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Approximately 1 in 30 adults in the United States suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can be a disabling condition stemming from a threatening or traumatic life event. Since our brains are wired to alarm us to the presence of danger, having a physical and psychological response to trauma is normal. But when the upset feelings don’t fade away and turn into painful memories, nightmares and daily battles with anxiety vulnerability, that is the definition of PTSD. When left untreated, PTSD can ruin lives and even lead to depression and suicide. There are plenty of things you can do to help treat symptoms of PTSD. Here are five ways to help you take back control:

  1. Know for Sure

    If you’ve suffered emotional trauma but are uncertain if you have PTSD, one way to know for sure is to take a PTSD Self-Assessment Test.

  1. Read Success Stories

    24.4 million Americans have PTSD which includes soldiers, police officers, victims of physical or sexual assault, and others who have had life-threatening experiences. Many people overcome their PTSD and share their stories. Sometimes hearing how someone else survived a tragedy can reduce the feelings of isolation and shame, while offering reassurance and hope. Read about Colonel Jill’s journey of healing here.

  1. Find Community Support

    Having a supportive community means that support is just a phone call, email or visit away. Spending time in a positive community of like-minded people is a wonderful way to boost your bliss hormones, such as oxytocin. Focus your energy on people who are positive and engage in healthy habits.

  1. Try Proven Therapies

    Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy, not only helps to reduce symptoms of PTSD but also reverses the underlying biology of the disorder within the brain. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) may help reduce stress from traumatic memories and is particularly useful for people with a history of abuse.

  1. Get an Accurate Diagnosis with a Brain Scan

    Neuroimaging tools provide an objective measure of PTSD, which leads to better treatment and support. Brain SPECT imaging makes the invisible visible. It shows that symptoms and behaviors are not imaginary, which helps stop the stigma around mental health conditions.
Our Full Evaluation at Amen Clinics includes two SPECT images, a detailed clinical history, neuropsychological testing and a comprehensive evaluation with one of our doctors to target treatment specifically to your brain, using the least toxic, most effective means. Don’t suffer from PTSD any longer. Call Amen Clinics at 1-888-288-9834 or schedule a visit today. Ten years prior to coming to Amen Clinics, Theresa would have described her life as “amazing.” However, a series of very stressful life events had sent her into a tailspin. This began in 2006 when her infant daughter was diagnosed with cancer she developed stress, struggles with mood, and anxiety. “Dear God, if I am not going to get any better, just let me die.”  After her decade-long struggle battling trauma, working with a variety of therapists, and trying countless medications, 43-year-old Theresa recalls uttering these words aloud. Theresa began experiencing difficulty sleeping, which was addressed with different sleeping medications. When Theresa came to Amen Clinics for an evaluation, she was suffering from depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.

Theresa’s Downward Spiral

A few years later, her older daughter was diagnosed with anorexia and a few years after that, her father’s health began failing. Theresa became his primary caretaker until his death two years ago. Additionally, she was experiencing financial stress due to the mounting medical bills and she had gained a substantial amount of weight due to “stress eating” and feeling too fatigued to exercise. She felt that these issues had caused her to become forgetful. During this time, her insomnia, depression, and anxiety significantly increased. Again, she was given a variety of different medications to try to alleviate her symptoms, some of which seemed to work for a little while before losing their effectiveness. She was also in and out of therapy but didn’t seem to be getting any better.
Prior to coming to Amen Clinics, Theresa feared that no one would be able to figure out what was wrong with her.
The findings from Theresa’s scans revealed marked increased activity in her thalamus which is associated with mood problems as well as marked increased activity in her basal ganglia which is found with anxiety disorders. There were some surprising findings as well – notably, flattening of her prefrontal pole and decreased activity of her temporal, parietal and occipital lobe as well as her prefrontal pole. These findings are indicative of past brain injury she didn’t realize she had! The clinical history viewed in the context of SPECT imaging allowed the Amen Clinics physicians to more fully understand Theresa’s underlying brain physiology so they could create the best possible and most individualized treatment plan for optimizing her brain health. This included personalized supplement, nutritional, and exercise recommendations. In addition, it was recommended that she begin Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which helps address emotional trauma and Neurofeedback which can help train one’s brain waves to produce healthy patterns, activating areas that need greater stimulation, and calming areas that are overactive.

