brain change Archives - Amazing Health Advances

MRI Drugs Leave Toxic Heavy Metal Residue in the Brain

The AHA! Team — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 05:49:18 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – MRIs help doctors see inside your body, but new findings have raised red flags. Medical experts want more research on health risks – especially how these metal-based contrast agents might build up in your body long after the scan. Many MRI procedures involve getting a contrast injection to improve the clarity of the images. The problem is that some patients with multiple MRIs report thinking problems afterward. These symptoms increasingly point to gadolinium, a metal used in contrast agents that may be more dangerous than we thought. New research shows it can stay in your body for years, even with healthy kidneys. What’s particularly concerning is that gadolinium might damage your cells and even your DNA. Scientific studies raise serious brain health concerns A study showed a correlation between intravenous gadolinium-based contrast agents and deposits of gadolinium found in neural tissues. Results were published online in Radiology, with lead author Robert McDonald, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic, noting that some of the administered doses of contrast agent deposited in neural tissues were surprising. Patients who have undergone routine MRIs, such as Marcie Jacobs, later reported a loss of cognitive abilities. After having memory and other brain function issues following several years of routine MRIs for breast cancer detection, Ms. Jacobs ended up on disability. Also in the journal Radiology, Dr. Emanuel Kanal, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, along with Michael Tweedle at Ohio State University, wrote that current studies “called into question” the “safety of at least some” of the agents. While the two did not call for an end to the use of these agents, they did call for increased caution in using these drugs. Are you being offered these MRI drugs? About a third of all MRIs in America still use gadolinium-based contrast agents, even as questions linger about their long-term safety. The FDA has tightened regulations rather than banning the most problematic agents outright – taking a different approach than European regulators who pulled Omniscan and Magnevist from their markets back in 2018. This safety debate isn’t new. Back in 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first required warnings after research linked certain agents to nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, a serious condition causing tissue hardening, particularly in kidney patients who struggle to clear the metal from their bodies. Despite two FDA reviewers pushing for an outright ban on high-risk agents, the agency opted for stronger warnings instead. By 2010, they recommended against using Omniscan, Magnevist, and Optimark for patients with kidney problems. In 2018, warnings expanded to include gadolinium retention risks even for people with healthy kidneys. These days, doctors typically reach for newer macrocyclic agents, which hold their gadolinium more securely and seem less likely to release it into body tissues. However, the debate continues about whether these regulatory steps go far enough to protect patients. Gadolinium brain deposits spark ongoing safety debate Brain scans after certain contrast-enhanced MRIs show gadolinium sticking around – a discovery that’s raised eyebrows across medicine even without clear proof of harm. The findings haven’t definitively shown these metal deposits cause problems, but they’ve certainly got doctors thinking twice. GE Healthcare insists its research shows no evidence of harm from these brain deposits. Bayer has been working with outside researchers to get to the bottom of things. Both companies have settled their share of lawsuits, including some involving deaths. Back in 2010, Bayer reached a settlement with a California man who claimed Bayer’s product Magnevist gave him nephrogenic systemic fibrosis – a rare but serious condition. The health dangers continue to be a hot topic of debate. Research points in different directions – some studies raise red flags while others find no smoking gun. Doctors now find themselves weighing benefits against possible risks, especially when their patients already have kidney problems. The risk to MRI patients continues Doctors now check kidney function before giving patients contrast agents, but that might not solve the problem. We’re seeing gadolinium deposits showing up even in people with healthy kidneys, sometimes months or years after their MRIs. Researchers are worried about finding these metal traces in brain tissue at much higher levels than anyone thought possible. We don’t know yet how this might affect someone’s brain function or overall health over the long haul. The data simply isn’t there. This puts radiologists in a tough spot. These contrast agents help spot tumors, inflammation, and blood vessel problems that might otherwise go undetected. That’s incredibly valuable – but at what risk? Some hospitals have started switching to newer gadolinium compounds like the macrocyclic agents, which seem to hold onto their gadolinium better than older ones like Omniscan and Magnevist. Others are cutting doses to the bare minimum or skipping contrast altogether when possible. For patients needing multiple MRIs throughout their lives, the risk increases with each scan. Many are now asking for contrast-free procedures or looking for facilities that use the newer, possibly safer agents. Until we know more, the smart move seems to use the least risky contrast agents only when absolutely necessary. Meanwhile, researchers keep studying what happens to these metal deposits in the body over time. One thing’s for sure – we haven’t heard the last word on gadolinium safety. Editor’s note: Find out more about how to keep your kidney health strong, own the Fatty Liver Docu-Class package created by NaturalHealth365 Programs, that includes the Kidney Health Docu-Class. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov FDA.gov FDA.gov Current.com Auntminnie.com Propublica.org To read the original article click here.

