What is Memory Loss?

According to the National Institutes of Health, memory loss (or amnesia) is unusual forgetfulness. This forgetfulness may lead to the inability to remember new events, events that have taken place years ago or possibly both. Amnesia may come on suddenly or be a gradual process. For some, amnesia may be temporary. For others, the effects of amnesia can be long-term and permanent.

Causes of Memory Loss

Memory loss can have a variety of causes. There are multiple portions of your brain that are responsible for your ability to create and retrieve memories. Damage or malfunction of these portions of your brain can lead to memory problems.

Some of the most common causes of memory loss include:

• Alcohol or ilicit drug intoxication.
• A traumatic event that causes oxygen to not flow to your brain properly (which can include complications from anesthesia, your heart stopping beating or you not breathing for longer than a few minutes.
• Brain tumors.
• Brain infections (which can include HIV/AIDS, syphilis or Lyme Disease).
• Side effects of cancer treatments (including a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy or brain radiation).
• Prescription medications.
• Seizure disorders.
• Dementia.
• Depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions.
• Dissociative disorder (the inability to remember traumatic events).
• The use of barbiturate or benzodiazepine drugs.
• Electroconvulsive therapy.
• Encephalitis.
• Head injuries.
• Heart bypass surgery.
• Neurodegenerative disorders (including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease).
• Long-term alcohol abuse.
• Concussions.
• Migraines.
• Permanent brain damage.
• Transient global amnesia.
• Transient ischemic attack.

10 Ways to Help Improve Your Memory

1. Drink in Moderation. While you may think drinking has a tendency to mess with your memory, drinking and improving your memory have an interesting relationship. Drinking too much will cause your memory to become fuzzy and leaving you second-guessing what you may have done or did not do the night before. This is evident in DUI testing. A DUI test shows that alcohol can have an affect on your brain’s ability to perform even the simplest of tasks including counting backwards from 10 or saying the ABC’s (all tasks we learn to complete at a very young age and tend not to forget). However, having one drink here and there may prove to increase your cognitive abilities. A French study found that individuals who drink in moderation (one drink per day) are more likely to do better on memory and cognitive tests that those who do not drink at all or those who drink heavily. Another French study also indicates that individuals over the age of 65 (who consume up to two glasses of wine per day) were 45 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than older adults who do not drink alcohol at all.

2. It could be Depression. This can often be mistaken for memory problems. One of the main symptoms of depression is very similar to one of the main symptoms of memory loss — the inability to concentrate. If you are having trouble concentrating at school, at work or during daily tasks, it may seem as if you are unable to remember things. Depression can cause an increase of cortisol in your bloodstream. Increased levels of cortisol in your blood stream can lead to elevated amounts of cortisol in your brain, which can lead to symptoms of memory loss. Due to brain imaging studies (including MRIs and CT scans) doctors have been better able to study how levels of cortisol effect the brain — including the hippocampus. One study conducted on cortisol in the brain indicated that 12 to 15 percent of individuals with depression has suffered loss of the use of their hippocampus. The hippocampus is responsible for short-term memory activities of the brain. Untreated depression can make it difficult for your brain to retain any new information — this can make work or school very difficult.

3.  Participate in exercise. A lack of physical activity may lead to forgetfulness and problems with your memory. If you are having trouble remembering things at work or having difficulty concentrating, get up and take a quick walk. Exercise is good for the entire body — including your brain. Taking care of your body may also be able to help increase the functionality of your brain. Obesity (or being overweight) is a contributing factor to may diseases and conditions of the body that can have an immediate or eventual effect on your brain — including the development of Alzheimer’s disease or having a stroke. Living a sedentary live style can lead to a build-up of plaque in your arteries and blood vessel walls. This makes it more difficult for blood to be pumped to your brain. Clogged arteries can lead to more than just a heart attack.  Your brain needs regular exercise to maintain a constant flow of oxygen and nutrients. When your brain is not receiving enough nutrients or oxygen, its ability to function properly is compromised. Numerous studies show that individuals who participate in regular exercise are more likely to do well on cognitive performance testing. What is regular exercise? The National Academy of Sports Medicine indicates that healthy adults should participate in 30 minutes of exercise, five days per week. Children (under the age of 18) should participate in 60 minutes of exercise daily.

