dr. daniel amen - independent retired football players summit
DESCRIPTION
Dr. Daniel Amen discusses his institute's studies and archives on the long-term effects of brain injuries at the Independent Retired Football Players Summit.TRANSCRIPT
Change Your Brain,Change Your Life
Retired NFL Brain Imaging Study
Daniel G. Amen, MDAmen Clinics, Inc.
www.amenclinics.com
Independent Retired NFL Players Association
Discuss reality of brain damage in the NFL and the fallout of brain Discuss reality of brain damage in the NFL and the fallout of brain damagedamage
Discuss our study in collaboration with the LA Chapter of the Discuss our study in collaboration with the LA Chapter of the Retired NFL PA Retired NFL PA
Recruit more players for the studyRecruit more players for the study Share some shocking preliminary findingsShare some shocking preliminary findings Give hope and directionGive hope and direction
Goals of Talk
First, Some Basic Principles
Who you are…Who you are… playerplayer fatherfather friendfriend employeremployer
Your Brain Is Involved In Everything You Do
How you... How you... thinkthink feelfeel actact interactinteract
When your brain When your brain works right, you works right, you
work rightwork right
When your brain When your brain doesn’t work right, doesn’t work right,
you have troubleyou have trouble
HealthyHealthyHappyHappy
EffectiveEffectiveConsistentConsistentReliableReliable
SuccessfulSuccessful
UnhealthyUnhealthyDepressedDepressed
Poor MemoryPoor MemoryLow MotivationLow MotivationTemper IssuesTemper Issues
Financial TroubleFinancial Trouble
Brain Is The Most ComplexOrgan In The Universe
100 billion neurons100 billion neurons
more connections than stars in universemore connections than stars in universe
2% of body’s weight, uses 20-30% of kcals 2% of body’s weight, uses 20-30% of kcals
Information travels ~ 268 miles/hour
On average you lose 85,000 cells/day
Brain Is Very SoftHoused In Hard Skull
Your brain is very softYour brain is very soft consistency of soft butter, tofu, custard consistency of soft butter, tofu, custard
or between egg whites and jelloor between egg whites and jelloSkull is really hardSkull is really hard
many sharp ridgesmany sharp ridgesBrain Injuries MatterBrain Injuries Matter
Do not have to lose consciousnessto have a bad brain injury
SmokingSmoking
Excessive caffeineExcessive caffeine
Environmental toxinsEnvironmental toxins
ObesityObesity
Brain injuriesBrain injuries
DrugsDrugs
AlcoholAlcohol
StressStress
Lack of exerciseLack of exercise
Sleep deprivationSleep deprivation
Many Things Can Hurt The Brain
Many Things Help The BrainSocial connectionsSocial connections
New learningNew learning
Healthy dietHealthy diet
Fish oilFish oil
Healthy sleepHealthy sleep
ExerciseExercise
DancingDancing
GratitudeGratitude
MeditationMeditation
To Understand The BrainYou HAVE To Look At It!
healthy brain Trauma
How Do You Know Unless You Look?
The Brain Can ChangeRight interventions help
Wrong interventions hurt
Amen Clinics -- 4 CentersAmen Clinics -- 4 Centers Patients from 75 different countriesPatients from 75 different countries Use SPECT to look at brain function, which measures brain Use SPECT to look at brain function, which measures brain
blood flow and activityblood flow and activity 18 years, 50,000 studies, world’s largest database18 years, 50,000 studies, world’s largest database Focused on education and preventionFocused on education and prevention
Amen ClinicsBrain SPECT
Stroke: Why you shouldn’t smoke!