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Do I Need an Epileptologist?

The AHA! Team — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 05:37:03 +0000

Morgan deBlecourt via Duke Health – An epileptologist is a neurologist who specializes in caring for people with epilepsy. Epileptologists have completed an additional one to two years of subspecialty training in epilepsy care. Most people with epilepsy can see a primary care doctor or general neurologist to manage their seizures. However, you may need more advanced care if your seizures are not under control, if you have certain medical issues, or if you want a second opinion. An epileptologist is a neurologist who specializes in caring for people with epilepsy. Epileptologists have completed an additional one to two years of subspecialty training in epilepsy care. When to See an Epileptologist To confirm your epilepsy diagnosis If your seizures are not under control after three months of care by your primary care physician or after one year of care by a general neurologist If your seizures are not under control despite trying two or three different medications If you are experiencing unwanted side effects from medications If you have other medical conditions or considerations that affect or are affected by epilepsy If you are pregnant or want to become pregnant Seek Care at an Epilepsy Center “An epileptologist typically works in a designated epilepsy center, which is capable of evaluating people whose seizures are not under adequate control. An epilepsy center provides a very comprehensive approach to care,” said Duke epileptologist Aatif Husain, MD. An epilepsy center is staffed by specialists who use sophisticated testing to pinpoint your diagnosis, offer the latest treatments, address possible side effects of medications, recommend surgical options if appropriate, and help you manage the social and emotional aspects of epilepsy. “Advances over the past decade have enabled more personalized epilepsy care,” said Duke epileptologist Birgit Frauscher, MD. “With new options now available, regular re-evaluation of treatment is essential.” As a Level 4 Epilepsy Center, Duke is recognized by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers for providing the highest level of diagnostic, treatment, and surgical options. To read the original article click here.

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When Your Loved One has Aphasia

The AHA! Team — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 05:28:22 +0000

Meredith Nye, CCC-SLP, MS, via Duke Health – Speech pathologists can help relatives and friends work with a loved one who has aphasia and find ways to communicate effectively. Aphasia is a language disorder that can affect comprehension and communication. Although it is most often caused by a stroke, aphasia can also result from traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, or progressive neurological disorders such as primary progressive aphasia (PPA). These conditions damage the language centers of the brain, leading to difficulties with speaking, understanding, reading, and/or writing. Learning to communicate with someone who has aphasia can positively impact that person’s social interactions, relationships, medical decision-making, and overall wellbeing. “We work with patients and their care partners to provide customized treatment plans focusing on life participation and maximizing communication success,” says Meredith Nye, CCC-SLP, MS, a Duke speech-language pathologist. “Aphasia doesn’t impact a person’s hearing or thinking skills like memory. Rather,” she says, “people with aphasia may use the wrong word, like ‘mother’ instead of ‘daughter’ or ‘yes’ instead of ‘no.’ Or they may make up words, unintentionally repeat themselves, or only be able to say a few words or sounds when they are trying to communicate. Or they may have a hard time understanding what you’re saying.” How to Communicate with Someone with Aphasia Speech pathologists can help relatives and friends work with a loved one who has aphasia and find ways to communicate effectively. Nye recommends keeping these tips in mind: Focus Their Attention If possible, move your conversation to a quiet, well-lit room where there are no distractions. Turn off background disturbances like the radio or television. It’s best to limit conversation to one or two people at the most. Use All Forms of Nonverbal Communication Rather than rely on words, use a wave to say “goodbye” or “hello.” Thumbs up can be used to say “good job” or “yes.” Your facial expressions can show anger, sadness, or elation. Exchange written or drawn messages. Have Patience Sometimes it takes longer for a person with aphasia to communicate. Count to 10 slowly before providing help or choices. Many times it takes that much time or longer for them to get their message out. Confirm Your Understanding After an exchange with your loved one, make sure you understand by verbally repeating or by writing a synopsis of the message’s key points. If they wanted coffee, write “coffee” and draw a picture. Use intonation in your voice when you ask, “You want coffee?” and point to the picture. Have them answer yes or no. Use Technology Computers, smart devices, and other forms of technology can help people with aphasia return to hobbies, read, and converse with others. Icons and emojis can enhance email and social media conversations. Encourage your loved one to listen to audiobooks in addition to reading the print versions. Speech pathologists can also recommend programs that enable your loved one to use word-prediction or speech-to-text capabilities. Get Help Speech pathologists can help people make progress even years after they are originally diagnosed with aphasia, says Nye. “We can help them focus on their strengths and find ways to better engage with family and their community. We can offer tools to help them socialize and have a better quality of life through communication.” Find Aphasia Support Groups There are many groups and resources in the community to support people with aphasia and their families. Nye says a speech-language pathologist is your best resource for identifying groups in your area. To read the original article click here.