4.  Use visualization and association techniques to help improve your memory. If you have trouble remembering, try to remember this one fact: a picture is worth a thousand words. To best understand this technique, think about reading a story book when you were a child. Remember trying to visualize the characters? Or think about playing make believe when you were a child. Remember using your imagination to pretend you were at the beach or in a castle? You can use this same technique to help remember where you place things. For instance, set your glasses down in the rest room. Imagine you are cleaning them. Hours from now when you cannot find your glasses, remember that you were in the bathroom cleaning them. You ca also opt to use visualization techniques by grouping items together. For instance, try this technique if you have trouble remembering all of your items for work, create an image in your head that helps you link them together. Say you need your lunch, a laptop, your glasses and your ID badge. Remember that you need your ID badge to get into your office to use your computer. You cannot see if your screen without your glasses. If you cannot get your work done, you won’t have time for lunch. This may sound bizarre, but it can help!

5. Pay close attention to what is going on around you. Pay close attention to what others have to say during meetings or phone calls. Unlike an e-mail, you cannot refer to a phone call or meeting at a later date. If you need to carry post-it notes around with you, write key words or phrases that are likely to help you remember an important meeting or phone call later. Avoid day dreaming during important events or getting side-tracked. If a phone call or meeting is important, try to “forget” about your other worries until later so that you can devote your full attention to the task at hand.

6. Repeat what you are told. This works especially well if you are trying to remember names. When you are introduced to a new individual, try responding with “It is nice to meet you [insert the persons name here]. Numerous studies show that if you repeat an individual’s name back after first learning it, you are much more likely to remember it. To remember names, you can also try visualization and association techniques. Take note of where you met the person or features — such as beautiful blue eyes or long hair. By associating a particular place or feature with a person, you are more likely to remember their name.

7. Remember important digits by chunking numbers together. This works well for phone numbers, PIN numbers, social security numbers and license plat numbers. Try chunking all numbers just like you read off a phone number in sets of three to four numbers instead of a long 10-digit number.

8. Get more sleep. When you are able to devote eight hours each night to sleep, you will be able to think, concentrate and remember more the next day. You will be better able to concentrate on the tasks at hand rather than focusing on being tired, when you should get a cup of coffee or going home and snuggling up in your bed.

9. Use your environment to remember bits of information. This works similarly to tying a string around your finger without having to actual tie a piece of string around your finger. If you remember something in the middle of the night. Look at your alarm clock or nightstand and try to associate what you are remembering with that item, so that when you wake up in the morning you will associate your alarm clock or nightstand with what you thought of in the middle of the night. This beats getting up in the middle of the night to complete the task you remembered while relaxing in bed.

10. Practice makes perfect. You cannot improve your memory if you do not work on it. If you need to, make small games to help improve your memory. Break out a child’s matching game (card game). You can also opt to read an article in the paper and try to remember as many names and places in the article as possible. Spend five minutes completing another task and then try to write down as many names and places in the article as possible..that you remembered.

Watch this video for a few other methods to improve memory:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ways to Exercise Your Mind

Keeping a sharp mind may be as simple as exercising your mind. In order to keep your mind sharp, you need to use it. Here are some ideas:

• Physical activity is not the only type of activity essential for functioning of your brain. You need to stay mentally active as well. To stay mentally active, try doing crossword puzzles, read a new section of the paper, take a different route to work, learn how to play a musical instrument or sport or volunteer with a local organization.
• Visit with your friends and family frequently. Social interaction can help to prevent stress and depression, which can lead to memory loss. Whenever you are invited to a social function, attend it. Do not be afraid to ask friends or family members to engage in social activities with you as well.
• Try to organize your life. Use a calendar or planner to keep your life on track. Also, organize your house. Organizing your house and life will make it easier for you to remember what is going on.
• Limit your distractions when focusing on a task. Try to do one thing at a time. If you take tasks one step at a step, you are more likely to be able to focus on the task at hand.
• Manage chronic health conditions. Follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment methods for any chronic conditions — such as diabetes, high blood pressure and depression. If you take good care of yourself, your memory is more likely to remain intact as well.
• Try meditation. Meditation can help you clear your mind and reduce stress. Stress can make it more difficult for you to remember important things when you mind it cluttered with a lot of unnecessary information. Meditation can help you relax and focus on the more important things in life.
• Take a yoga or Pilates class. These classes focus on a mind-body connection. They can allow you to clear your mind while reaping the physical and mental benefits of regular exercise.

Diet and Your Memory

Improving your diet may just be able to help stimulate your brain and make you less forgetful. By now you are probably aware of the importance of eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. The National Academy of Sports Medicine recommends a diet packed with whole grains, lean meats, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. A healthy, well-balanced diet serves as fuel for your entire body — including your brain; giving the term “brain food” an entirely new meaning. Here are some foods that can help improve your memory, that you may not be aware of.