Theresa’s Improvement

By following these recommendations, Theresa began to feel significantly better. “I am really looking forward to going on a date with my husband tonight. But you know the best part? Last weekend, instead of hiding in my room, I played ball with my kids – they have their mom back!” Theresa’s story wonderfully illustrates the importance of SPECT imaging and how it can transform an individual’s life. If the Amen Clinics physicians had not had the ability to physically see her brain, they would have had to simply guess at what was going on in Theresa’s brain – just as all of the other treatment professionals had done up to that point. At Amen Clinics, we want to help you learn more about your brain and how you can make it better, not only for yourself but for the generations that follow. Call us today at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit today. *names and/or medical details have been changed to protect the former patient’s identity. Studies show that preschoolers who play with good old building blocks are more likely to achieve high math scores in middle school and high school and to improve their language development. Even some traditional board games have been shown to enhance a variety of math skills in preschoolers. Whenever people think of brain healthy games for mental exercise, they immediately gravitate to crosswords puzzles or word games like Scrabble or Boggle. While these are great forms of mental exercise that work the language centers of the brain, there are many other areas of the brain that need exercise too. The areas that control memory, concentration, attention, visual-spatial acuity, understanding, planning, anticipation, reaction, and coordination can also be strengthened with games. Created by Dr. Daniel Amen, BrainFitLife is designed to boost memory, mood, focus, and energy. We recommend online brain training personalized to your brain type so that you can become your best self.

Creating Games That Activate the Right Side of the Brain

For most of us, the left side of the brain, which is dedicated to things like logic and detail, is dominant. Therefore, it’s a good idea to stimulate the more creative and artistic right side of the brain with activities like arts and crafts, playing with dolls or puppet and even playing charades.

Word Games That Stimulate the Language Centers

Games like Scrabble and Boggle are great fun and can help teens and young adults learn new words and definitions, enhance language skills, ramp up concentration and improve memory. A bonus is that the scoring in these games also sharpens basic math skills. Crossword puzzles enhance language skills and protect the brain from memory loss. Solving a crossword puzzle as a group also fosters teamwork and patience. You can also try word scrambles or a game as simple as hangman, which challenges the brain in different ways. Even if you feel you are word challenged, you will find that you can get better and sharper with practice.

Coordination Games and Activities

If you want to have some fun while fueling brain cell growth, try juggling. According to a paper published in Nature (2004), spending three months learning to juggle sparks growth in certain parts of the brain. German researchers studied twenty-four students over a three-month period: twelve of the students learned a classic three-ball juggling routine, while the other twelve did not learn to juggle. The brains of the jugglers and non-jugglers were scanned before and after the three-month learning period. At the conclusion of the study, the jugglers had more gray matter in the areas of the brain that control memory, language, and reading.

Games That Involve Music

Music and rhythm are housed in your temporal lobes, which also control memory, reading, and language. Teens and young adults can improve these skills by stimulating the temporal lobes with games like karaoke or Name That Tune, which enhance your ability to listen and exercise your memory.

Strategy Games That Give Multiple Areas of the Brain a Workout

Playing chess activates several parts of your brain at once. In a study that appeared in Cognitive Brain Research (2003), researchers performed MRI scans on chess players, and the scans showed activation of both the left and right hemispheres of the frontal, parietal and occipital lobes. The conclusion is that a single game of chess can stimulate planning, follow-through, attention, impulse control, direction sense and visual-spatial ability.

Memory Games

Simple Games, such as the card game Concentration, aren’t just for young children. Teens and young adults can also strengthen their memory by playing them. Trivia games also challenge your memory skills and keep you mentally sharp.

Games That Rely on Visual Power

Jigsaw puzzles offer a healthy dose of mental aerobics for teens and young adults. They activate the left side of your brain, the side responsible for noting the details of each puzzle piece, as well as the right side of the brain, which sees the big picture. Jigsaw puzzles improve problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, and observational abilities, while also strengthening the connections in your memory centers. The best part of brain training is that it is for everyone, no matter what your age. BrainFitLife has developed a personalized online training plan specific to your brain type to improve your memory, mood, energy and focus. Start training today at www.mybrainfitlife.com. For many years, Jill didn’t talk about the burning aircraft that chased her in nightmares, or that she had insomnia and couldn’t get more than 3-4 hours of sleep at night. She had brushed the issues off as “a normal part of life now,” like so many others with post-traumatic stress.

