caboblanco

Has anyone heard of this guy Dr Amen? He believes in brain scans and how they depict overall mental health. I don't know what to think of this but I was wondering if anyone knew where a regular guy could get one of those SPECT brain scans and have it examined. He uses to scans for heavy drinkers. I remember he scanned Dennis Rodman's brain and it had all these dead areas supposedly from drinking. Has anyone had this done or does anyone have any information?

Dee74

we don't allow commercial links, I'm afraid.

Sounds iffy to me and expensive I'll bet

so anyone interested please Google the guy.

D

bemyself

Cabo, someone in my past week's rehab group raised this question of 'does an alcoholic need a brain scan?' This was in context of us watching a dvd showing vivid images of various parts of the body as it's affected by alcohol, including the brain.

Just in my opinion / experience as an alcoholic of decades - and as someone who's 57 (so an age related thing going on there too):

I personally don't need a scan to tell me what I already know, i.e. can experience: drinking alcohol, especially when you get into that longer term state of very heavy daily drinking, most definitely affected my cognitive abilities of concentration, memory, etc as well as my brain's ability to effectively (i.e. smoothly) transmit all the correct signals to / from the rest of my body - organs, limbs, etc.

Even in early sobriety (and this can go on for several months in my experience), my brain is still obviously re-wiring itself. The good part is that much very recent neuroscience on both the ageing brain and the alcohol affected brain shows that the brain can do the most remarkable re-building of cells, re-positioning of various functions, and so on.

I think (from vague memory of my recent reading) that it's mostly only when someone has reached a sort of tipping point - e.g. has developed Wernicke's syndrome ('wet brain') - that significant parts of their brain might be 'dead'. Much like a very serious brain injury acquired from, say, a severe stroke or motor vehicle accident and such.

Hope that helps. I know nothing of this Dr you mentioned; but you could google stuff like 'alcohol acquired brain injury' if you need to research it further. Personally, I don't bother now - due to working (again, after relapse) on simply rebuilding my brain :-)

Try not to stress about it too - that worry and stress will in itself freak out your brain cells :-)

laurie6781

Any neurologist can and will do it, especially if you are exhibiting any 'off' behaviors.

My neurologist has all my brain scans for the last 31+ years from right after I got
sober.

There were areas of my brain that in most folks shows lots of activity that are totally
dead. There are now over these many years, areas in my brain where in most folks
there would be little activity and mine is 'jumping', lol

Yes we cause damage to our brains, BUT if we stop drinking and find a new way to
live, over time we can and do build NEW PATHWAYS to take the place of the pathways
I/we fried.

Talk with your Doctor and see who your doctor can recommend to help you resolve
this issue about yourself.

Love and hugs,

ReadyAndAble

Anyone pays for that should have their head examined.

Dee74

LOL I'm not against brain scans - but I think they need to be used responsibly and for valid reasons.

Here's the wiki lowdown on Dr. Amen.

Daniel Amen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

D

SASA

so what will you do once you have your brain scanned? Start living healthy? You can do this now. No need to get a brains can to make that decision...

Quinne

I haven't clicked on the link, but for me (after an intracranial haemorrhage nearly two years ago now), getting a CT scan performed when about 2 months sober started a chain of events-all post-acute withdrawal type symptoms-that for me, put the last nail in the coffin in the idea that I might be able to drink again. The "threat" that I'd go insane became a promise. If I kept/keep drinking the way I did, I'd be senile in my 30s. That was told to me by a Neurosurgeon at a well-known hospital in Melbourne.

I was 25 when I had that scan. My brain resembled that of someone aged 40-50-no areas of my brain (specifically) have "died" per se, but the "grooves" (I've forgotten the correct term ) were pronounced, dark and deep. Laurie and bemyself are right on the money If something is concerning you, go through professional and medically-recognized channels

Xx

Boleo

Anyone who has their head examined should pay for that.

Gottalife

Years ago during a stay in the laughing academy, I tried very hard to get a brain scan. I sincerely hoped it would prove I was insane and therefore not alcoholic! Little did I know, I was both!.

Fandy

I actually have Dr Amen's book," change your brain, change your body".... came with a daily journal and workbook.
If you think you need a scan, your primary doc will refer you to (hopefully) an american board certified neuro. Specialist. Best for them to decide what kind of testing you need. Mine had me admitted to hospital for a week after i suffered a small seizure at work. I was drinking daily, but not drunk when it happened. They thoroughly examined and tested my head (to the tune of 58k) found a small aneurysm.
All i can say is that extended sobriety gives me much more clarity in problem solving skills and logical thought process.... i am required to use a lot of math formulas at my job these days..
I could never do this and learn them if i was drinking.