• Consume omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil. Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to be particularly beneficial to your overall health — including the health of your brain. Omega-3 fatty acids are powerful antioxidants that help to reduce free radical damage to the brain and can also help to decrease your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Omega-3 fatty acids can be consumed through the consumption of cold water fish including salmon, trout, mackerel, tuna, halibut, herring and sardines. If you are not a fan of eating fish, you can consider taking a fish oil supplement. There are also a number of non-fish products that contain omega-3 fatty acids including soybeans, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed oil and walnuts.
• Reduce the amount of saturated fats in your diet. Numerous research studies show that diets that are high in saturated fat can increase your risk of memory loss and dementia as well as inhibit your ability to concentrate. Saturated fats are primarily found in animal products including whole milk, red meats, cheese, butter, ice cream and sour cream.
• Consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxidants. Antioxidants can help to product your brain from free radical damage, which can essential damage the tissues of your brain. Colorful fruits and vegetables tend to have a higher concentration of antioxidants. Consider consuming spinach, broccoli, lettuce, Swiss chard, watermelon, mangoes, apricots and cantaloupe.
• Consume carbohydrates as a source of energy for your brain. Carbohydrates can help to improve your mental game. However, you need to choose the right type of carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates (such as white bread, sugar and refined grains) will give you a quick boost followed by a rapid crash. Complex carbohydrates (including high-fiber cereals, brown rice, whole beans and whole-wheat bread) will provide you with energy that lasts.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Vitamins and Minerals For Improving Memory

Vitamins and minerals have many attributes that can be beneficial to your overall health including improving your immune system, strengthening your bones and promoting the health of your joints. Another benefit of vitamins and minerals is aiding in the health of your brain — including the functioning of your short and long term memories. Here are some of the best vitamins and minerals for the health of your brain and memory:

• The vitamin B complex. The vitamin B complex is a group of eight B vitamins that aid in the metabolism of food into fuel sources that can be used by thee body. The B vitamins are essential for your memory. Folic acid is important in decreasing the amount of homocysteine in the bloodstream. Homocysteine is a harmful and toxic amino acid that can damage brain cells; leading to memory loss and a decline in cognitive functioning. Folic acid can be found in green, leafy vegetables, orange juice and fortified products — such as cereals and bread. Vitamins B6 and B12 are also important to the health of your memory. They help to produce red blood cells, which help to transport an adequate supply of oxygen to your brain. Vitamins B6 and B12 can be found in meat, fish, eggs, poultry, potatoes, milk, fortified products and green, leafy vegetables.
• Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is also important in cognitive function and in the prevention of mental illnesses — which is especially prevalent in the elderly population. “The Vitamin Book” indicates that vitamin D can help improve cognitive performance, mood and physical performance in older individuals. Vitamin D can be found in sunlight, tuna, salmon, mackerel, margarine, liver, beef, milk and sardines.
• Antioxidant vitamins including vitamin A, C, E  and beta-carotene can help to protect your brain tissues from damage from free radicals. Free radicals are harmful, toxins found in your bloodstream. To help protect your brain, consume antioxidant-rich foods including bell peppers, spinach, berries, citrus fruits, broccoli and vegetable oils.
• Choline and thiamin are two nutrients found in the body that fall into the vitamin category. Cholin is essential for making a neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine, which helps aim in the memory process. Choline can be found in peanuts, milk and egg. Thiamin is important in the synthesis of acetylcholine. You can find thiamin in pork, cereals, peanuts, squash and dried beans.

Herbs for Memory and Mental Function

Herbs are another way to natural improve your mental function and memory. You should always talk to your doctor prior to beginning herbal supplements for memory as herbs may interact with any prescription medications you may be taking. Here are some herbs recommended by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to help improve mental function and memory:

Ginkgo is an extract made from the herb, Ginkgo Biloba. This is a well-established herb in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Research indicates that ginkgo may also be effective in treating and improving normal age-related memory loss. Ginkgo may also be able to enhance mental functioning in younger individuals. In six out of nine double-blind studies, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center indicates that Ginkgo Biloba extract was able to significantly improve age-related mental decline compared to individuals who were given a placebo.

The supplement phosphatidlyserine (also referred to as PS) has been widely used across Europe to treated individuals with varying stages of dementia. In one double-blind study (with 149 participants), PS provided to show significant benefits for those suffering from dementia. The individuals who saw the most improvement where those with the most advanced stages of dementia.

Ginseng is another popular herb that has been studied in terms of mental enhancement, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. However, it is important to note that the outcome of research studies on Ginseng have varied from trial to trial. In a 2 month trial with 112 healthy, middle-aged adults, results showed that individuals given ginseng saw an improvement in abstract thinking ability. However, reaction time, memory and concentration saw no noticeable difference between the participants who received ginseng and the participants who received the placebo.

When to Visit a Doctor

Unfortunately, we cannot always manage memory problems on our own. If you notice that your memory loss has started affect to your daily activities. A doctor can preform a physical examination, check your memory as well as your problem solving skills. Treatment for memory loss problems largely depends on the cause of your memory problems.

