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March 2020 Blog

MARCH BLOG

BRAIN HEALTH

The brain is the most complex part of the human body. At three pounds, the seat of intelligence, interpreter of the senses, initiator of body movement and controller of behavior. The brain is the crown jewel of the human body. It helps our organs function.

Breath and heart activity are both controlled by the brain or in simpler terms, are the basics of life. So brain health should be important for us. Brain health includes making the most of your brain and helping reduce risks to it, as you age. Scientists have learned more about the brain in the last 10 years than in previous centuries because of accelerated research in neurological, behavioral science and development of new research techniques.

All parts of the brain work in unison, but each part has its own special properties. The brain has three basic units: the forebrain, the midbrain, and the hindbrain.

The hindbrain, the upper part of the spinal cord, the brain stem, and a wrinkled ball of tissue called the cerebellum. The hindbrain controls respiration and heart rate. The cerebellum coordinates movement and is involved in learned rote movements, like playing the piano or hitting a tennis ball. The midbrain, the uppermost part of the brainstem, controls some reflex actions and a part of eye movement control and other voluntary movements. The largest and most highly developed part of the human brain, the forebrain which consists of the cerebrum and structures hidden beneath it

The cerebrum consists of two halves or hemispheres and communicate through a thick tract of nerve fibers. The two hemispheres appear as mirror images of each other, but they are different. The ability to form words appears to primarily lie in the left hemisphere, while the right hemisphere appears to control abstract reasoning skills.

Signals from the brain to the body and vice-versa cross over on their way to and from the brain, or the right cerebral hemisphere primarily controls the left side of the body and the left hemisphere primarily controls the right side. When one side of the brain is damaged, the opposite side of the body is affected. This is evident in stroke patients, for example a stroke in the right hemisphere of the brain can leave the left arm and leg paralyzed.

The brain is also divided into several lobes:

The frontal lobe - responsible for problem solving, judgment and motor function
The parietal lobe - manages sensation, handwriting and body position
The temporal lobe - memory and hearing

The occipital lobe - the brain's visual processing system.

Neurological Disorders

The brain is one of the hardest working organs in the body! When healthy, the brain functions quickly and automatically. But when it experiences problems, the results can be devastating! Approximately 100 million Americans suffer from devastating brain disorders at some point in their lives. Knowing more about the brain can lead to the development of new treatments for diseases and disorders of the nervous system and improve many areas of human health.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or NINDS supports research on more than 600 neurological diseases with examples such as:

Neurogenetic diseases

Huntington’s disease - is an inherited disease that causes the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain. Huntington's disease has a broad impact on functional abilities and results in movement, cognitive thinking and psychiatric disorders. Most develop signs and symptoms in their 30s or 40s, but symptoms may emerge earlier or later in life. When the disease develops before age 20, or juvenile Huntington's disease, results in different symptoms and faster disease progression.

Muscular Dystrophy - is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes or mutations interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle. The most common variety begins in childhood and mostly in boys. Other types don't surface until adulthood.

Developmental disorders

Cerebral palsy - An injury or abnormality of the developing brain. Infection, blood clots, prematurity, genetic problems or lack of oxygen can cause CP. There is no known cure but symptoms can be managed with stretching, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, bracing, medicine and surgery.

Degenerative diseases of adult life

Parkinson’s - a brain disorder that leads to shaking, stiffness and difficulty with walking, balance and coordination. The changes are associated with the reduction of dopamine levels in the brain, a neurotransmitter that helps pass chemical signals between neurons in the substantia nigra, located in the middle of the brain and controls movement and feelings of reward. Symptoms can vary and may include:

Tremors

Slowed movement and rigid muscles.
Cognitive changes - Increased confusion and difficulty concentrating. Many develop dementia.
Impaired balance.
Speech and writing changes.
Loss of automatic movements - the body slows down, automatic movements such as breathing can become more difficult.
Sensory changes - patients experience smelling things that aren’t there or the sense of smell disappears.
Mood changes - Many become anxious, depressed or suffer from a very flat or apathetic mood.
Constipation.
Fatigue, disrupted sleep - 30 percent of Parkinson's patients experience i nsomnia and sleep fragmentation.

