How to improve brain health and address dementia and other conditions that can develop
Individuals struggling with the inability to make decisions, difficulty concentrating, or changes in memory may be experiencing early signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s. At the Connecticut Center for Integrative Medicine in Stamford, Connecticut, individuals showing signs of memory loss should talk with their provider about their concerns and start monitoring changes in their neurological health.
What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?
Dementia is best described as symptoms that impair one’s executive function or memory, caused by infection and other health conditions. It is believed that anywhere between 60-80% of patients with dementia have Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that can cause the loss and breakdown of the brain’s memory centers, impairing mental and executive function. Two common hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease that can help in getting a definitive diagnosis include neurofibrillary tangles in the neurons of the brain and amyloid plaque that can disrupt the communication between brain cells.However, there are approximately 40 different factors that should be evaluated for proper holistic assessment and treatment.
How does a brain health assessment with our team assist in getting a proper diagnosis?
At the Connecticut Center for Integrative Medicine, we provide diagnostic tools and clinical assessments that can evaluate the challenges that come with neurological disorders. We can also determine where the most activity is occurring and how well specific areas of the brain are communicating back and forth. When this diagnostic testing is paired with blood work, we can get a clearer picture of what is going on and give you a reliable and accurate diagnosis to begin finding treatments that will work at slowing the progression of these neurological problems.
What can be done about dementia and other conditions of the brain?
Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other neurological disorders that affect memory can be troubling for those who have been diagnosed or those who are caretakers for individuals with these medical concerns. If you are looking for more assistance and want to find out how a natural integrative medicine professional can help manage these conditions and their symptoms, call the Connecticut Center for Integrative Medicine team to discuss your options and recommendations for treatment. Call (866) 320-6402 to request an appointment at 1200 High Ridge Road, Floor 2. We assist patients and families in the surrounding communities of Wilton, Fairfield, Port Chester, Greenwich, and Darien, and we have a second location in Manhattan, NY.
Importance of brain health and its relationship with anxiety
How to determine the health of the brain?
Hi, this is Dr. Robert Kachko. When it comes to brain health, we have to consider whole-body health and vice versa. A healthier body will always have a healthier brain.
When we consider conditions like anxiety, depression, also memory disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s, we have to take a holistic view of what causes these conditions.
What is anxiety, and how to address it?
When it comes to anxiety, we know that the feeling that people have when they’re anxious is a signal that we need to figure out the root cause of what’s going on.
Anxiety is nothing but an alarm telling us that something is not going well. To assess the brain’s conditions, we need to do a comprehensive look at people’s blood work and evaluate the brain itself.
What can be monitored through comprehensive bloodwork?
To look at someone’s blood work from a brain health perspective, we have to consider things like;
– Inflammation
– Blood sugar and insulin resistance
– Hormonal function like thyroid and all the sex hormones
– Essential vitamin and mineral deficiencies
What are the tools available to make an in-depth assessment of the brain?
We can do an in-depth assessment of the brain itself in our office. In our clinic, we employ EEG technology called the Wavi.
The Wavi brain scan allows us to take an in-depth assessment of the brain. We can look at the brain’s power, speed, and processing time.
We can look at left and right brain imbalances and look for markers correlated to anxiety, depression, dementia, other memory issues, and attention deficit issues.
How do you address the issues found concerning brain health?
Once we’ve done this comprehensive assessment, we’ve got many tools in our toolkit to address a long term healthy brain.
Stress plays a significant role in people dealing with anxiety, depression, and also dementia. We have to take a very comprehensive approach to help people reduce their stress.
We do IV therapy to offer targeted nutrients to the brain to support the required systems.
Similarly, we do acupuncture, a wonderful traditional tool with a lot of evidence for conditions like anxiety, depression, and stress.
Finally, we will employ botanical medicines, high-dose vitamins, minerals, nutraceuticals, and even pharmaceutical medication to help direct brain support.
Dr. Robert Kachko, Founder and Director of the Connecticut Center for Integrative Medicine, is a pioneer in Naturopathic and Integrative Medicine and has developed an extensive bio-psychosocial methodology for people living with chronic diseases. As Past President of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Dr. Kachko advocates for healthcare reform to allow everyone access to the kind of care our clinic provides.