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Brain Cell Grafts in Monkeys Jump-Start Human Trial for New Parkinson’s Treatment

The AHA! Team — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 05:21:55 +0000

University of Wisconsin–Madison via Newswise – People with Parkinson’s disease are receiving a new treatment in a clinical trial started after University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists demonstrated the safety and feasibility of the therapeutic delivery method in a study of non-human primates. People with Parkinson’s disease are receiving a new treatment in a clinical trial started after University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists demonstrated the safety and feasibility of the therapeutic delivery method in a study of non-human primates. Parkinson’s disease damages neurons in the brain that produce dopamine, a brain chemical that transmits signals between nerve cells. The disrupted signals make it progressively harder to coordinate even simple movements and cause rigidity, slowness and tremors that are the disease’s hallmark symptoms. Patients are typically treated with drugs like L-DOPA to increase dopamine production. Although the drugs help many patients, they present complications and lose their effectiveness over time. Parkinson’s disease damages neurons in the brain that produce dopamine Researchers at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center successfully grafted brain cells called dopaminergic neuronal progenitor cells into the brains of cynomolgus macaque monkeys. California-based Aspen Neuroscience provided the cells, grown from multiple lines of human induced pluripotent stem cells, along with key pieces of the equipment for delivering them to specific parts of the brain. “By the time of diagnosis, it is common for people with Parkinson’s to have lost the majority of dopaminergic neurons, leading to progressive loss of motor and neurological function,” explains Edward Wirth III, an expert in cell therapies, study co-author and Aspen’s chief medical officer. “To replace these lost cells, we must target a very specific area of the brain with a high degree of surgical precision. Utilizing the latest advances in intraoperative MRI guided techniques, the patient’s new cells are transplanted, a few microliters at a time, to the exact area where they are most needed.” Working with potential cell therapies in pursuing treatments for Parkinson’s disease is a particular specialty of the team at Marina Emborg’s lab and their primate center colleagues. “Using autologous cells, a patient’s own cells, avoids the need to use immunosuppression to keep the patient’s body from rejecting or attacking the graft,” says Emborg, a UW–Madison professor of medical physics. “Aspen has developed the technological methods for manufacturing, for quality control, that makes it feasible at scale to make autologous cells and get them to the patients.” The researchers’ results in non-human primates, which supported Aspen’s successful Investigational New Drug application to the Food and Drug Administration to begin human trials, were published today in the Journal of Neurosurgery. “This study was an important step in our work to bring the promise of a cell-replacement therapy to people with Parkinson’s disease” “This study was an important step in our work to bring the promise of a cell-replacement therapy to people with Parkinson’s disease,” says Andrés Bratt-Leal, study co-author, Aspen Neuroscience co-founder and senior vice-president of research and development. “The results were instrumental in opening our first-in-human trial and informing how we deliver patients’ own cells to them in the study.” The UW–Madison scientists, led by Parkinson’s researcher Emborg, took up the Aspen-funded work fresh off their own success (published in 2021) reversing Parkinson’s symptoms in monkeys by grafting neurons grown from the monkeys’ own cells, called an autologous transplant. The 2021 study, using cells grown by UW–Madison stem cell researcher Su-Chun Zhang, added new dopamine-producing neurons to each animal’s brain through injections guided in real time by MRI to an area of the brain called the putamen. Dopamine production increased dramatically, as did the monkeys’ motor skills. At the same time, symptoms of depression and anxiety were reduced. The new study was designed to test the delivery of Aspen’s human cells. Wirth and Aspen scientists worked with Emborg’s team to bridge the monkey-to-human application. While Emborg’s previous study administered cells to the putamen through the top of the skull, the Aspen study examined cell administration through the back of the skull — an angle that could allow surgeons to reach their target with fewer insertions of the apparatus that delivers the new cells into the brain. “The core idea is to decrease the risk of infection, the trauma, the surgical time the patient spends under anesthesia,” Emborg says. “The fewer tracks you have to follow through the brain, the better for all of that.” Six monkeys received grafts of the human neurons Six monkeys received grafts of the human neurons through two paths in each side, or hemisphere, of their brains, with more cells deposited on one side of the brain than the other. A control group of three animals underwent the procedure without the cell delivery. “In tissue samples taken seven and 30 days after the procedures, we found the grafted cells persisted in five of the animals,” Emborg says. The researchers confirmed the presence of Aspen’s human neurons in the monkeys’ brains, finding more cells in the hemispheres that were injected with a higher dose, more cells in the 30-day tissue samples compared to the seven-day samples and the presence of a protein produced by young neurons working to integrate with neighboring cells — all signs the cells grafts were successful. It was a true collaboration, according to Emborg — between the Aspen scientists, her lab and the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center veterinarians and staff — to validate the company’s procedures and equipment before study co-author Paul Larson, a neurosurgeon at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and professor of neurosurgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, began Aspen’s first-in-human trial with people with Parkinson’s in April. The work done to refine the logistics, surgical equipment and techniques in the animal procedures will inform the way patients in the human trial receive and recover from the new therapy, providing hope for those struggling with a debilitating disease. “Our results were all so exciting,” Emborg says. “And then, when I saw they had been able to begin with a human patient this spring, I just had tears in my eyes.” To read the original article click here.