Brain Warrior Story of Jill Chambers

Fast-forward to 2007, when suicides among service members were skyrocketing. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whom at the time was Admiral Mike Mullen, asked Jill to serve as the first Special Assistant for Returning Warrior Issues. Jill was solely tasked with pinpointing the “Ground Truth” about transitional challenges facing wounded service members and developing dynamic, real-time strategies and recommendations. Admiral Mullen was committed to ensuring that under his watch, no fallen comrade would be left behind. He empowered Jill to work with that end in mind. In 2008, General George Casey publicly honored Jill for her work and launched the Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness Program, focused on the Army’s 5 Dimensions of Strength: Social, Emotional, Family, Spiritual, and Physical. After decades of denial, the U.S. Armed Forces finally started talking about and addressing the psychological well-being of service members and their families.

Discovering Help Through Amen Clinics

Once Jill retired in 2009, she realized that she too had PTSD from the events on 9/11/01 and committed three solid months to focusing exclusively on her mental and physical health. When she was introduced to neurofeedback and guided imagery, it completely changed her life. By the end of August, Jill was sleeping better, and her nightmares reduced drastically.

Her newfound passion for integrative healing therapies led her to Dr. Amen’s book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Body. She and her husband committed themselves to practicing The Amen Clinics Method 12 steps of brain healthy living, and it worked. Jill and Michael wanted to be as healthy as possible, so they went to Amen Clinics for full evaluations, including brain SPECT imaging.

Jill was shocked when Dr. Amen showed the results of her SPECT scan. She could now see the parts of her brain where she had a vulnerability to PTSD first-hand. Bringing Dr. Amen’s brain-healthy habits into her life and addressing her PTSD-related insomnia with integrative therapies had resulted in “post-traumatic growth.” The marvel of neuroplasticity had worked in Jill’s favor. She had changed her brain, and by doing so, she also changed her life.

What Can Brain SPECT Imaging Do For You?

Some symptoms of PTSD overlap with those of other conditions, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) where sleep problems, irritability or anger, concentration problems and social isolation are commonly found in both. Because of this, people can be misdiagnosed and given the wrong type of treatment if no one looks at their brain.  Amen Clinics understands PTSD, and we are here to help. Contact us today by calling 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

Imagine that you’re in your car, humming along to your favorite tune on the radio while waiting for the traffic signal to change. Suddenly, you see a horrific car accident that leaves some people dead and several others injured. Immediately, your heart starts racing, your breathing gets rapid and shallow, and you feel anxious. These are all typical signs of the human body’s stress response system, also known as the fight-or-flight response. In most people, after witnessing a traumatic event, your system would eventually return to a normal state of relaxation. In some individuals, however, those feelings of fear, anxiety, and horror linger and develop into posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That’s what happened to Miles. After witnessing a traumatic event, feelings of fear, anxiety, and horror may linger and develop into posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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PTSD CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

After the accident, Miles developed PTSD, a condition that will affect an estimated 1 in 11 people during their lifetime. This condition arises in some individuals who experience trauma or witness a traumatic event. Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse are common causes of the condition, as are military combat, natural disasters, mass shootings, and terrorist attacks. For some people, the threat of death, serious injury, or emotional harm—or even a perceived threat—can set the stage for PTSD. People with PTSD tend to recall traumatic events long afterward with flashbacks, uncontrollable thoughts, or nightmares. They often avoid places, people, and things associated with the trauma. It is common to experience anxiety, depression, fearfulness, emotional numbness, anger, and insomnia. Individuals suffering from PTSD are also likely to be easily startled, hypervigilant, or jumpy. This can interfere with relationships, cause problems in your career, and lead to unhealthy coping behaviors such as substance abuse. In some cases, it can ruin your life. Like Miles, people who have PTSD may continually re-experience the trauma as if the past were still alive in the present. Miles, for example, had nightmares about the accident every night. In addition, whenever he saw a car similar to the one that caused the accident, it triggered the same horrible feelings he had experienced in that moment.

