Brain Health Assessment

Transcription

1 Brain Health Assessment BY DANIEL G. AMEN, MD BRAIN TYPE BRAIN FIT SCORE 11 This is your brain type out of 16 possible types. 65 This is your total brain fit score out of a possible 100. Your scores in the individual categories are shown in your chart below. People with this type tend to be: Be persistent Like things a certain way Get stuck on thoughts Be motivated Have a busy mind Have difficulty relaxing EXCELLENT OR HIGH LOW OR POOR Brain Health Sleep Memory Exec Function Inner Peace Mood Flexible Thinking AVERAGE SCORE About The Brain Health Assessment Over the last three decades at Amen Clinics, we have been helping people improve their brains and their lives. One of the unique aspects of our work is that we use a sophisticated brain imaging study called SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) to help us understand and help our patients.

2 A long time ago, I realized that not everyone can get a scan, either because of cost or they are not near one of our clinics. So based on thousands of scans, I developed the Brain Health Assessment to help people know which brain type they might have and ways to optimize it. While the questionnaire is not as accurate as getting an actual scan, many people find it to be a helpful tool to learn more about their brain. Versions of the Brain Health Assessment are used by thousands of medical and mental health professionals around the world. Of course, you should always talk with your healthcare professional before making any changes to your medical regimens. Since this is based on selfreport, I often suggest that you have someone who knows you well, whom you trust, answer the questions for you to see if he or she concurs with your results. Sometimes we may have blind spots. What Your Brain Type Says About You People Brain Type 11 are often take-charge people who won t take no for an answer. They tend to be strong-willed, tenacious, and sometimes stubborn. In addition, they may worry, have trouble sleeping, and like things to be a certain way. This type often has increased activity in the front part of the brain, in an area called the anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG). We think of the ACG as the brain s gear shifter. It helps people go from thought to thought or move from action to action. It is involved with being mentally flexible and going with the flow. When the ACG is overactive, usually due to low levels of serotonin, people can have problems shifting attention, which can make them persist, even when it may not be a good idea for them to do so. Brain Type 11 also shows heightened activity in the anxiety centers of the brain, such as the basal ganglia, insular cortex, or amygdala. This is often due to lower levels of the neurotransmitter GABA, which helps calm the brain. People with this type tend to be motivated toward a goal. They can feel intense pleasure, but also struggle with feeling anxious or nervous, which causes them to be more cautious and reserved, although more prepared. The best strategy to balance Brain Type 11 is to find natural ways to boost serotonin and GABA. Physical exercise boosts serotonin as does using a combination of certain supplements, such as 5- HTP and saffron. GABA, magnesium, and theanine can also help, as can omega-3 fatty acids and

3 vitamin D. Your Personalized Recommendations MENTAL WORKOUTS No matter what your age, your brain has the ability to form new connections and neurons -- a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity. In a way, your brain is like a muscle the more you use it, the stronger it gets! New learning and brain games can support your memory and focus, ability to shift mood, resilience to stress, and more! BRAIN HEALTHY NUTRITION Your brain is the most energy-hungry organ in your body, using 25% of the calories you consume. One of the quickest ways to better brain function is learning the right foods to choose and the ones to lose. Eat right so you can think right! Brain Type 11 generally does better with a diet balanced between protein and complex carbohydrates. This type of diet will boost serotonin levels naturally and will help balance your blood sugar and provide the necessary building blocks for brain health. STRENGTHEN YOUR MIND Hypnosis, meditation, killing the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts), and expressing daily gratitude and appreciation are all powerful tools to decrease stress, help keep your mind strong, and your body resilient to the negative effects of stress.

4 BRAIN SUPPORTING SUPPLEMENTS The addition of high-quality supplements to your health regimen can support how your brain functions, making it easier for you to follow a brain-healthy program. For Brain Type 11, I often recommend the following supplements: Serotonin Mood Support to help support serotonin levels and a positive mood. It contains saffron, 5HTP and inositol GABA Calming OR Everyday Stress Relief to help support healthy GABA neurotransmitter levels and a sense of inner peace Brain Supplement Essentials everyone should be taking: Brain and Body Power, which includes: NeuroVite Plus a comprehensive, powerful multivitamin/mineral complex Omega-3 Power a highly potent and ultra-purified fish oil Brain and Memory Power Boost our unique formula to support blood flow and connectivity in the brain ProBrainBiotics a brain-directed probiotic, because the health of your gut is essential to the health of your brain MOTIVATION If you want to feel happier, healthier and have more energy, define what motivates you to want to change and look at them every day! Journal your progress -- Studies show that people who journal are twice as successful in achieving their goals. Being able to see your progress is a great motivator that will keep you on track and headed in the right direction!

5 PHYSICAL EXERCISE Strengthen your body to boost your thinking, memory, and focus and reduce the risk for age-related cognitive decline. For Brain Type 11: Walk like you re late for 45 minutes, 4 times a week Lift weights twice a week Participate in coordination activities such as table tennis and dance KNOW YOUR NUMBERS You cannot change what you do not measure! Know and optimize the following numbers on a yearly basis to keep your brain strong. Body mass index (BMI) Blood pressure Complete blood count Vitamin D level Thyroid levels (TSH, free T3 and free T4) Fasting blood sugar C-reactive protein Homocysteine Cholesterol DHEA Free and total testosterone

6 COMMUNITY Build your own support community to stay on track! The more you learn about brain health, the more you can teach the people around you, creating that necessary support system. Teach your spouse, children, co-workers, and friends to take better care of their brains. Help them to start by taking the Brain Health Assessment.