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Embracing Your Comfort Zone Can Help Rewire Your Brain/Create New Healthy Habits

The AHA! Team — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 08:10:41 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – In this podcast (episode #485) and blog, I talk to bestselling author, editor and journalist Adam Bornstein about his latest book You Can’t Screw This Up, the mental health benefits of enjoying food, the science of self-perception, the power of releasing mental baggage, why most diet plans fail, and so much more! Adam is a New York Times best-selling author and an award-winning fitness and nutrition journalist and editor. Named “one of the most influential people in health”, Bornstein is the CEO and founder of Born Fitness. Previously, he was the editorial director for LIVESTRONG.COM and the fitness editor for Men’s Health magazine. His first book, The Impact! Body Plan, was a fitness bestseller, and that was followed by The Men’s Health Diet (with Stephen Perrine), The Women’s Health Big Book of Abs, and The Men’s Health Big Book: Getting Abs. Adam has articles featured in publications such as The New York Times, ESPN the Magazine, Forbes, and Fast Company. He also has a monthly column in Men’s Fitness magazine called “Learn It.” Bornstein has appeared on Good Morning America, The Early Show, and E! News. He also blogs at bornfitness.com to discuss all topics related to health, fitness, and nutrition. As Adam notes in his book You Can’t Screw This Up, the diet industry is great at making us follow more diets, not making us leave dieting behind. But why is it that the more diet books and nutrition information we publish, the more unhealthy we become? What is going on here? We tend to associate health with extreme cost and sacrifice. However, even though change can be hard, improving our health doesn’t have to be painful. This has warped our belief on what it takes to become healthier. But the reality is that we don’t need another restrictive, unrealistic plan. We need tools that help us enjoy what we eat (including takeout!) and be healthier at the same time. In his incredibly easy-to-follow book, Adam gives us these tools, showing us how upgrading our health and losing weight for good requires us to turn our back on the typical dieting culture by following successful habits and frameworks not typically seen in nutrition and fitness. As Adam notes in his book, once we learn a better way to build healthy habits, we can leave behind the shame and guilt of most plans and make the healthy lifestyle changes we’ve been chasing. Our ability to create healthier habits relies not on abandoning our comfort zone, but expanding it. This means doing some things that are new and challenging, while keeping some things that are old and familiar, based on where and how we thrive as individuals. Yet one of the biggest barriers to this approach is our self-perception. So many of us have a mental boundary when it comes to food and health. Diets have taught us to expect a level of perfection and adherence that is not realistic or possible, and we end up just waiting for failure to come. Dieting culture has also taught us to measure success using ephemeral things like a number on a scale, counting calories or eating superfoods, which only add to our stress. This, in turn, affects how we feel mentally and physically, impacting our ability to become healthier and taking away from what we should really be focusing on: what we think of ourselves. Self-perception plays a key role in our ability to change our behaviors and improve our health When we want to change, we can’t just wait to become motivated, take action and change. The research on behavioral change shows us that we need to start with our relationship with our selves. If we don’t think we can be healthy or succeed, or if we do not fundamentally like who we are, then we are setting ourselves up for failure even if we experience short term success. Improving our self-perception starts with understanding what it truly means to be healthy. This means being vulnerable with ourselves, having self-compassion, and developing a positive self-perception; it is the understanding that “I am a healthy person, I am just figuring this out as I go along.” We know we are not a finished product; we are works-in-progress, not failures. This starts with setting small, easy goals, which are the foundation of successful behavioral change. Dieting tends to throw people in the deep end and then makes them feel weak for failing. However, when we set small, attainable health goals, we are far more likely to reach our goals and feel empowered to continue moving forward—the research consistently shows that success breeds success. We can go fast by starting slow! It is also important to remember than no diet works for everyone. Different ways of eating work for different people. Research shows that the key factor when it comes to healthy eating is what is sustainable—the way of eating we can maintain for the longest period of time. The question isn’t what food we need to remove or what dietary tribe we need to follow; rather, it is what is sustainable for us in the short and long term. For more on healthy habits and dieting culture, listen to my podcast with Adam (episode #485) and check out his amazing book You Can’t Screw This Up. Podcast Highlights 2:14 Adam’s journey 3:50 The truth behind dieting & diet books 7:10 Adam’s amazing new book You Can’t Screw This Up 12:24, 20:00 The science of self-perception 20:45 How the wellness industry manipulates our emotions 21:40 How shame & guilt impact our health 24:20 The importance of setting easy goals 26:34 We are incredibly resilient! 29:24 It’s okay to eat takeout! 31:50 The power of community meals 36:30 Why we should allow ourselves to enjoy eating This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. We always encourage each person to make the decision that seems best for their situation with the guidance of a medical professional. To read the original article click here.