WHEN THE STRESS RESPONSE GETS STUCK

As humans, we all need to feel safe. When we experience traumas, however, we lose that foundational feeling of safety. The fight-or-flight response that is activated by protective circuitry that strives to keep us safe no longer functions optimally. It gets stuck in overdrive and refuses to calm down. Miles’ danger detector, his stress response alarm system, was on constant fight-or-flight high alert. He felt like he was under threat at all times. Like Miles, many traumatized individuals have fight-or-flight reactions that continue long after the danger has passed. The feeling of danger never abates. It is why the emotional traumas in PTSD are “branded in the brain.”

PTSD AND THE BRAIN

Brain SPECT imaging studies reveal that people with PTSD who have suffered emotional trauma or physical abuse tend to have too much activity in certain areas of the brain. The regions where overactivity is seen on SPECT scans include the following: On SPECT, the overactivity takes the shape of a diamond pattern. This pattern tends to keep the brain on overdrive, increasing anxiousness, irritability, fearfulness, and interfering with sleep. Seeing the diamond pattern on SPECT scans is a clue that past emotional trauma may need to be addressed.

PTSD on SPECT – Before and After Treatment

before
after
Active View BEFORE Treatment
Active View AFTER Treatment
  In a healthy “active” SPECT scan, blue represents average blood flow and red (or white) represents increasingly higher levels of blood flow. In the scan on the left, there is high activity in the deep limbic area, basal ganglia, and anterior cingulate gyrus, which is a classic finding in cases of PTSD. The scan on the right shows that overactivity has been calmed.

TREATING PTSD

The scan on the right shows that if you have PTSD, there is hope for soothing an overactive brain. There are many treatment options that can provide relief. Psychotherapy is a common component of a treatment plan and can be very helpful. Other therapies that can be beneficial include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), and other trauma-focused therapies. For some people, antidepressant medications may be recommended as part of a treatment plan. Understanding your brain and any co-existing conditions, such as substance abuse, depression, or past head injuries is key to getting the most effective treatment plan. SPECT can be a powerful tool in this regard. Not only does functional brain imaging help identify co-occurring disorders and target treatments to your brain, but it also provides other important benefits. For example, SPECT helps: PTSD 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. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. “Real men don’t cry.” That unhealthy stereotype can be particularly detrimental to men with a psychiatric condition. Since men learn from a young age to bottle up their emotions, they are far less likely than women to seek treatment for a mental illness. This is especially true of depression since women are diagnosed with the complaint more frequently than men. Major depressive disorder affects six million men each year in America and many millions more will choose to tough it out rather than admitting they need help. Sadly, those who suffer from depression may never know how their ailment influences other people in their life. A recent study shows that depression in fathers has a direct effect on the behavioral problems of their adolescent children. This should come as a wake-up call to the multitude of men who are attempting to manage their symptoms by white-knuckling their way through the pain. Since depression can have a negative influence on the entire family, it is time for men to step up and get help. Delaying treatment for depression can have significant personal, interpersonal, occupational and social consequences.

If you are struggling with symptoms of depression, here are nine proven strategies that can help you:

1. Know Your Type

Did you know that there are different types of depression? Knowing your type can help reduce stigma, provide hope and guide treatment.

2. Stress Less

It is easy to become overwhelmed in our fast-paced society. To reduce stress, try meditation, yoga or other relaxation techniques.

3. Quality Sleep

Insufficient and inconsistent sleep can increase irritability, moodiness and poor judgment. To remain at the top of your game, it is recommended that you get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

4. Step into the Light

Daily exposure to appropriate levels of sunlight can boost serotonin and vitamin D3 levels which can improve your mood.

5. Get Moving

Exercise is the most important thing you can do when feeling depressed. Exercising releases “feel good” chemicals in your brain that can promote a sense of well-being.

6. Eat Good Mood Food

Good mood foods like lean protein, raw spinach and walnuts contain bliss-enhancing nutrients which can elevate your mood.

7. Kill Your ANTs

ANTs are the Automatic Negative Thoughts that pop into your head, causing you to get upset or depressed. Once you identify an ANT, jot it down, identify it and then kill it by writing a more realistic version of the same thought.

8. Talk it Out

Most men aren’t comfortable talking about their feelings. However, opening up about personal struggles can have big benefits for those who deal with depression. Whether in a support group or with a therapist, talking it out can reduce your sense of isolation and provide relief from your symptoms.