Difficulty swallowing dysphagia - difficulty swallowing gets worse as Parkinson’s progresses.
Weight loss – is unintended as eating becomes more challenging

Alzheimer’s disease - is the most common form of dementia among older adults. Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease causes a steady loss of memory and affects how well you speak, think and do everyday activities.

Metabolic diseases

Gaucher’s disease – the insufficient production of an enzyme, glucocerebrosidase, which is needed to break down glucocerebroside a fatty substance found in cells. Without sufficient amounts of the enzyme, the fatty substance builds up in cells and enlarges them. The enlarged cells are called Gaucher cells, which collect in the brain and result in a more severe form of the disease.

Cerebrovascular diseases

Stroke – also called a “brain attack,” is caused when blood vessels bringing blood and oxygen to the brain are blocked or rupture. When brain cells are deprived of blood and oxygen they need, nerve cells stop working and die within minutes. The effects of stroke can be permanent depending on where it occurs in the brain and how long it takes to be treated.

Brain aneurysm – when an artery in the brain develops a weak area that swells, balloon-like. An aneurysm rupture can causes a stroke.
Subdural hematoma - Bleeding within or under the dura, the lining inside of the skull, exerting pressure on the brain, causing neurological problems.
Epidural hematoma - Bleeding between the tough tissue or dura lining, the inside of the skull and the skull itself, usually shortly after a head injury. Initial mild symptoms can progress rapidly to unconsciousness and death, if untreated.
Intracerebral hemorrhage - bleeding inside the brain.

Vascular dementia - usually develops after a stroke blocks an artery in the brain. It causes problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory and other thought processes. But strokes don't always cause vascular dementia and can result from other conditions that damage blood vessels and reduce circulation, depriving your brain of vital oxygen and nutrients. Factors that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke include: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.

Trauma

Spinal cord – injury or damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal or cauda equina — often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury.

Head or brain traumatic injuries - trauma is required to cause a head injury, but the trauma does not need to be violent. Falling down a few steps or falling onto a hard object may be enough to cause damage. Vehicle accidents account for 17% and falls account for 35% of traumatic brain injuries. Males account for the majority of head injuries.

Penetrating head injuries - when a projectile - a bullet or an object is impaled though the skull into the brain.
Closed head injuries - injuries in which no lacerations are present.

Direct blow injuries - The head sits on the neck allowing it to shake, and the brain to slosh inside the skull and become injured.

Convulsive disorders

Epilepsy - is a condition of disordered electrical activity in the brain. Symptoms are dependent on the exact location and severity of the brain disturbance. Causes of electrical activity disturbances include drug withdrawal, electrolyte imbalances, injury and infection, but the cause for seizure activity is often unknown.

Infectious diseases

AIDS dementia - HIV doesn’t invade nerve cells but jeopardizes their health and function, causing symptoms such as: confusion, forgetfulness, behavioral changes, headaches, progressive weakness, loss of sensation in the arms and legs, cognitive motor impairment or damage to the peripheral nerves. AIDS dementia complex, causes encephalitis or inflammation of the brain, behavioral changes and a gradual decline in cognitive function. It can contribute to central nervous system lymphomas, cancerous tumors that begin in the brain or result from a cancer that has spread from another site in the body.

Brain tumor - a mass or growth of abnormal cells in the brain. Some tumors are noncancerous or benign - polyps and papillomas, and cancerous or malignant - squamous and basil cells. Brain tumors can begin in the brain or begin in other parts of your body and spread to your brain - secondary or metastatic. How quickly a brain tumor grows varies on the location of the brain tumor and how it affects the function of the nervous system.

What can affect your brain health?