Resources

The National Academy of Sports Medicine’s “Essentials of Personal Fitness Training”; Scott Lucett; 2008

“The Vitamin Book”; Harold Silverman, Joseph Romano and Gary Elmer; 1999

Perkins AJ, Hendrie HC, Callahan CM, Gao S, Unverzagt FW, Xu Y, Hall KS, Hui SL. Association of antioxidants with memory in a multiethnic elderly sample using the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.  Am J Epidemiol 1999;150(1):37-44.

National Institutes of Health: Memory Loss

HelpGuide.org: Improving Your Memory

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Enhancing Memory and Mental Function

Whether it’s hyperactivity in children, dementia in the elderly, or just mood-altering for the rest of us, Big Pharma apparently has a firm hold on the psyches and emotions of a significant portion of the nation’s people. In fact, antipsychotic medications are the single top-selling prescription drug in these United States, outselling even the more common drugs to treat high blood pressure and acid reflux.

The dramatic increase has many causes (including the tremendous increase in “ask your doctor” television advertisements); however, the most significant factor may be the pharmaceutical industry’s own efforts to sell their products to a much broader audience than was intended for the medicines themselves. Drug company marketing specialists have reportedly been focusing on psychiatrists and psychologists (perhaps since their diagnoses are mainly subjective?) as their targets for promoting wider prescriptions of Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify and other antipsychotic medicines.

What is psychotic behavior?

According to medicinenet.com, these medicines were initially developed to deal with schizophrenia and other diagnosed serious mental illnesses. The symptoms of this and similar ailments are wide ranging, and may consist of any or all of the following:

“A person who is psychotic is out of touch with reality. People with psychosis may hear ‘voices’ or have strange and illogical ideas (for example, thinking that others can hear their thoughts, or are trying to harm them, or that they are the President of the United States or some other famous person). They may get excited or angry for no apparent reason, or spend a lot of time by themselves, or in bed, sleeping during the day and staying awake at night. The person may neglect appearance, not bathing or changing clothes, and may be hard to talk to—barely talking or saying things that make no sense. They often are initially unaware that their condition is an illness. … Antipsychotic medications act against these symptoms.”

Like most allopathic synthesized remedies concocted in laboratories, these medications do not provide a “cure” for illness, but only mollify or mask its symptoms, while diverting the body’s natural defense systems elsewhere. In spite of this limited value, even to sufferers from the worst mental disabilities, many of these same antipsychotic drugs are now being marketed to the general public, as panaceas for a variety of lesser ailments. (This is in spite of the fact that even the medical community itself is aware of the many cautions attached to misuse or overuse of these powerful mood-adjusters.)

Prime targets: The old and the young

According to many experts, including former New England Journal of Medicine editor Marcia Angell, this trend is not only dangerous but has also considerably distorted the criteria for mental illness and disability payments. Ridgeway’s article quotes Angell as stating that, “[T]he tally of those so disabled by mental disorders that they qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) increased nearly two and a half times between 1987 and 2007, from one in 184 Americans to one in seventy-six. For children, the rise is even more startling: a thirty-five-fold increase in the same two decades. Mental illness is now the leading cause of disability in children.”
In fact, the most vulnerable people to this effort are indeed the very old and the very young (who innocently suffer the most, since medication decisions are often made by others on their behalf).

The article notes a 40-fold rise in diagnosis of children with bi-polar disorder between 1994 and 2003, as well as the fact that “one in five comes away from a psychiatrist with a prescription for an antipsychotic.” Simultaneously, the push to medicate unruly children in school (labeling them at first sign of conflict as “hyperactive” or suffering from “attention deficit disorder” instead of perhaps offering them something interesting to learn?) has led to a point where a child not being dosed is becoming the exception, rather than the rule.

Meanwhile, the elderly in nursing homes are so often sedated just out of course that pharmaceutical sales reps have reportedly coined the term “five at five” (5 milligrams of Zyprexa at 5 pm, to sedate any “difficult” residents). Once again, these senior citizens (often memory-challenged, and at very least unable to monitor effectively what’s being done to them) have become the unwitting customer-base for powerful psychoactive drugs from the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr. Angell concludes by stating that, with Big Pharma’s blessing, we are “simply expanding the criteria for mental illness, so that nearly everyone has one.”

Side Effects

One major danger of overprescribing these medications is their many side-effects (which might be relatively tolerable for those in greater need of this symptom-relief). Although the official word is that ‘most side-effects are relatively mild” the fact that they include “drowsiness, rapid heartbeat, and dizziness when changing position” could be cause for concern.
Meanwhile, “weight-gain, decreased sexual ability or interest, problems with menstrual periods, sunburn or skin rashes” are also listed among potential side-effects—in adults; the fact that schoolchildren, even those as young as preteens, are being put on these mood-adjusters almost automatically (ostensibly to deal with “classroom disruptions”) should concern everyone.