9. Get a Brain Image

Depression is not the consequence of a character flaw or personal weakness, it is the result of biological problems in the brain that can be balanced. By looking at our patient’s brain function through brain SPECT imaging, we can identify the underlying brain biology of a person’s depressive systems, allowing us to tailor a treatment plan to begin the healing process. At Amen Clinics, we understand that depression is not a simple disorder with a one-size-fits-all solution. We have helped tens of thousands of people with depression from all over the world and can help you, too. Call us today at 888-288-9834 or visit our website to schedule an appointment. Autism Accurately Diagnosed with Brain SPECT Imaging Brain Blood Flow Shows Pattern Consistent with Autism COSTA MESA, CA: The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) relies on history and behavioral observation, lacking reliable biomarkers. Researchers from Amen Clinics and the University of Southern California performed what is believed to be the largest ever analysis of brain SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) scans, a nuclear medicine study that evaluates blood flow and activity patterns, on 928 persons with ASD obtained 9 different sites to investigate whether these scans distinguish ASD from healthy controls. The age range of patients were from 13-67 years. Using sophisticated machine learning algorithms, high levels of separation were obtained. The areas the most predicted ASD were found in the cerebellum, anterior cingulate gyrus, amygdala, frontal and temporal lobes. Lead author Daniel Amen, MD, child psychiatrist and founder of Amen Clinics said, “Currently, the diagnosis of ASD includes a clinical history, mental status examination and structured screening tools, leaving clinicians in the dark as to the underlying physiology. At Amen Clinics, we frequently see increased activity in the anterior cingulate, leading to obsessive behavior, and decreases in the temporal lobes and cerebellum, which are often associated with learning issues.  Having SPECT scans on ASD patients has helped us better target treatment.” This is the first brain SPECT imaging study demonstrating the use of machine learning methods to predict ASD from a healthy control (HC). These results add to the growing body of literature validating the use of machine learning approaches with functional neuroimaging data to improve prediction and classification of individuals with psychiatric disorders like autism.  Given the heterogeneity of ASD, this approach has important implications in the clinical setting in both the diagnosis, intervention and monitoring of treatment outcomes. Due to the variability of the underlying brain function problems in ASD and the complicating factor of a high rate of co-existing disorders, SPECT brain imaging is extremely useful for revealing otherwise hidden information. This helps us select the best course of treatment for each person with the disorder. ASD is a multi-faceted and misunderstood condition; Amen Clinics can help decipher the right treatments and protocols. If you would like to learn more, please visit us online or call 888-288-9834 today.   Amen DG (2017) Functional SPECT neuroimaging using machine learning algorithms distinguishes autism spectrum disorder from healthy subjects. J Syst Integr Neurosci 3: doi:10.15761/JSIN.1000160 Published: April 10, 2017 In most family physician, pediatrician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist offices patients report symptoms and are given a diagnosis based on those symptoms. For example, if a patient says, “I’m depressed,” they are likely going to get a diagnosis of depression and prescribed an antidepressant medication or psychotherapy for depression. If a patient complains of being anxious, he or she will likely get an anxiety disorder diagnosis and medicine or therapy for anxiety. Or, if a patient has attentional problems, he or she often gets a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD and is put on medicine to help with focus or impulse control. The problem is that none of these diagnostic labels tells us a single thing about the underlying biology of these problems. So, people end up with one-size-fits-all treatment plans, which is the cause of many treatment failures. One such disorder where this happens quite frequently is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In 2013, Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder, not otherwise specified were rolled into one umbrella category: ASD. The problem with this is that people now diagnosed with ASD are often presumed to be dealing with the same underlying issues…but we know this is NOT true! “I had taken my son to some of the top universities in California seeking care and don’t feel I was taken seriously. The providers at Amen Clinic have taken us seriously and looked at my son as an individual. He has been assessed medically rather than being looked at as just having behavior problems.” ~Jacqueline, mother of son with ASD After decades spent studying brain activity patterns and having seen more than 1,000 patients with ASD at Amen Clinics, we understand that the condition is not caused by one specific thing in the brain. Rather, there are at least 8-10 different factors that influence abnormal brain function. In fact, we have discovered that people with ASD tend to have brain patterns of high activity or low activity (and, in some cases, both).

