Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia
The effects of Alzheimer’s and Dementia are debilitating. As our population ages the number of sufferers steadily increase. And with every case there are grieving loved ones who imagine the worst case scenario. Scientists are making advances in our understanding of memory loss and mental decline in the aging process.
Much remains to be discovered, however. Without a cure, our best options are to seek methods of slowing the effects of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. This is where neurofeedback and photobiomodulation can help.
Neurofeedback has been proven to effectively alter brain activity. The brain training process of positive and negative reinforcement gradually changes the way the brain is functioning. Studies have shown that not only can brain training slow memory loss, it can even improve memory over time.
Our brains work optimally only when they are provided the necessary nutrients to support their functioning and repair processes, and when they are protected from toxins and harmful pathogens in the environment. Current research has afforded new insights into the true pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease. Amyloid plaques, which play a major role in cognitive impairment, are not the cause of Alzheimer's Disease and cognitive decline but rather the result of neuro-inflammation, toxic assault, and specific nutrient deficiencies.
The work of doctors and researchers such as Dr. Dale Bredesen and Dr. David Perlmutter are changing the way we think about and treat Alzheimer's disease and Dementia. Visit the Brain Training Centre and ask us which nutritional protocols are recommended by the world's top leading experts in this field.
Our philosophy at The Brain Training Centre is to treat the cause and not the symptoms. Our goal is to work with you to ensure you have the information necessary to address the root cause of your issues, while we retrain the neural networks in your brain which have been impaired over time.
Photobiomodulation
for Cognitive Decline
Photobiomodulation, also known as Red Light Therapy, is at the cutting edge of science when it comes to treating brain (and other) disorders. Using specific wavelengths of light, PBM targets the mitochondria inside neuronal and other cell types to enhance energy production.
When mitochondria are impaired due to inflammation, accumulated toxic burden, circadian disruption, etc., they cannot produce enough energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to fuel the metabolic processes involved in proper neural and synaptic functioning. Alongside this, the body's ability to maintain essential repair mechanisms known as autophagy and apoptosis, are significantly compromised. As the number of impaired mitochondria increases, the body loses it's ability to repair or destroy misfolded proteins. These misfolded proteins accumulate in the brain, and are what we call amyloid plaques and tau proteins. This is now believed to be the fundamental cause of AD and dementia. Red light therapy specifically targets the mitochondria, thus treating the issue at its root cause!
The Brain Training Centre offers a number of Red Light Therapy treatment options, which can be used alone or in conjunction with our other treatment modalities.
Our goal is to find what works best for your recovery.
Research shows that Photobiomodulation (PBM) can boost performance and improve cognitive function, including attention and memory, in elderly people, young healthy people and animals. Preliminary studies demonstrate that PBM may even slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by decreasing amyloid beta, a protein in the brain associated with dementia.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a protein that helps support the growth of new neutrons and new neural connections. This growth factor is often described as "Miracle-Grow for the brain!", and is essential is the regulation and formation of neural functioning (for instance, memory consolidation and retrieval). During the early progression of Alzheimer's disease, BDNF is downregulated, leading to many of the symptoms associated with AD. PBM has been shown to prevent brain cell loss by upregulating BDNF.
“[PBM] could be used as a preventive intervention in people who present risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, or a history of head trauma.
In such patients, [PBM] could be combined with cognitive intervention approaches.”
— Dr. Francisco Gonzalez-Lima, PhD
Researchers have also applied photobiomodulation to middle-aged mice and discovered that the memory and cognitive performance of these mice improved so much that it was comparable with that of young mice. The researchers concluded that PBM should be “applied in cases of general cognitive impairment in elderly persons”.
Several others studies have shown that PBM significantly increases alertness, awareness and sustained attention, and improves short-term memory and reaction time.
Study participants also made fewer errors during tasks and tests. Another study found that PBM was just as effective as exercise at enhancing cognition, likely by providing neuroprotection and supporting the mitochondria.
The Brain Training Centre is dedicated to ‘helping minds sparkle’. Let us help you to understand your condition and embrace your golden years with hope and confidence. Contact us to discuss which treatments options may serve you best.
Preventing Dementia
As we age, it's crucial to take proactive steps to protect our cognitive function! Important elements of overall brain health include proper diet and exercise, mental stimulation, and stress management. In the following video, Doctor Ekberg explains how you can reduce the risks and impacts of dementia by learning these essential brain tips. Dr. Ekberg provides practical strategies that anyone can implement.
EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PHOTOBIOMODULATION FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
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