Stillpoint Chiropractic

Welcome to Stillpoint Health Center Site…

OUR BRAINS LEARNING AND MEMORY… (Part I)

When it comes to the brain, learning and memory pretty much sum up its overall function. We are all aware of the general problems with brain-injured or brain-affected people, but are we aware of what we can do for ourselves to improve brain function?

Did you know that one in eight have a learning disorder today? If we are around or have children, we may be on the lookout for the telltale signs of learning problems, but we often dismiss brain dysfunction as a uniqueness or ‘special’ quality we – or they – will (hopefully) grow out of.

Learning and memory occur in different and distinct areas of the brain. Learning happens in the front part, or frontal cortex, and memory is stored in the sides, or medial temporal lobe, of the brain. What we are familiar with and hear about is the following:

Learning disorders:   Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD),  Autism Spectral Disorder

Memory disorders:    Dementia, Alzheimer’s

Basically, we learn through processing in the frontal cortex. We do this two ways:

a.) Excitatory Actions: alertness, focus, concentration, planning, learning and remembering
b.) Inhibitory Actions: dampening limbic activities (rage, impulsive behavior, anger)*

• There is a viewpoint that the function of 70% of the brain is to inhibit the other 30%!

Failure of the frontal cortex to inhibit the limbic systems leads to: impulsive behaviors, quick temper, poor decision making, saying things out of turn, inability to wait for one’s turn (impatience). Sound like anyone we know? This is the ‘hyperactivity’ of ADD and leads to socially impaired adults. The primary symptom of problems with the frontal cortex is depression and brain-based fatigue.

The frontal cortex holds the immediate or ‘working’ memory, but to convert it into long-term memory, it must process through a brain structure called the Hippocampus, and then become stored in the medial Temporal lobe. Dysfunction in this (medial Temporal lobe) area of the brain is what characterizes Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Current research shows that this begins in our 30’s and 40’s, and by the time we are 65-85 it affects 10% of individuals, and 40% of those over 85.

What happens is that in the medial temporal lobe, the healthy brain cell or neuron has attached surface marker molecules that are broken off and form clumps, or ‘tangles,’ that eventually become plaques. These are visible with brain scans, and they block the nerve receptors and block the firing of the individual neurons. No firing of neurons, no stimulation, and you get degeneration – and eventually Alzheimer’s.

Earliest symptoms of Alzheimer’s: declining visual and verbal memory, memory lapses, impaired creativity, diminished comprehension, difficulty calculating numbers, slower mental response, difficulty recognizing objects and faces, and excessive urination. Conventional medical treatment really has nothing to offer. As we all know, there is no treatment for Alzheimer’s – only to try to arrest the process from further degeneration.

ADD treatments use prescriptions of Ritalin, a psycho-stimulant that inhibits the re-uptake of dopamine and norepinephrine, which is very similar in pharmacological effects to cocaine. Besides potentially producing drug addicts, Ritalin does absolutely nothing to address the cause of the ADD, frontal cortex degeneration.

NOW THE GOOD NEWS:

From a nutritional therapeutic model there is a lot that can be done – particularly if we catch things early enough and act preventively. We know that ADD or Frontal cortex degeneration starts with the poor nutritional status of the mother, causing poor myelination[1]  and plasticity of the child’s brain. Proper fats and oils are one of the key factors for growing healthy brains. Too many mothers have entered into pregnancy with poor nutritional status and reserves, building deficient brains in their children, with continued poor nutrition through lactation and/or infant formulas and toddler’s diets.

Recent brain studies show that it is more commonly the gluten from wheat and the casein from milk products, and not sugar, that acts as the stimulants in hyperactive kids. The gluten and casein form what are called gluteomorphin and casomorphin[2] responses in their brains, making them jumpy and hyper-active. Stopping wheat and dairy can turn them into more of a demon, for days, as they go through true withdrawal symptoms. Gluten protein is inflammatory for the brain, and inflammatory responses in the brain are poorly controlled (via glial cells). The irritation goes on for a long time, whereas in the body (outside of the blood / brain barrier) our immune systems have multiple mechanisms to attenuate and regulate inflammation.