Here are factors thought to have significant impact on brain health:

Diet – At least 50 percent of the diet should consist of raw fruits and vegetables. The brain is like a vehicle, it needs fuel to keep running. Fuel for the brain is food you eat. The brain needs amino acids, b-vitamins, minerals and many other nutrients that can be absorbed from food to function properly. The intake of the wrong types of food, such as sugar, alcohol, caffeine, food additives, does harm to brain health.

Nutritional deficiencies – the right nutrients from food is necessary for the brain. Deficiencies of these nutrients will affect the brain health.

Environmental Toxins - air pollution, car exhaust, perfume, colognes, air fresheners and many common chemicals are evident in life. Exposure to toxins will lead to impairment of brain chemistry.

Chronic stress - is not good for brain health. Neurotransmitters that modulate stress responses are needed in large numbers when under pressure, causing a drain of the neurotransmitter. The level of certain nutrient producing neurotransmitters can also be drained.

The gut - Communication between the gut and the brain can be affected. Production of neurons and neurotransmitters can be disrupted causing insufficient levels of healthy bacteria, too much healthy bacteria or the presence of organisms such as yeast, parasites, or unfriendly bacteria in the gut.

Sleep - plays an important role in brain health. Lack of sleep causes neurons to lose responsiveness to neurotransmitters. Sleep deprivation is also a form of stress and may drain neurotransmitter levels.

Your thoughts! - The thoughts you consciously focus on, have impact on brain chemistry. If you always focus negatively, that will reinforce the bad influence caused by the above factors.

How to keep the brain healthy?

I didn’t want to scare you with all the negative factors, but you can keep your brain healthy by:

Reducing stress – Keep blood pressure under control to reduce risks.
Getting plenty of sleep - Have a regular sleep schedule. Seven to eight hours is recommended.
Good nutrition - Feed your brain with food that is healthy and nutritious.
Stay connected - Get out, have regular engagement in social activities.
Medications - know the benefits and risks of medications taken.
Challenge your brain! - Try something new on a regular basis.
Drink moderately - Drink moderate amounts of alcohol or skip the wine!
Maintain your balance - Avoid accidental brain injury by improving your balance.
Talk to your medical professional - Consult your doctor if you have any problems.

What can you do………….

Best brain foods - There are foods that are recommended for positive brain health:

Blueberries, strawberries and other berries
Wild salmon
Nuts and seeds
Olives and avocados
Eggs
Whole grains
Beans
Pomegranate juice
Grass-fed Beef
Freshly brewed tea

Herbs and supplements

Tumors have been known to decrease in size or may disappear in response to dietary changes and supplementation of high quality vitamins and minerals. Most cancer treatments - chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery, work better when the patient is well nourished. The intent is to enhance the immune function and suppress the growth of tumors.

Nutrients

Coenzyme Q-10 – promotes immune function, carries oxygen to the cells
Coenzyme A – works with Coenzyme Q-10
Maitake, Reishi or Shitake extracts – strengthens the body and improves overall health, has immono-stimulant properties, anti-cancer action and reverse T-cell suppression caused by tumors
Melatonin – may increase survival rates if taken with radiation therapy
Shark liver oil – immune system booster that protects the body from radiation damage.
Zinc – promotes a health immune system and helps maintain the proper concentration of Vitamin E in the blood.
L-arginine – retards tumor growth by enhancing immune function
L-cysteine – detoxifies harmful toxins, protects against radiation and acts against carcinogins
Primrose, Flaxseed and Salmon oil – essential fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) help in protecting the body against toxic effects of cancer treatments.
Vitamin A, Betatene and Vitamin E – powerful immuno-stimulants and antioxidants
Vitamin B-complex and Vitamin B-6 – vital for intracellular metabolism, normal cell multiplication for normal cell growth, brain and nervous system function

Herbs

Cat’s claw – boosts the immune system and has anti-tumor properties.
Barberry, Burdock root, Dandelion, Milk Thistle, Pau d’ Arco and Red Clover – purify the blood, stimulate liver activity, act as natural antibiotics and generally help healing.

ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition, Phyllis A. Balch, CNC

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