Additionally, there is of course the danger of “medication synergy”: when taken along with any number of other substances (some as otherwise harmless and even beneficial as a vitamin supplement!), these antipsychotics can produce a range of undesirable effects, some of which may even be fatal.

Most disturbingly, withdrawal from these potent psychoactive drugs must be done gradually, in stages. Once a regular regimen of use has been established, the medication must be “tapered off” and not just discontinued suddenly, “cold turkey.” In many cases, that withdrawal can be a long and painful process, comparable to that from heroin and other drugs categorized as Schedule I substances by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

By Steve Trinward

1. Autoimmune Disease

The disease affects the functioning of brain and results in loss of vision, control and balance and causes numbness. The central nervous system of the body is covered by myelin which insulates the nerve tissues and helps in transmission of nerve impulses from the brain to other parts of the body which results in muscle movements. Multiple sclerosis happens to a person when the myelin is destroyed causing demyelization which results in poor transmission of the signals from the brain to the spinal cord. The person’s own immune system destroys the nerve tissues and the person’s body cannot regain myelin at a fast pace at which it is destroyed.

2. Statistics

The earliest known patient with multiple sclerosis is dated back in 14^th century in Holland. People in the age of 10 to 50 years are at a risk of developing the condition and it is more common in females than in males, and worldwide more than 2.5 million people suffer from it. Average age of the onset of the condition is 30-33 years and mostly it is diagnosed in 37 years. About 10 % of the cases are diagnosed over 50 years. Life expectancy of patients has increased in the last few decades due to increase awareness.

3. Risks and Symptoms

The risk declines after the age of 50 years. Symptoms of multiple sclerosis depend on individual condition. The person may suffer from muscle weakness, hazy vision, decreased coordination, double vision, pain in eyes, difficulty in controlling urination, etc.

4. Cause

The risk of multiple sclerosis is high in people who have a relative suffering from the condition, although, it is not linked to hereditary conditions. It is believed both infectious and non infectious factors may be involved in causing multiple sclerosis. Decreased sunlight exposure has been linked to raise the risk of multiple sclerosis. Stress and smoking are some of the risk factors. It is believed the patients suffering from multiple sclerosis have low level of uric acid in body which leads to the conclusion that uric acid can protect against the condition.

5. Diagnosis And Treatment

The condition should be diagnosed if the symptoms occur at least twice for more than a day in two to three months. MRI tests are done to diagnose the condition. Medication is provided to slow the development of disease and to control pain, muscle stiffness and urinary problems.

Source 1: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/multiple-sclerosis-000111.htm

Source 2: http://www.chg.duke.edu/diseases/ms.html

Source 3: http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper1/Boyce.html

1. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

The onset of Alzheimer’s disease is very gradual. Symptoms are generally dismissed by family members initially as “a normal part of aging”. Short term memory loss such as repeatedly forgetting to turn off the stove or inability to recall which of the morning medicines were taken is common in the early stages of the disease. As the disease progresses, problems in other intellectual functions occur. In the later stages the individuals may get confused or disoriented about basic things such as their names, what month of the year, are not able to make conversations etc. In the late stage of the disease they become totally incapable of caring for themselves and usually die of some other illness rather than as a consequence of Alzheimer’s disease.

2. What Causes Alzheimer’s Disease

With age, the risk of Alzheimer’s disease development rises, as it usually strikes in the 50s and 60s. Nonetheless it is not a normal part of aging. Having a blood relative who has Alzheimer’s disease increases your risk. According to a number of scientists, the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein is what results in Alzheimer’s. The accumulation actually leads to death of nerve cells. Some other risk factors may include high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, serious head injury and possibly elevated blood cholesterol.  All people suffering from Down Syndrome are known to develop Alzheimer’s disease in their 40s.

3.  Types of Alzheimer’s Disease

There are three types of Alzheimer’s disease – Early Onset, Late Onset and Familial Alzheimer’s Disease (FAD). Early onset is a rare form of the disease and is mostly genetic. People with Down syndrome are more at risk for this form of Alzheimer’s disease. In the early onset, the symptoms usually appear in the 40s and 50s and progresses rapidly. Late onset of Alzheimer’s disease is more common and accounts for 90% of people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease. It usually strikes after the age of 60. Familial Alzheimer’s disease is considered to have genetic causes, whwrein two family member generations suffered from Alzheimer’s. FAD is a rare condition and only 1% of Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed as FAD.

4. Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

There is no single test that can definitely diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Mental diagnosis includes noting full medical history, mood evaluation, assessment of cognitive skills, memory and concentration. Physical examination is done to rule out other causes of dementia.

5. Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Unfortunately there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease.  The drugs given to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease are aimed at slowing the pace at which the symptoms progress.  It is essential for the family members and caregivers to be supportive of the patient and modify the home environment suitably in order to manage behavior problems, sleep problems and agitation.

Source 1: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alzheimersdisease.html

Source 2: http://www.nsls.bnl.gov/about/everyday/alzheimers.asp

Source 3: http://netwellness.uc.edu/healthtopics/alzheimer/

1. Autism Is Rising Since 1980s

The number of children suffering from autism has increased since 1980s and it strikes 3-4 times more boys than girls. With the new diagnoses methodologies, kids are getting diagnosed earlier as compared to some years back. Early treatment is crucial to cure autism.

2. Genetic Disorder

Earlier it was assumed that psychological factors causes autism but now it is confirmed it is a genetic and environmental disorder. Autistic children have irregularities in brain and may have abnormal level of serotonin in the brain. The abnormality generally happens during the disruption of normal brain development of the fetus, and the fetal development is restricted in some cases due to genetic factor which controls the brain’s functioning. If a couple has one autistic child, the chances of having another autistic child increase by 5 to 10 %.

3. Large Head Size During Birth Raises The Risk

Children born with large head than normal have a higher chance of being autistic. The brain and head size of children with autism is larger than normal during the 6 to 14 months of infancy, and brain growth is too fast during infancy in severe cases of autism. A big head is not always a sign of autism but parents should try to examine the child carefully for behavioral and speech milestone of the baby having a large head. Parents should examine symptoms such as repetitive movement like rocking or twirling, low interaction with people in the surroundings and having little regard for the person with whom they are talking.

4. Risks of Other Conditions

Autistic children are at higher risk of developing related conditions such as tuberous sclerosis, attention deficit disorder, Fragile X syndrome, Tourette syndrome etc. About 20 to 30 % of the children with ASD develop epilepsy when they reach adulthood and patients with schizophrenia can show behavior like autistic in their teens or adulthood. But autistic people do not suffer from hallucinations like schizophrenics.

5. Early Treatment Should Be Provided To Autistic Children

Autistic children are provided behavioral interventions such as skill oriented training and family counseling. The children are provided with medications such as antipsychotic medications to treat severe behavior patterns. Medicines are given for anxiety, depression, and seizures and to reduce hyperactivity.

Source 1: http://www.hhs.gov/autism

Source 2: http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/autism.html

Source 3: http://autism.mit.edu/node/2

Click here to view the embedded video.

1. Physiological Effect

Modern hypnotherapy originated from hypnotism, which was used to treat patients suffering from hysteria, and currently it is used for the treatment of insomnia, reduce stress and improve mental conditions of patients suffering from depression or anxiety. Hypnotherapy is used to reduce pain and it is also used as an alternative to chemical anesthesia. According to Holistic Mind Body Healing, when hypnotherapy is applied, the persons brainwave frequencies are slowed.

Hypnotherapy is given to prepare the mother-to-be for childbirth to help to reduce discomfort and anxiety during childbirth. Hypnotherapy helps in self empowerment and reduces fear of patients to enable them to take charge of their lives with confidence. Because it is beneficial in childbirth, it also stands to reason that hypnosis can be used to manage other types or causes of pain as well.

2.  Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Studies have found irritable bowel syndrome can be treated using hypnotherapy. Clear effect of improvement in symptoms of patients suffering from IBS can be observed using hypnosis. In a study at Frenchay Hospital, IBS patients were given hypnosis for seven weeks for forty minutes, and out of 33 patients, 23 showed improvement and 11 were completely treated using hypnosis.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information used information from fourteen individual, published studies concerning the use of hypnosis for IBS and found that ‘hypnosis consistently produces significant results and improves the cardinal symptoms of IBS in the majority of patients.’

3. Asthma

Asthma affects millions of people every year and 50% of the patients are kids. Children generally miss schools due to asthma attack and it has been found hypnotherapy can be used to treat asthma in children. A study conducted by Ewer and Stewart in 1986 found 74.9% improvement in the condition of children suffering from bronchial hyper-responsiveness and 41% improvement in the patients suffering from the symptoms of asthma. It was found the patients who were susceptible to hypnotherapy showed improvement and patients who were not susceptible to hypnotherapy showed no improvements.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, there is important data that suggests that hypnosis can be used as an effective treatment for asthma. However, the center also suggests that larger and more complex studies are still needed for a solid, definitive answer.