High Activity Patterns:

These high activity patterns can relate to symptoms such as:

Low Activity Patterns:

These low activity patterns can relate to symptoms such as:

Additionally, research demonstrates that more than 70% of children with ASD also experience another medical or psychiatric condition, and over 40% have two or more co-existing conditions. Distinguishing between ASD and other diagnoses can be challenging because the traits of ASD often overlap with symptoms of other disorders which leads to missed diagnoses and less targeted treatment. It is not unusual to have two different people with ASD who have virtually the same symptoms, but radically different underlying brain function issues. One might have low activity, the other high activity. Do you think they’ll respond to the same treatment? Of course not! Treatment needs to be tailored to individual brains, not a cluster of symptoms. Due to the variability of the underlying brain function problems in ASD and the complicating factor of a high rate of co-existing disorders, SPECT brain imaging is extremely useful for revealing otherwise hidden information. This helps us select the best course of treatment for each person with the disorder. ASD is a multi-faceted and misunderstood condition; Amen Clinics can help decipher the right treatments and protocols. If you would like to learn more, please visit us online or call 888-288-9834 today. Neuroimaging of decreased blood flow in specific regions of the brain can differentiate between depression and cognitive disorders. Does a patient have depression or a cognitive disorder (CD) such as Alzheimer’s disease or both? Since both disorders have overlapping symptoms, how can a clinician tell them apart to make the appropriate diagnosis? In an article published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers have found that single photon emission computed tomography or SPECT, can help to distinguish between these diagnostic categories.

Comparison of Both Dementia and Depression Patients

In one of the largest studies of its kind, 4541 subjects were examined, 847 of whom were diagnosed with dementia, 3269 with depression, and 425 with both conditions. Using brain SPECT imaging, a nuclear medicine study that measures blood flow and activity, researchers found that people with cognitive disorders had reduced blood flow in multiple brain areas compared to those with depression, particularly in the hippocampus, temporal, and parietal lobes. They also found that SPECT could distinguish depression from CDs with 86% accuracy. Also, brain SPECT imaging showed the ability to identify depression or dementia in people with both with 83% accuracy. “This is a critical clinical question that has practical implications for patient management and treatment,” explained lead researcher and psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen, MD. “These disorders have very different prognoses and treatments and being able to improve diagnostic accuracy can improve outcomes for some patients.”

The Breakdown

The authors write, “Cognitive impairment is present in approximately half of persons who have late onset depression and depression is evident in 9-65% of individuals with dementia. Studies have indicated that the prevalence of depression in patients with mild cognitive impairment is 25%. Consequently, it is often challenging to diagnostically disentangle depression and cognitive disorders from one another.” Traditionally, depression can be diagnosed using tools such as the Beck Depression Inventory, the most widely used psychometric test for measuring the level of depression. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the burden of depression symptoms on this inventory between individuals with both depression and CDs compared to persons with either condition. This increases the difficulty of distinguishing these disorders on the basis of depression symptom severity alone. “One of the greatest new insights of the past decade is the linkage of depression to the psychology of late-life cognitive decline. Raji and coworkers extend the approach to the biological substrate by an elegant imaging approach. These studies further place brain aging on a firm biological basis,” added George Perry, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dean and Professor of Biology University of Texas at San Antonio. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or depression, Amen Clinics can help. We will help you learn more about your brain and assist with early diagnosis and intervention. Call us today at (888) 288-9834 or visit our website to schedule a visit. Road rage can be deadly. In 2021, a young mother was driving her 6-year-old son to kindergarten in Orange County, California, when a white sedan abruptly cut her off in the carpool lane. The mother, Joanna Cloonan, gave the other driver the middle finger as she merged away from the carpool lane. Then she heard a loud noise and her son, Aiden Leos, said “Ow.” When she pulled the car over, Cloonan saw that her son had been shot. She called 911 and the boy was rushed to the hospital, but sadly, he couldn’t be saved. The 6-year-old died in a senseless road rage incident. In an interview with “Good Morning America” following the road rage shooting, Cloonan described her son, saying, “He was beautiful and he was kind and he was precious, and you killed him for no reason.” The young boy’s mother will never be the same. Her life will be forever impacted by the emotional trauma of the horrific killing of her child. “He meant the world to me, and it feels like my life is over,” Cloonan said. “That was my baby. I’ve never, never thought pain like this could exist.” Bad drivers, traffic jams, road construction, detours, and other delays can make anyone feel anxious, angry, frustrated, or stressed. But what happens in the brain to make some drivers become so enraged they snap?

