Study Shows that Brains of College Athletes with Prior Concussions Show Long Term Changes

A new study just out shows that University athletes with a history of concussions had deleterious changes in size, blood flow, and connections in their brains months, and even years, after the injury.

The study used advanced MRI to examine the brains of 21 male and 22 female athletes, of which 21 had prior concussions, and 22 had no history of concussions.

They found the athletes with a history of concussions had:

  • Brain shrinkage in the frontal lobes, the part of the brain involved in such things as decision-making, problem solving, impulse control and the ability to speak fluently. The brains of athletes with prior concussions showed a 10 to 20-per-cent reduction in volume compared to those with no concussions.
  • Less blood flow (25 to 35 per cent) to certain areas of the brain, mainly the frontal lobes, which are very vulnerable to injury because of their location at the front of the brain. Reduced blood flow is associated with a longer recovery
  • A greater number of concussions was associated with reduced brain volume and blood flow
  • Changes in the structure of the brain’s white matter, the fibre tracts that connect different parts of the brain

Read the full study here.

Neurofeedback helps in concussion recovery!

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What’s it Like to Have ADHD

If you are a parent, a teacher or caregiver for a child with ADHD and have ever wondered what it is like to have ADHD, here is a video for you (scroll down to the third video)! If you have ADHD, watch this video and you may see some of yourself, and know you are not alone. #ADHD #Neurofeedback

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Stop the ‘Summer Slide’

Many studies show that students who don’t exercise their brains during the summer can lose up to two months worth of valuable, hard-won learning.  This is especially true for students who struggle with ADHD and/or coexisting learning disabilities. (Don’t believe me?  Ask any teacher!)  It is crucial that these students engage in educational activities year round to help them retain what they’ve worked so hard to achieve.  But, even though school has stopped doesn’t mean learning has to stop also!  Here are some ideas to help keep your child learning through the summer (adapted from ADDitude Magazine):

  • Read Everyday – whether it’s a popular fictional book, a National Geographic for Kids or Sports Illustrated for Kids, all reading is good.  Also be sure to discuss with your child what they have read to check for comprehension.  Some local libraries have summer book challenges.
  • Stress-free Writing Projects – Make these fun (don’t worry too much about spelling!).  Write out a script for a video project (‘What I did on my Summer Vacation); send emails to friends and family, or start a video blog.
  • Review Math Skills with Games – Board games like Monopoly, Mastermind, and Qwirkle require math skills.  There are also online interactive math games like FunBrain, Cool Math 4 Kids and more that make math fun.
  • Practice Public Speaking – Make some how-to videos or presentations such as a cooking recipe, building a go cart, a magic trick or acting out a part of a book or play.
  • Take Learning Outside – Making videos and reading can all be done outside.  Swim some, read some at pool side!
  • Do Neurofeedback – Give your child’s brain a real workout!  Neurofeedback can help improve focus and decrease hyperactivity and anxiety.  Click here to see how Neurofeedback can help with ADHD.

 

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Kids Under 15 years of age should be playing Flag Football

Kudos to the NFL on their commercial during this past weekend’s playoffs promoting Flag Football for youngsters. This is a much more brain-healthy alternative than tackle football for our future generation! Of course, the new movie just out, “Concussion” might have helped. Here’s a quote from a recent NY Times piece by Dr. Omalu: “We have a legal age for drinking alcohol; for joining the military; for voting; for smoking; for driving; and for consenting to have sex. We must have the same when it comes to protecting the organ that defines who we are as human beings.” Read the whole article here”  This ‘recommendation’ of kids to play flag football over tackle, comes on the heals of the US National Soccer Association guidelines of restricting heading the ball for players 10 yrs old and younger.  Read the soccer guidelines here.  If your child does get a concussion or just a hard bang on the head, consider Neurofeedback for concussion recovery!

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Can less homework yield better students?

Recent research has shown that less homework produces healthier students who do better on assessments.  Read the full NY Times article here.

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Neurofeedback Used to Treat PTSD and Addictions

Neurofeedback has been implemented at several homeless shelters in Southern California to treat veterans suffering with PTSD and Addictions with great results

. Check out the entire article here.

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CNN Report on Neurofeedback

Here’s a report from CNN about treating anxiety and ADD with Neurofeedback.  Click here to check it out!

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Brain Healthy Supplements

Want to help your brain today? Give it some extra Vitamin D and Omega 3’s! Why and how much? Click here to finc out. Your brain will thank you!

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Learning 2nd (or 3rd) Language Promotes Brain Health!

Several studies have shown that learning a 2nd language is good for the health of your brain!  In young brains, it helps overall learning, and even helps with emotional maturity!  Learning a 2nd language at any age can help put off dementia and Alzheimer’s.  Check out the cool video below:

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Keeping Your Brain Healthy

Here are 7 habits to avoid to help keep your brain healthy and working it’s best:

1. Mistake #1: Eating a Standard American Diet

2. Mistake #2: Living next to a highway

3. Mistake #3: Drinking a few evening cocktails

4. Mistake #4: Giving into stress

5. Mistake #5: Getting by a less sleep than you need

6. Mistake # 6: Sitting all day

7. Mistake #7:  Zoning out

For more details on the above, read the full Huff Post Article here.

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