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3 Ways to Boost Your Mental Energy When You Are Tired & Overwhelmed

AHA Publisher — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 07:00:58 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – In this podcast (episode #364) and blog, I talk about three tips to boost your energy when you are tired and overwhelmed. Why do we get tired? Our nonconscious mind never stops. It’s always trying to make us aware of issues that are damaging our resilience and causing neurophysiological disruptions in our brain and body. However, the conscious mind and brain do get tired because they work on energy, like our phones. This is kind of like when we have a whole lot of apps open, the brightness is on full and we are constantly using our phone—very soon the battery will die. And, like you need to recharge your phone, you also need to recharge your brain and conscious mind. It’s best we do this in a regular way, by incorporating periods of rest into our daily schedule to keep the brain charged all day long. This will also help us better know when to switch off at the end of the day. If we go for too long without rest, we may think we are okay, but the next day we won’t feel as rested as we should, and may notice our creativity or ability to think clearly is off because we didn’t recharge regularly the day before and pushed the conscious mind and brain to the limit. As we go through our day, everything we experience is processed by our conscious mind, nonconscious mind and brain. During this time, a lot of neuroplasticity (brain change) is occurring—we will have built about 8000+ new memories in thought tree clusters into our brain. This activity makes our brain, conscious mind and body pretty tired because they have limited energy, but the nonconscious mind never gets tired because it operates at a different level. The conscious mind and brain will get tired even if we can have a lot of good stuff happening in our lives. This is often why, even when things are going well, we can feel a loss of drive and creativity, and maybe even a little depressed. This is completely normal! The key to managing this activity is to become very self-regulated so that you don’t burn out. You can start practicing this by: Pausing every 30-45 minutes and going into what I call a “thinker moment” for a few minutes, when you switch off to the external and onto the internal and just let your mind wander and do a bit of daydreaming. (I discuss this in greater detail in my book Cleaning Up the Mental Mess.) Just stare out the window or sit outside and close your eyes—just let your mind wander. The great news is that the more you do this the more you will sense when you need to do it! Taking a longer break after every three hours of work. Eat something, grab a coffee or cup of tea, go for a walk, do some push-ups or yoga, play with your pets, chat with a loved one—whatever works for you! Limiting the intensiveness and length of your work. This could mean purposefully going to bed a little earlier, working out a little longer or shortening your work day. Be as deliberate about switching off as you were about switching on. Schedule in periods of “off time”, such as taking a hot bubble bath or shower or watching your favorite TV show. Remember, you can just “get away with it”. You can’t escape the way your mind and brain works—there are no tricks to “hack” the system. Overworking yourself will result in poor quality sleep and thinking the next day, which can have a ripple effect in your life and on your health. I personally find that I am more edgy, get more frustrated, and become more reactive when I am tired versus when I have more energy, patience and peace. To read the original article click here.

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