ROAD RAGE, A COMMON PROBLEM

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) defines road rage as aggressive or violent behaviors stemming from a driver’s uncontrolled anger at the actions of another motorist. Road rage is more common than you might imagine, causing nearly 1 in 3 traffic accidents and leading to a shocking 30 murders every year, according to the latest statistics. Nobody likes being the victim of aggressive behavior while you’re behind the wheel, and it can make you feel anxious or angry. About half of all drivers who are the victim of road rage behavior respond aggressively by making a rude gesture, shouting, honking their horn, tailgating, or flashing their lights. In some cases, such as with the tragic shooting of 6-year-old Aiden Leos, this leads to an escalation of rage and aggressive behavior.

ROAD RAGE AND THE BRAIN

The human brain is involved in everything you think, do, and feel. And it’s involved in every decision you make while driving. The brain SPECT imaging work at Amen Clinics shows that when there is abnormal activity in certain areas of the brain, it may contribute to anger, impulsivity, violent behavior, and other issues associated with road rage. Here’s a look at what SPECT reveals about 3 important brain systems that can play a role in road rage behavior. The brain SPECT imaging work at Amen Clinics, shows that when there is abnormal activity in certain areas of the brain, it may contribute to anger, impulsivity, violent behavior, and other issues associated with road rage.
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1. Anterior Cingulate Gyrus (ACG)

The ACG and surrounding areas of the frontal lobes are involved in shifting your attention from one thing to another. When the ACG is working effectively you’re more able to roll with the circumstances of the day. However, if this part of the brain works too hard, there’s a tendency to get locked into negative thoughts or behaviors. Something happens to some drivers when they get behind the wheel of a car; a territorial animal comes growling to the surface. When another driver makes an unsafe move, they can’t just express frustration, call the person a bad name, and continue driving. Instead, the anger festers, and they get locked into a course of aggressive action—swearing, gesturing, chasing, or harassing the other driver. This is due to trouble with shifting attention. Some examples of attention shifting issues in the ACG brain include:

2. Temporal lobes

The temporal lobes are located on either side of the brain below the temples and behind the eyes. The temporal lobes are involved in emotional stability and mood control among other important processes. Brain imaging scans show that when there is abnormal activity in this area, it can be associated with temper problems, aggressive behavior, emotional outbursts, and violence. Abnormal activity in the temporal lobes is often seen in people with a condition called intermittent explosive disorder as well as in murderers.

3. Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

Located in the front part of the brain, the PFC is involved in impulse control, planning, judgment, empathy, and more. On SPECT scans, low activity in the PFC is linked to impulsivity, poor judgment, and trouble with planning. These issues can make a person do something or say something they shouldn’t that they will regret later.

A CASE STUDY IN ROAD RAGE

Be careful when you notice yourself or another driver becoming furious with road rage. It can quickly turn into a downward spiral. For example, look at this 37-year-old male attorney. When other drivers cut him off, he would chase them, and on two occasions, he got out of his car and bashed in their windows with a baseball bat. After the second incident, he came to Amen Clinics. He said, “If I don’t get help for this, I’m sure to end up in jail.” His brain SPECT imaging scan revealed two abnormal findings: Following recommendations to optimize activity in the ACG and temporal lobes helped him gain better control over his anger and avoid future road rage issues.

CALM YOUR BRAIN WHEN ROAD RAGE STRIKES

When a road rage incident begins, remind yourself that you are responsible for your actions and take steps to diffuse the situation. If you’re getting angry or find yourself thinking about engaging in aggressive driving behaviors, follow these tips. On a day-to-day basis, you can minimize the risk of road rage by working to optimize your brain function. If you’re suffering from uncontrolled anger or violent behaviors, or you’re getting into trouble by impulsively saying or doing the wrong thing, seek treatment and consider getting a brain scan to find out if there is abnormal activity. With a treatment plan that is targeted to your individual brain’s needs, you can stabilize your emotions and behaviors for a more peaceful life—even when you’re on the road. Anger, aggression, violent outbursts, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.