4. Diabetes

Researchers found the patients suffering from diabetes can recover from the condition by taking hypnotherapy. The patients of diabetes psychologically believe the treatment which helps in fast improvement in medical condition of the patients.

While many people do report positive results from hypnotherapy for the treatment of diabetes, it is essential that you always follow your doctor’s instructions, and that you continue to take prescribed medications for the treatment of this life threatening condition. Do not rely on hypnosis alone in the treatment of diabetes.

5. Bed Wetting In Kids

Hypnosis can be used to treat issues related to children such as bed wetting, nightmares and anxiety disorders. The child can be trained for self hypnosis to reduce pain caused by certain medical conditions. It helps in fighting fears and phobias. It reduces the problems of anger, self consciousness, shyness or low esteem in kids. People who shy away or are subjected to substance abuse should take the therapy to feel improvement in their condition. In hypnosis, the patient is made comfortable with his/her circumstances which help the patient to overcome fears and think positively about future.

According to Family Hypnosis, hypnosis works better on children than it does on adults. This is due to the fact that children have fewer years of ‘imprints and reinforcements’ in their minds. They are still in the process of mind mapping because they are so young.

There is little doubt among experts that hypnosis can help in the treatment of many health conditions and situations. There is also little doubt that hypnosis can help with the effect of symptoms and side effects, even though hypnosis cannot actually heal a health condition alone. Experts also agree that hypnosis is beneficial in the prevention of many health issues, including mental health issues, which is a good reason to learn self hypnosis, or to participate in hypnosis therapy on a regular basis.

Sources: www.family-hypnosis.com,www.ncbi.gov,  www.holistic-mindbody-healing.com,  www.fullhypnosis.com, www.suite101.com

1. Reduces Stress

It has been found in scientific studies that meditation helps in reducing stress in people. It helps in calming the body and providing relief. The person who has to meditate should sit quietly on a mat on floor and close the eyes. Take deep breath for a few minutes and concentrate on breathing patterns. You feel relaxed in a few minutes. Meditation helps to release the toxins in the form of negative energies from the body and provides relief from worries.

2. Heart Rate

Meditation helps in relieving the person from stress and anxiety which reduces heart problems. It helps the person to adjust to life’s circumstances and reduce frustration caused by unpredictable events. Improved acceptance of events helps you to feel happy. The person who regularly meditates has no regret of past and is free from overburdening life’s expectations, which helps the person to concentrate clearly on current problems in hand. It helps you to work without pressure for longer duration and be more productive.

3. Improved Focus And Concentration

Meditation helps in improving focus on the problem in hand. It provides the person with insight to identify his/her strengths and weaknesses, and it helps in overcoming mental weaknesses. The person who regularly meditates may have minimal distractions while doing any work and he/she stays relaxed even in stressful circumstances. Meditation helps in improving concentration and it provides inner peace. When you close your eyes and meditate for five minutes, you get an improved vision and aptitude. You can more clearly identify the upcoming problems of your life and consider the possible solutions.

4. Blood Pressure

Meditation helps in reducing anxiety and reducing the problem of blood pressure. It has been found in studies that blood pressure can be regulated by meditation, especially, if you suffer from high blood pressure. Australian psychiatrist Ainslie Meares published research reports of 1976 in Medical Journal of Australia, which found meditation to be effective in reducing cancer.

5. Brain Activation

People who meditate regularly have better memory and intelligence. Meditation is one of the easiest and cheapest methods to improve brain power. Brain works on certain frequency levels, and through meditation you strengthen the brain’s power. The tissues of brain work better if you boost up the tissues by relaxing your mind for some minutes each day.

Source: http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/05/100-benefits-of-meditation/

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness, classified as a mood disorder. It is generally caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and once it is diagnosed, there are numerous medications on the market that can be prescribed to control the condition – stabilizing your moods effectively. People who have bipolar disorder are also encouraged to seek counseling, especially cognitive behavioral counseling.

What Are the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?

Being in a great mood and having lots of energy is fantastic – unless it is happening far too often and followed by bouts of depression. Ideally, you should be living life ‘in the middle.’ The middle is somewhere between being really happy and excited and being really down and depressed. People who have bipolar disorder tend to pass through ‘the middle’ without stopping.

In extreme cases, when mania (that fantastic mood and energy) is present the person could lose a grip on reality. They may feel like they can take on the whole world – and act on those feelings.

Other symptoms of Bipolar Disorder include not being able to focus or to stay on task to completion, becoming irritable very easily, suffering from depression often, having trouble at work or school, talking very fast, trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, taking risks – even if you are aware of the consequences, and abusing drugs or alcohol in an attempt to self medicate – even if you don’t realize that you are using drugs or alcohol for this purpose.

