The Neuro-Protective Lifestyle

There are just some things you can do without - and the following four prescription medications are a great example.

Zyprexa
Risperdal
Seroquel
Abilify

Classified as “atypical antipsychotics”, these drugs are intended to treat schizophrenia and serious mood disorders. “Off-label” however, they are used as chemical strait-jackets to quiet disruptive patients in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In fact, antipsychotics are now the No. 1 class of drugs paid for by Medicaid.

While they may make the night-shift more manageable at the nursing home, multiple studies have confirmed a startling 54 percent increased risk of dying within 12 weeks of starting the medication. In other studies the risk was higher. In every case the risk was the same regardless of which atypical antipsychotic was prescribed.

In my experience, elderly patients do better with fewer medications. If an elderly patient develops behavioral changes, it may be a progression of the dementia or they may have a simple urinary tract infection or be in pain and not able to communicate it.

If you have a loved one already taking an antipsychotic medication, ask for the nursing home and the doctor’s help in establishing whether it is truly helping and not in fact harming the patient. Remind them of the potential risks involved (something they should already be familiar with) and ask them to review the patients current health status and check all medications being given for adverse effects or possible drug interactions. Alternative treatments are almost always available, so be persistent. You may save your loved one’s life.

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An innovative screening test from Neuronetrix that directly measures a patient’s cognitive function will revolutionize the way physicians diagnose neurodegenerative disorders. The ability to accurately distinguish a simple metabolic disorder causing cognitive impairment from an organic problem has never been easy. Physicians have had to rely on clinical judgement alone and simply ignore the potential for bias that comes with it. I should know, I’m a practicing physician.

The COGNISION™ system consists of an electronic headset worn by the patient for test purposes only. A controlled auditory signal is emitted by the headset and then processed by the brain. The brain wave pattern that follows is recorded, evaluated and matched with a known neurocognitive disorder.

The direct measurement of a patient’s cognitive status represents a significant break-through in patient care. While many neuroprotective medications are being developed for neurodegenerative disorders, choosing the correct medication for the correct disorder has been difficult. I was faced with this very dilemma just days ago when a long-time patient asked whether she was developing a second neurological disorder - Alzheimer’s disease - in addition to her current diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. After some discussion I was able to convince her that the likelihood that she had developed Alzheimer’s was small based on the results of her Mini-Mental Status exam - convincing myself however was not quite as easy.

Approximately five million Americans already have Alzheimer’s disease. Another five-hundred thousand new diagnoses are made each year. Accurate detection with the COGNISION™ system and early implementation of a neuroprotective lifestyle could change the lives of millions - thanks to Neuronetrix!

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Want to rewire your brain? Then you’ve gotta’ move. Nogo A is an inhibitory protein that prevents neuron growth when it interacts with the Nogo-66 receptor site. Exercise increases neuroplasticity by down-regulating the production of the Nogo A protein, thus enhancing the brain’s ability to re-map itself. Cortical re-mapping allows the brain to reorganize in response to injury or remain malleable enough to accelerate learning and memory.

Long before neuroplasticity became a neurocognitive “buzz-word”, I was able to observe the profound effect of cortical re-mapping in a patient of mine that had sustained a moderately severe embolic stroke. This delightful lady had remained active even into her early eighties but became bedridden with her acute stroke. Determined and otherwise healthy and much to everyone’s surprise, she made a remarkable come-back and resumed her 5-6 mile per day walking program! This clearly should not have been possible given our understanding of neurophysiology at that time. Fortunately the patient didn’t know that neuroplasticity was considered a neuroanatomical impossibility.

Now years later, brain structure is no longer an untouchable, immutable inner sanctum. It is in fact more malleable than anyone first imagined - like the wabi-sabi saying and this blogger’s brain:

So go ahead, try it…move more and remake your brain.

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