Tips to Help Fall Asleep

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/23/fall-asleep-faster_n_6713464.html?ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

These are great tips to help you fall asleep. However, like any behavioral skill, these need to be practiced consistently (read every night) in order for them to work. Neurofeedback can also enhance brain skill in winding down to fall asleep and help maintain normal sleep patterns to enhance good quality sleep through the night.

Chronic Stress

Evidence continues to mount that chronic stress takes a significant toll on the brain and body. Science News has a great overview of our current understanding:

Chronic stress can wreak havoc on the body

Even while we find ways as individuals and as a society to improve the circumstances that cause chronic stress, we need to recognize that for many it is difficult to avoid. Neurofeedback can help reduce brain stress and eventually help guide to a lifestyle that maximizes healthful, stress-reducing behaviors and practices.

Healing the Brain and Brain Plasticity

A great essay from the weekend Wall Street Journal about maintaining brain health through aging, injury, and disease processes. There are no guarantees in life, but there is excellent proof that physical, emotional, intellectual, and social engagement in life enhances brain function into middle and old age. This article did not mention neurofeedback, but does discuss other forms of brain entrainment like auditory therapy. Neurotherapy is unique in that it persuades the brain’s own white and gray matter to perform training tasks on their own. It is a “learned” process that is dependent on the brain plasticity described in the article.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB20167761076414843692504580443981315539578

Obesity and Brain Health

The journal, Obesity Reviews, has published a article that adds to the evidence that obesity is unhealthy to the brain. The greater a subject’s Body Mass Index (BMI), the greater the disruptions were found in the white matter of the brain. These changes were even greater with increasing age of the subjects. The limbic system, which is responsible for emotional control, is disproportionately affected.

The bottom line is that it is very worthwhile to maintain a healthy BMI via sensible nutrition, exercise, and good sleep habits. Support those you care about in finding good brain and body health.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/obr.12248/abstract

Neurodegenerative Disorders, Alzheimers Disease, and Klotho

This paper seems to show real breakthrough potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers Disease. These findings are in mice and human applications are years in the future, but this approach looks as promising as anything that I have seen in a long while.

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/35/6/2358.abstract

In the meantime, anecdotal and case report evidence shows that neurofeedback has the potential to stabilize the brains of those with dementia disorders.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEID)

Whatever you call it, ME, CFX, or SEID, is still in the process of being defined. Sometimes there seem to be triggering factors, but much more often, the problem seems to occur randomly. We don’t know what vulnerabilities make people susceptible. Diagnosis is difficult. Treatment can be even harder.

The Institute of Medicine has just put out a new statement about ME/CFX/SEID.

http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2015/MECFS/MECFS_ReportBrief.pdf

Maybe this will help the medical community give this condition more recognition. However, most EEG neurofeedback practitioners are aware of this diagnosis and the application of neurotherapy to help with the symptoms. It may take years to thoroughly define SEID, but treatment of the nervous system manifestations is available now via neurofeedback.