When it comes to brain health, one thing is nearly certain; we can all state we know an adult with the top 4 signs of neurodegeneration:
1. Anxiety
2. Depression
3. Insomnia
4. Brain Fog
Decreased brain health=nuerodegeneration=poorer quality of life and increased stress on ourselves and those that love us.
Make no mistake, your brain health is one area of your health you don’t want to leave to chance or to emergency care. My own mother had dementia as did my maternal grandmother which worsened during the last decade of their life. Waiting until this late stage will leave you with little to no options.
Fortunately for me, my insatiable desire to discover the underlying factors to ill health in my family tree led to the discovery of several helpful preventative measures that you can use too.
Re-Wire Your Brain With Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback (also called Neuro Therapy) is a non-invasive process where brain waves are monitored in real-time by a computer, which can then use that information to produce changes in brainwave activity. The process of adjusting brainwave activity is known as operant conditioning, which is a method where rewards for positive behavior increase learning capabilities.
It has been well documented that people who suffer neurological problems have abnormal brain waves in certain areas of the brain. For instance, case studies using QEEG “brain maps” have shown that people with Attention-Deficit-Disorder (ADD) have elevated delta brainwaves, while those who suffer from depression have elevated alpha brainwaves. Those with anxiety will have elevated Beta brainwaves, while those suffering from memory loss usually have decreased theta brainwaves.
Training the brain using neurofeedback can change these brainwaves over time, adjusting them into normal, healthy ranges. It can improve alertness, attention, emotional regulation, behavior, cognitive function, and mental flexibility. When the brain moves back into normal ranges, users will often see a reduction in symptoms.
The best part of neurofeedback is that results are often permanent, allowing a person to reduce or even eliminate medications altogether (under their prescribing doctor’s guidance). Where medications only manage the symptoms, the goal of neurofeedback is to address the underlying cause and restore normal brainwave functions.
How Does Neurofeedback Work?
Neurofeedback utilizes a non-invasive technique for monitoring brain activity. Small electrodes are attached to specific areas of the head using paste. Our Neurointegration software records the brain waves and displays the data in real-time. During this time the patient is watching a movie or listening to music. The software compares the incoming brainwaves to that of an optimal brainwave in the target range. If the brainwaves deviate from normal ranges, it triggers the audio or video to fade. The brain automatically detects this and refocuses itself back into the proper range. This process is repeated hundreds of times per session. Sessions usually last 30 minutes.
The Brain Is A Learning Machine
Through operant conditioning, the brain is rewarded when the audio or video returns to normal. Eventually, the brain learns to stay in the healthy ranges without the reward stimulus and is able to sustain normal activity independent of the computer. This is achieved by reconnecting functional pathways in the brain.
Neurofeedback does not target any particular disorder. Its purpose is to change timing and activation patterns in the brain. This improves brain regulation, which can impact a variety of symptoms. Different symptoms will require triggering different areas of the brain. The software is designed to target specific areas of the brain according to a patient’s symptoms.
Studies that have looked exclusively at the healthiest elderly people find minimal cognitive decline even into the ninth decade. These data suggest that significant cognitive decline is not an inevitable consequence of advanced age.
So if you want to age well, minimize neurodegeneration and protect against common (but not normal) conditions associated with aging, you need to take matters into your own hands.
It’s important for you to know that 90 percent of our brain’s output goes into a neurologic structure called the pontomedullary system. The brain is constantly receiving input from receptors, and it is constantly sending outputs as well. The main output conduit is the brain stem. The connection between all of our organs and our brain comes from the parasympathetic cranial nerve nuclei of the vagus nerve in the medulla portion of the brainstem-just above the top part of your spinal cord.
The vagus nerve enervates the digestive tract and controls everything from the secretion of stomach acid and pancreatic enzymes to intestinal motility and gall bladder contraction.
Since a large portion of the brain’s output goes into the vagus area, and your brain is not firing well, you’re likely going to have digestive problems, one of which can be Leaky Gut Syndrome. To learn more about Leaky Gut Syndrome, also known as increased intestinal permeability, please visit this page.
If you would like help optimizing your brain function, or need nutritional help, schedule a Free Evaluation or call (586) 488-4818. See for yourself how beneficial the Michigan Brain Health neurofeedback program can be for your health challenges.
Always remember one of my mantras., “The more you know about how your body works, the better you can take care of yourself.”
For more details about the natural approach I take with my patients, take a look at the book I wrote entitled: Reclaim Your Life; Your Guide To Revealing Your Body’s Life-Changing Secrets For Renewed Health. It is available in my office or at Amazon and many other book outlets. If you found value in this article, please use the social sharing icons at the bottom of this post, and please share with those you know who are still suffering from chronic health challenges, despite receiving medical management. Help me reach more people so they may regain their zest for living! Thank you!