Our best strategy is to avoid degeneration of our brains, and at least ‘arrest’ the process. This means to clean up our diets in regards to the quality of fats and oils, detoxify our livers, and support our brains with what has been proven to assist memory and learning. In my personal experience, these methods really work. When the brain cells are firing and functioning more optimally, all other systems work better in the body. We often focus on metabolic and organ function with herbal and nutritional therapies, but these are all regulated via the brain. The results speak for themselves:

The following formulas are recommended for adults and are ’general /non-specific’ formulas, meaning they can be used by anyone and are not contraindicated for any conditions, or interact negatively with medications.

Memory Boosting Formula: [all formulas are Apex Energetics]

Phyto Brain-E DHA:          EPA (24:1 highest anywhere) – vegetarian essential fatty acids for brain
Acetyl-CH Active:           co-factors, precursers, phytonutrients supporting cholinergic activity
NeuroO2:                          circulation to brain, antioxidants for blood vessels, and oxygen to neurons
Sublingual Vitamin B12:    absorbable B12 avoids the Liver and GI tract, methyl-donor for neurons

Advanced Memory Support: (the above plus the following):

Methyl-SP:      supports homocysteine breakdown, phase II liver detox, bile synthesis & metabolism
NeuroFlam:     neuron support during neuroinflammation, neuroprotective from activated microglia
Neuro-PTX:     protects neuron from free radical activity, supports neuronal mitochondrial activity
Adrenacalm:    support for memory, cognition, and management of anxiety, supports adrenals

These formulas will make a significant change in brain metabolism. You can feel within 1 month, but after 4 months the levels of DHA in the neurons will prove all of the above. These formulas are for adults, but for children there are specially formulated nutrients of proper dosages for them. Please download our CHILD NEUROTRANSMITTER & NUTRITION QUESTIONNAIRE (CNNQ) under FORMS at the left on this page.

Although the protocol of supplements listed above may be the very best formulas – perhaps the only formulas – on the market that address these brain issues at the level of the neuron, it is not to suggest any replacement for needed counseling or proper and professional evaluation for learning and memory issues. These protocols are ‘state of the art,’ front-line evidence-based therapeutics and are suggested as an adjunct to any necessary therapies or professional help in these areas. Moreover, it is suggested as prevention and some good ol’ common sense support for our brains, like we might use plant food for our plants, or supplements for our bodies.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

[1] Myelin is an electrically insulating material that forms a layer, the myelin sheath, usually around only the axon of a neuron. It is an outgrowth of a glial cell, and essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system.

[2] Gluteomorphin is an opioid peptide, which is formed during digestion of the gliadin component of the gluten protein. It has been hypothesized that children with autism have abnormal leakage from the gut of this compound, which then passes into the brain and disrupts brain function. Casomorphins are protein fragments, derived from the digestion of milk protein, also having an opioid effect.  They have been implicated in a number of medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and symptoms of autism and schizophrenia.

For any further interest in this, please contact my office via email or telephone.

This information is intended to inform and help us make better choices in our pursuit of Health and Well-being. When we have awareness and knowledge, it is often easier to be empowered to make these choices. These ‘blurbs’ will be covering various topics toward this end. Please feel free to respond, comment, or rebut, and discussions may grow.

Harold: “Ever since my doctor gave me those pills for my memory, I’m doing much better remembering things.”
Irving: “ What is it you’re taking?”
Harold: “ It’s, uh, it’s uh, it’s a little pill I take once a day.”
Irving: “ But what is it? What’s it called?”
Harold: “It’s, uh, it’s, uh, it’s a little blue pill.”
Irving: “ But it has a name, what’s the name?”
Harold: “Name. Oh. Oh yeah, what’s that thing that’s green and long with red on top?”
Irving: “What?”
Harold: “You know, all green with red at the top. You give it at Valentine’s Day?”
Irving: “ A rose?”
Harold: (yelling) “Rose, what’s the name of the blue pill I take?”