. Diabesity is one of the risk factors in the Amen Clinics BRIGHT MINDS Program, which identifies and treats the 11 risk factors that can rob you of your memory and your mind. Research shows that addressing all of these vulnerabilities is the best way to keep your memory strong for life. The list below includes all 11 risks, summed up in the words BRIGHT MINDS, which makes it easier to remember them: B – Blood Flow R – Retirement/Aging I – Inflammation G – Genetics H – Head Trauma T – Toxins
M – Mental Health I – Immunity/Infection Issues N – Neurohormone Deficiencies D – Diabesity S – Sleep Issues If you are overweight or getting on in years (age is a primary risk factor for diabetes), make an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss these lab tests: It is also important to know your waist to height ration (WHtR), which you can calculate by dividing your waist size (in inches) by your height (in inches). A woman with a 30-inch waist who is 5’4” (64”) would divide 30 by 64 to get a WHtR or 46.8 percent. A ratio that’s less than 50 percent is considered healthy. Use a tape measure to get an accurate waist size! The other critical number to know is your body mass index, or BMI, which is a measurement that compares your weight to your height. An optimal BMI is 18.5 to 25; overweight is 25 to 30; over 30 is considered obese. Several online calculators will give you your BMI if you plug in your weight and height. To lower your risk of diabetes and pre-diabetes, the precursor to type 2 diabetes, adopt these healthy habits: In the video below, Dr. Daniel Amen discusses diabesity and the role diet plays in rescuing your memory today! To learn more about Amen Clinics Memory Program based on Dr. Amen’s BRIGHT MINDS approach, check it out HERE.

How Brain SPECT Imaging Can Help

Brain SPECT imaging looks at the functioning of the brain. It can tell us if your brain is healthy, experiencing accelerated aging, injured, overactive, or underactive. Without imaging and other assessments, there’s really no way to know what’s going on inside your brain. Although getting older is unavoidable, aging is optional. To learn how we can help you prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia, call us today at 888-288-9834 or visit us online to schedule a visit. Mental fog can have a lot of causes, but one of the more surprising and distressing culprits is Lyme disease. Yes, the bite of an infected tick can lead not just to flu-like symptoms and fatigue, but also to grasping for words, forgetting directions moments after hearing them and a general sense of mental slowness. Lyme is just one example of how protecting your brain is tied to bolstering your body’s immunity. This natural defense system is designed to fight off outside invaders like bacteria (the cause of Lyme), viruses and parasites. It also helps you tolerate allergenic triggers like pollen, peanuts and bee stings, as well as internal attacks from autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Treating infections and autoimmune disorders is an important and often overlooked path to a clearer, sharper memory. When you support your immune system, your reward is also better health and well-being and less fatigue. Immunity and infection issues are addressed together in the Amen Clinics’ new BRIGHT MINDS Program, which identifies and treats the 11 risk factors that can rob you of your memory and cloud your mind. This breakthrough, science-backed program is the most effective way to better your brain, reverse forgetfulness and keep Alzheimer’s disease and dementia at bay. The 11 risks are all contained in the words BRIGHT MINDS so you can recall them easily: B – Blood Flow R – Retirement/Aging I – Inflammation G – Genetics H – Head Trauma T – Toxins
M – Mental Health I – Immunity/Infection Issues N – Neurohormone Deficiencies D – Diabesity S – Sleep Issues If your memory is foggy and you suspect an infection or immune system problem, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider and ask about these tests: Take action to shore up your immune system with these simple steps: Try an elimination diet for a month. This will tell you if you have food allergies, which could be harming your immune system: In the video below, Dr. Daniel Amen discusses immunity and infections and the role they play in rescuing your memory today! To learn more about Amen Clinics Memory Program based on Dr. Amen’s BRIGHT MINDS approach, check it out HERE. Modern life comes with a lot of wonderful time and energy savers, but some conveniences are connected to a slew of surprising memory stealers. Conventional cleaning products, for example, emit fumes that are toxic to brain cells. And recently, scientists reported that exposure to high levels of fine particulate air pollution—the kind you might breathe if you live near a freeway—may contribute to accelerated brain aging and cognitive problems in older women, especially if they have the APOE e4 gene that increases Alzheimer’s risk. These and other environmental toxins can be inadvertently consumed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Widespread in our high-tech world, they include the chemical BPA in food and drink containers and on cash register receipts, heavy metals like mercury in fish and pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables. But you don’t have to live like a hermit to protect your mind and save your memory. There are simple ways to avoid many toxins, and fortunately, the human body is designed to detox itself—it just needs assistance in performing the job. Help is here, in the Amen Clinics’ new BRIGHT MINDS Program, which identifies and treats the 11 risk factors that can damage your brain and rob you of your memory. Toxins are the sixth (see below). Research is showing that addressing all of your vulnerabilities is the best way to keep your brain and memory sharp throughout your life. The risks are summed up in the words BRIGHT MINDS, which makes it easy to remember all 11 of them: B – Blood Flow R – Retirement/Aging I – Inflammation G – Genetics H – Head Trauma T – Toxins
M – Mental Health I – Immunity/Infection Issues N – Neurohormone Deficiencies D – Diabesity S – Sleep Issues Besides the toxins mentioned above, some of the more common ones that patients who come to Amen Clinics have been exposed to include: If you suspect you may have been exposed to one or more toxins (say, on the job), we recommend that you pay a visit to your health-care provider (an integrated medicine doctor would be ideal) and ask about the following tests: There are lots of ways to address the toxins in your life, from eliminating them to helping your body’s natural detoxification systems. Here are nine easy, beneficial moves:
  1. Limit exposure: Buy organic, limit gasoline fumes or secondhand smoke, avoid handling cash register receipts (BPAs)
  2. Limit alcohol to two servings a week
  3. Don’t eat or drink out of plastic containers
  4. Use the app Think Dirty to scan personal products and eliminate as many toxins as possible (parabens, phthalates, lead, aluminum, PEGS)
  5. Check out EWG.org for lists of fruits and vegetables with the highest and lowest levels of pesticide contamination
  6. Support your four organs of detoxification: liver (limit alcohol), gut (add fiber), kidneys (drink water), skin (work up a sweat exercising, take saunas)
  7. Take supplements: NAC, vitamin C, magnesium (for liver and kidneys); pre- and probiotics (for gut); grapeseed extract, green tea catechins (for skin)
  8. Eat/drink more green leafy vegetables, brassicas, berries, sesame and sunflower seeds, beets, citrus (except grapefruit), fiber, green tea, colorful fruits and veggies, salmon, avocados, walnuts
  9. Limit processed meats, salt, MSG and artificial dyes and preservatives in food
In the video below, Dr. Daniel Amen discusses toxins and the role they play in rescuing your memory today! Be hyper-vigilant about your brain health and you could be rewarded with excellent recall and many dementia-free years. To learn more about Amen Clinics Memory Program based on Dr. Amen’s BRIGHT MINDS approach, check it out HERE. In September 2015, big wave surfer Shawn Dollar met the challenge of his life. Not a giant wave like those he’s in the record books for conquering, but a boulder he struck when he dove under a wave. The impact broke his neck in four places and gave him a concussion. Fortunately, he made it to shore and then to his car and the hospital without becoming paralyzed. Within months Dollar’s doctors pronounced him healed, but he was far from well. When he sought help at the Amen Clinics, he was suffering from migraines, intense mood swings, anxiety, a failing memory and more. SPECT imaging revealed why: Like the NFL players’ brains we had examined previously, Dollar’s brain showed the porous pattern of a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Our treatment plan helped him recover his focus and memory; he’s even surfed again, though he no longer rides the big waves. A blow to the head from a fall, a car accident, a football tackle (or other sports trauma), domestic violence or a combat injury—even if you don’t lose consciousness—can scramble your mind and memory. Your brain is like soft custard, and the skull’s sharp ridges can cause severe damage. Repeated blows, like those boxers and football players often endure, can result in CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), which researchers recently found in the brains of 87 percent of the 202 deceased former football players’ brains they examined.

