Post on 03-Jan-2016
How To Grow Your Hippocampus
in Three Months
Majid Fotuhi, MD PhDFounder and Chief Medical Officer
NeurExpand Brain Center
Nothing to disclose
New Perspectives
2
Objectives Why hippocampus shrinks with
aging? How can we grow the size of
hippocampus in a clinical setting?
Brain Fitness Program
3
Hippocampal Atrophy is the Most Robust Marker for Dementia
Duara et al., Neurology 71:1986–92, 2008
Main Factors Contributing to Atrophy in Hippocampus
• “Plaques” and “Tangles”
• Inflammation
• Concussion/TBI
• Vascular disease (obesity, OSA, hypertension, diabetes, CHF, CAD, A Fib, strokes)
• Depression(anxiety, stress, PTSD)
Plaques and Tangles
Vascular Factors
Zlokovic et al. Neurosurgery 43(4), 877–78, 1998
Sleep Apnea Shrinks Hippocampus
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2002; 166:1382–7
8
Obesity Shrinks Hippocampus
Associated with reduced brain volume
Ward, et al., 2005
Slows cognitive function
Debette, et al., 2011
Brains of overweight and obese individuals appeared 8 and 16 years older, respectively
Raji, et al., 2010
9
Brain Research Volume 1280, 14 July 2009, Pages 186–194
Stress Shrinks Brain Cells in Hippocampus
StressControl
14
Depression Shrinks the Brain
The number of days of depression is associated with the severity of hippocampal atrophy
Sheline, et al, (1996). PNAS, 93(9);3908-13.
Depression is associated with impaired memory, executive function and processing speed
Egger et al, (2008). Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging; 164(3): 237-44)
Sheline, (1996). PNAS, 93(9);3908-13.
15
Figure 2 Comparison of studies of hippocampal volume in clinical depression and PTSD
Fotuhi, M. et al. (2012) Modifiable factors that alter the size of the hippocampus with ageingNat. Rev. Neurol. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2012.27
Figure 2 Factors that could cause brain atrophy and cognitive impairment
Fotuhi, M. et al. (2009) Changing perspectives regarding late-life dementiaNat. Rev. Neurol. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2009.175
Multiple Risk Factors Shrink the Hippocampus
Multiple
Risk Factors
No
Risk Factors
HippocampusHippocampus
14
15
DiabetesHypertensionObesitySleep ApneaHead TraumaGenesStress
Brain-healthy DietPhysical FitnessCognitive StimulationMeditation
Objectives Why hippocampus shrinks with
aging? How can we grow the size of
hippocampus in a clinical setting?
Brain Fitness Program
16
1. Hippocampus Grows Biggerwith Getting Fit
Erikson, PNAS 2011
17
Arch Gen Psychiatry, 2010
Hippocampus Grows Biggerwith Exercise, Even After 3 Months
After
Before
18
Draganski et al. J Neurosci 2006; 26:6314–7
2. Hippocampus Grows Bigger with Memorization Training
19
3. Hippocampus Grows Bigger with
Eating Well & Taking DHA
20
21
More DHA-EPA: Bigger Hippocampus
Pottala J V et al. Neurology 2014;82:435-442
Fotuhi et al., Nature Clinical Practice Neurol 5(3):140–52, 2009
23
4. Hippocampus Grows Bigger with Treatment of Sleep Apnea
Canesa, American Journal of Respiratory Medicine, 2011
5. Hippocampus Grows Bigger with Relaxing Your Mind
Holzel , Psychiatric Research, 2011
24
Figure 3 Pathways leading to hippocampal growth or atrophy
Fotuhi, M. et al. (2012) Modifiable factors that alter the size of the hippocampus with ageingNat. Rev. Neurol. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2012.27
Objectives Why hippocampus shrinks with
aging? How can we grow the size of
hippocampus in a clinical setting?
Brain Fitness Program
26
Brain Fitness Program
A multidisciplinary program devoted to: • Improving memory and brain performance
• Enhancing long-term brain health
• Reducing risk for dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and stroke in the future
Each patient receives a comprehensive baseline assessment followed by a personalized treatment plan
This program is based on latest research and has shown remarkable results
27
Comprehensive Diagnostics
Customized “Brain Fitness Program”
NeurExpand’s Unique Integrative Approach
28
Figure 2
71 year-old man with AAMI
6/13/12 1/25/130
102030405060708090
100
30
97List-Learning
6/13/12 1/25/130
102030405060708090
100
6
46
List-Learning
6/13/12 1/25/130
102030405060708090
100 Mental Shifting
MRI Results
Hippocampus
HC
After
Before
32
Before
After
HC
2.86 cm3
HC
3.14 cm3
THANK YOU
MFOTUHI@NEUREXPAND.COM
34