Brain Type Report Based on your answers you fit into Brain Type 8. Brain Type 8 People with this type tend to: Spontaneous Creative, out-of-the-box thinkers Focused only when interested Persistent Stuck on thoughts Deeply feeling Struggling with moods Motivated Restless Over the last 3 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. We ve performed more than 115,000 SPECT scans on patients from 111 countries. One of the most important lessons we ve learned from SPECT is that all brains, even healthy ones, are not the same. What does your Brain Type say about you? A long time ago Dr. Amen 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, he developed the Brain Health Assessment to help people know which brain type they might have and ways to optimize it. The questionnaire is not as accurate as getting an actual scan, but many people find it 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. The SPECT scans for Brain Type 8 typically show lower activity in the front part of the brain, in an area called the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Think of the PFC as the brain s brake. It stops us from saying or doing things that are not in our best interest, but it can also stop creative, out-of-the-box thinking if it works too hard. The PFC is the little voice in our heads that helps us decide between the banana and the banana split. Brain Type 8 may be associated with lower
dopamine levels (a neurotransmitter involved with focus and motivation) in the brain and may cause people to be more restless, risk-taking, and needing to be very interested in order to stay focused. People with this type may need excitement or stimulation in order to focus (think of firefighters and race car drivers). In addition, people with this type are often take-charge people who won t take no for an answer. They tend to be strong-willed, tenacious, and sometimes stubborn. They also may worry, have trouble sleeping, and like things to be a certain way. Brain Type 8 often has increased activity in the front part of the brain as well, 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. This type also tends to show increased activity in the limbic or emotional centers of the brain, making them sensitive, empathic, and deeply feeling, but also subject to issues with moods. They may also struggle with being more pessimistic and having negative thoughts. In addition, Brain Type 8 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 8 is to find natural ways to boost dopamine, serotonin, and GABA. Physical exercise boosts both dopamine and serotonin as does using a combination of certain supplements, such as 5-HTP and green tea. GABA, magnesium, and theanine can also help, as can omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. Brain Type 8 Brain Fit Action Plan Mental Workouts Motivation 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 the 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! If you want to feel happier, healthier and have more energy, define your specific motivations 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! Strengthen Your Mind Brain Healthy Nutrition Hypnosis, meditation, killing the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts), and expressing daily gratitude and appreciation are all powerful tools to decrease stress and help keep your brain fit. 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 8 generally does better with a diet balanced between protein and complex carbohydrates. This type of diet will boost dopamine and serotonin levels naturally. It will also help balance your blood sugar, help you focus, and provide the necessary building blocks for brain health. Brain Supporting Supplements The addition of high-quality supplements can support how your brain functions, making it easier for you to follow a brain-healthy program. For Brain Type 8, Dr. Amen often recommends the following supplements: Brain and Body Power, which includes: o NeuroVite Plus, a comprehensive, power multi-vitamin/mineral complex o Omega-3 Power fish oil o Brain and Memory Power Boost Focus and Energy to help support dopamine levels and focus; it contains green tea extract, ginseng, rhodiola, choline, and ashwagandha Serotonin Mood Support to help support serotonin levels and a positive mood; it contains saffron, 5HTP and inositol Everyday Stress Relief to help support GABA and a sense of inner peace ProBrainBiotics a brain-directed probiotic, because the health of your gut is essential to the health of your brain Vitamin D to support a healthy immune system and mood Physical Exercise Strengthen your body to boost your thinking, memory, and focus and reduce the risk for agerelated cognitive decline. For Brain Type 8: Walk like you re late 45 minutes 4 times a week Lift weights twice a week Coordination exercises such as table tennis and dance Tai chi, Qi Gong, Yoga
Know Your Important Numbers Community 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 The more you learn about brain health, the more you can teach other people and create your own community of support. Teach your spouse, children, co-workers, and friends to take better care of their brains. Get them to take the Brain Health Assessment. Consider Joining Brain Fit Life In Brain Fit Life (www.mybrainfitlife.com) we have developed tools to help each brain type based on the 7 pillars of Brain Health. In Brain Fit Life you can: Test Your Brain Learn how to improve your brain, and as you do, update your Brain Fit Score. Also, take a sophisticated computerized neuropsychological test - (Brain Fit WebNeuro) to get a detailed report on the health of your brain. Focus Your Brain Tools to boost and sustain motivation, including the One Page Miracle Train Your Brain Access to 23 exercises in the form of fun games to boost and strengthen your brain targeted to your brain type
Train Your Body Learn physical exercises geared to strengthen your brain Nourish Your Brain Lots of great information about brain-healthy nutrition and supplements, along with full access to 187 of Tana Amen s brain-healthy recipes Strengthen Your Brain Tools to boost and strengthen your mind, including access to hypnosis audios (for sleep, weight, anxiety, pain, and peak performance), meditation audios, and beautiful brain-enhancing music Better Together Tools to support your brain-health journey and build a community of support