Here is the great news: You can recover from a TBI. We developed a plan, tested it in athletes and published the findings that show it works.

Our protocol for head trauma is part of the Amen Clinics’ new BRIGHT MINDS Program, which identifies and treats the 11 risk factors that can steal your memory and your mind. The risks are summed up in the words BRIGHT MINDS, which makes it easy to remember them: B – Blood Flow R – Retirement/Aging I – Inflammation G – Genetics H – Head Trauma T – Toxins
M – Mental Health I – Immunity/Infection Issues N – Neurohormone Deficiencies D – Diabesity S – Sleep Issues If you have had a head injury or concussion (ask your mom if you can’t recall one; in many cases, you won’t remember it) and/or you notice a loss of your sense of smell, it’s essential that you check in with your health-care provider and ask about these tests: Adopt these easy preventive (and healing) strategies: In the video below, Dr. Daniel Amen discusses head trauma as they “H’ in BRIGHT MINDS: Be hypervigilant about your brain health and you could be rewarded with excellent recall and many dementia-free years. To learn more about Amen Clinics Memory Program based on Dr. Amen’s BRIGHT MINDS approach, check it out HERE. Can there be anything more heart-wrenching than watching a parent struggle with Alzheimer’s disease (AD)? Or more anxiety-provoking than wondering if Alzheimer’s is in your future—especially if you notice your memory slipping? The risk is real: If you have a family member who has (or had) AD—especially if it’s a first-degree relative like a mom, a dad or a sibling—you’re 3.5 times more likely to develop symptoms than someone with no family history. There are several genes that are known to increase production of the sticky beta-amyloid plaques of Alzheimer’s or the tangles of tau protein that disrupt brain cell function. But even if you have one of the e4 versions of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, there is a 75 percent chance you won’t get Alzheimer’s! Research shows that having an APOE e4 is not an unavoidable dementia death sentence. Learning how to protect yourself and your brain is what the Amen Clinics’ new BRIGHT MINDS Program is all about. Genetics is the fourth of the 11 risk factors that you need to be aware of if you want to keep your mind sharp for the rest of your life. Studies show that knowing your personal vulnerabilities and addressing each one is the most effective way to prevent Alzheimer’s and memory loss—or to get your memory back when it’s weakened. Here are all 11 risks contained in the words BRIGHT MINDS, which is a simple and effective way to remember them: B – Blood Flow R – Retirement/Aging I – Inflammation G – Genetics H – Head Trauma T – Toxins
M – Mental Health I – Immunity/Infection Issues N – Neurohormone Deficiencies D – Diabesity S – Sleep Issues If you have family members with dementia or Alzheimer’s, consider having a test for your APOE gene status so that if you do have one or two e4 variants, you can work wholeheartedly to reduce your other risk factors. Discuss with your physician whether you need to have further genetic testing if there’s a family history of early-onset memory problems. It’s also wise to reduce your genetic risk with these strategies: In the video below, Dr. Daniel Amen discusses genetics and the role they play in rescuing your memory today!   Be hypervigilant about your brain health and you could be rewarded with excellent recall and many dementia-free years. To learn more about Amen Clinics Memory Program based on Dr. Amen’s BRIGHT MINDS approach, check it out HERE.