If You Think You Have Bipolar Disorder

If you think that you may have bipolar disorder, it is essential that you visit your doctor. He or she will most likely refer you to a psychiatrist for evaluation. Bipolar is rarely diagnosed in just one visit. Once it is diagnosed, it could take some time for the doctor to prescribe the right medications, in the right dosages, for your condition, so patience, and the desire to be treated is essential.

1. Schizophrenia Effects One In Every Hundred People

During their lifetime and it is most likely to happen in the age between 15 to 35 years. About 1 percent of the world’s population suffers from the problem, and it is considered to be one of the leading causes for disability in developing countries.

2. Impaired Migration Of Neurons

Researchers believe impaired migration of neurons into the brain in a person before birth in fetal stage raises the risk. Neuroimaging research has found a link between the abnormal development of brain and schizophrenia. Having enlarged ventricles and fluid filled cavities in brain provides a clue about brain portions which can get affected. Brain infection of baby during pregnancy, or childhood abuse can cause it. Intake of street drugs, stress and family tensions are some other causes which can trigger schizophrenia.

3. Symptoms Of Schizophrenia

Some of the symptoms of schizophrenia are feeling, hearing, smelling or seeing something which is not there and believing unreal things. Sometimes the imaginations are pleasant, and at times it is abusive or annoying. The person has strange ideas and difficulty in thinking. She finds it hard to concentrate, and mostly drifts from one idea to another. The person starts feeling their body is controlled by someone else. Sometimes, the person has no energy, and has a loss of interest and emotions. She may not want to go for everyday routine work such as get up, wash, clean, and may feel uncomfortable in group. People who suffer from some of these symptoms may not be recognized as schizophrenic for years.

4. Need for Early treatment

Early treatment is needed for curing schizophrenia. Antipsychotics are prescribed by doctors for controlling the activities of brain. Antipsychotics reduce the effect of chemicals on brain, and it can have side effects such as restlessness, feeling slow, unwanted movement in mouth or tongue. Some antipsychotics can have certain unwanted reactions on brain, or it can cause diabetes, weight gain or sexual problem. The medications can even have some of the less common side effects such as – feeling restlessness, problems of movement, muscle contraction and tremor. Medication can help the symptoms to improve in some cases and in certain cases, it can cause functional disabilities, and the patients may have repeated episodes of schizophrenia.

5. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy is provided to help the patients to behave properly and to assess what are the conditions which can trigger the problem. Counseling is provided to solve everyday problems, and rehabilitation facilities are provided for the people suffering from schizophrenia. But in certain cases, it can have lifelong effect and the person may need structure homes and lifelong care.

1. Types of Dementia

Dementia is not a single disease but a group of syndromes leading to brain dysfunction. There are various types of dementia, the most common being Alzheimer’s disease, accounting for almost 80% of the cases. Vascular dementia is another type of dementia, mostly caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, smoking etc. Other types of dementia include Parkinson’s disease, Dementia with Lewy bodies, Huntington’s disease, Pick’s dementia, Frontal Lobe Dementia (FLD), etc.

2. Gender Matters

Over the past few decades, researchers have observed that women tend to be more vulnerable to dementia than men. Over the age of 55, every one in six females suffer the risk of developing dementia. Although the cause behind this is yet to be confirmed, yet one theory suggests that in most countries particularly the Unites States, women tend to live longer than men, thereby adding to the statistics of patients suffering from dementia. There is another theory that suggests that after menopause; women suffer from lowered levels of the hormone estrogen, which may also be a contributing factor to the risk of dementia in women; however the authenticity of this theory is still under question.

3. Age Factor

Although there may be external factors involved like injury and brain diseases causing dementia in people, it is an age related disorder commonly affecting the elderly. It is alarming to note that every five years after the age of 60, the risk of dementia in normal human adults grows double. Dementia affects one in five people past the age of 80, and almost 30% to 50% of people past the age of 85 suffer from dementia. At present, approximately twenty four million people around the world suffer from some form of dementia.

4. Possible Treatments

While dementia is mostly irreversible and incurable, there are some specific treatments available that are effective in certain types of dementia. Proper medication can assist in the treatment of dementia associated with diabetes, HIV infections, metabolic disorders and deficiencies, blood pressure, depression etc. In case of injuries and tumors, dementia can be treated by means of surgery. An important point to note is that these treatments only inhibit further growth of dementia and not undo the brain degeneration caused by it.

5. Prevention

Eating healthy from an early age does a lot to prevent dementia. Fresh fruits and vegetables are known to contain anti-oxidants that improve the overall health of the brain and the vascular system. Vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acids, both found in oily fish, are considered good for the brain. Although abstinence from drugs and alcohol is also considered beneficial, red wine taken in medicinal quantity is known to lower the risk of dementia.