Alzheimer’s Disease
Brain Injury
Cocaine Methamphetamine
Alcohol Heroin
Significant NFL Preliminary Findings Low frontal lobesLow frontal lobes
focus and judgmentfocus and judgment
Low temporal lobesLow temporal lobes memory, moodmemory, mood
Low cerebellumLow cerebellum coordination and processing speedcoordination and processing speed
Significant NFL Preliminary Findings Memory problemsMemory problems
DepressionDepression
Slow processing speedSlow processing speed
Significant NFL Preliminary Findings Memory problemsMemory problems
Low energyLow energy
Attentional problemsAttentional problems
Significant NFL Preliminary Findings
Memory problemsMemory problems
Significant NFL Preliminary Findings DepressionDepression
Memory problemsMemory problems
Motivation problemsMotivation problems
Temper problemsTemper problems
WE NEED YOUR HELP Goal to recruit up to 100 NFL playersGoal to recruit up to 100 NFL players
Not currently on psychiatric medicationsNot currently on psychiatric medications
Able to come to Newport Beach, CA twice, two months apart for before and after scansAble to come to Newport Beach, CA twice, two months apart for before and after scans
No charge to playersNo charge to players
See me or Dr. Willeumier to sign upSee me or Dr. Willeumier to sign up
What Can You Do Now To Keep Your Brain
Healthy?
#2: Protect Your Brain Brain is soft and your skull is hardBrain is soft and your skull is hard
Brain injuries can ruin your lifeBrain injuries can ruin your life
So wear your seat belt, drive in safe vehicles, So wear your seat belt, drive in safe vehicles,
no soccer headers and stay off the roofno soccer headers and stay off the roof
Roofing Accident
#3: Stop Poisoning Your Brain Do not put toxic substances in your bodyDo not put toxic substances in your body
Poison your brain, you poison your mindPoison your brain, you poison your mind
So, not much alcohol, no illegal drugs, including So, not much alcohol, no illegal drugs, including
marijuana, stop smoking, limit your caffeine intake, marijuana, stop smoking, limit your caffeine intake,
and stop painting without good ventilationand stop painting without good ventilation
#4: Protect Your Memory Critical to take memory problems seriously and not Critical to take memory problems seriously and not
just dismiss them as normal agingjust dismiss them as normal aging
95% of people with Alzheimer’s disease not 95% of people with Alzheimer’s disease not
diagnosed until moderate to severediagnosed until moderate to severe
When not much can be doneWhen not much can be done
#5: Learn Brain Healthy WaysTo Deal With Pain
One of the most frightening symptomsOne of the most frightening symptoms
Affects sleep, mood, memory and focusAffects sleep, mood, memory and focus
Scans show use of chronic pain meds, such as Scans show use of chronic pain meds, such as
Oxycontin, may be harmfulOxycontin, may be harmful
Long term use similar to alcoholLong term use similar to alcohol
Natural Treatments for Pain
Fish oilFish oil
AcupunctureAcupuncture
HypnosisHypnosis
#6: Feed You BrainEat Right to Think Right
Lean proteinLean proteinGood carbohydratesGood carbohydratesDecrease bad fat, not all fatDecrease bad fat, not all fatOmega 3 Fatty AcidsOmega 3 Fatty Acids -- -- fish, such as tuna
and salmon, avocados and walnuts
Water
#7: Exercise Is Foundation of Youth Boosts blood flowBoosts blood flow
Increases chemicals important for learning, Increases chemicals important for learning,
memory and stimulating growth of new brain memory and stimulating growth of new brain
cellscells
30 minutes 3 or 4 Xs week all you need30 minutes 3 or 4 Xs week all you need
#8: Mental Exercise Exercise generates new cells in brainExercise generates new cells in brain
New cells last for about four weeksNew cells last for about four weeks
If not stimulated by new learning they dieIf not stimulated by new learning they die
This is why people who This is why people who onlyonly work out at the gym out are not work out at the gym out are not
nearly as smart as those who work out and then go to the nearly as smart as those who work out and then go to the
library library
Conclusion Brain damage is a serious problem in the NFLBrain damage is a serious problem in the NFL It needs to be tested for, including scans, and treated whenever foundIt needs to be tested for, including scans, and treated whenever found It is often a job related injuryIt is often a job related injury All players need to be on a brain healthy program when they play and All players need to be on a brain healthy program when they play and
after they retireafter they retire There is significant help available, and it is critical to take advantage There is significant help available, and it is critical to take advantage
of itof it
Daniel G. Amen, MDAmen Clinics, Inc.
www.amenclinics.com