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

healthy brain Trauma

Anthony Davis

Before After

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

Healthy

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?

Age 37 Age 52

#1: Love Your Brain

#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

Early Alzheimer’s

Disease

#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

Oxycontin

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