Brain Mapping Research

Research – Part 1: Improving the Brain with Brain Mapping

A Comparison of Alzheimer’s

And Strokes

The work of Dr. Thomas Budzynski, Dr. Helen Budzynski, and Dr. H.Y. Yang in the Handbook of Neurofeedback book (2009), edited by James Evans, Ph.D., described an alternative cause of cognitive difficulties and loss of memory. We quote here:

Alzheimer’s ???  OR  Strokes ???

“The diagnosis of dementia may or may not, upon autopsy, involve structural change of tangles and plaque formation. Furthermore, when tangles and plaques do characterize the Alzheimer’s diagnosis at autopsy, they cannot always explain the level of functional disability of the brain. In his longitudinal study of nuns, Snowden (2001) reported on the pathology findings of 102 sisters who had died by 1995. On the 102 sisters, 45 had been classified as demented based on mental exams. Within the demented group, only 57 percent had the classic tangles and plaque formation in gray matter of the brain, indicative of ALZHEIMER’S. The others (with the exception of one) did not feature the extensive pathology of Alzheimer’s, but showed white matter lesions indicative of STROKES.

“These findings indicate that areas of white matter destroyed by lack of cerebral flow due to strokes, contributed to the disruption of communication between parts of the brain.

This lack of high correlation between Alzheimer’s structural pathology in gray matter and disabled mental functions, suggests that circulatory and metabolic damage to the elderly brain white matter may also be at fault in cognitive impairment.

It also suggests that treatment focused upon increasing blood flow and glycogen could produce some restoration of cognitive functioning, even in the face of structural brain changes.”

Alzheimer’s due to DEGENERATION of Brain

Dr. Jonathan Walker, Neurologist, of the Neurotherapy Center of Dallas, states that the Alzheimer’s condition is due to a degenerative process where beta amyloid accumulates in the brain,

and the death of the cell is caused by this accumulation of amyloid.

In the EEG Brain Map this shows up as excess theta and delta (high amplitude slow waves) in the parieto-temporal regions of the brain (on the sides and top back areas).

The true condition of the degeneration of Alzheimer’s does not respond to neurofeedback except to slow down the process.

This degenerative state is difficult to slow down and does NOT improve.

Multiple SMALL STROKES  –  REPAIRABLE

Dr. Walker further states that there is a prominent form of senility and dementia that is caused by multiple small strokes known as multi-infract dementia. Although the effects of these strokes resemble the conditions of Alzheimer’s, IT IS NOT Alzheimer’s.

The difference in the condition may be seen in the EEG Brain Map as increasing multi-focal slow abnormalities, involving other brain areas as well as the frontal area, with the beta decreasing.   

The important consideration here is that this condition RESPONDS WELL to NEUROFEEDBACK THERAPY,  producing measurable improvements in the Brain Map after therapy.

ALZHEIMER’S

versus

SMALL STROKES  &

DEMENTIA

The clinical outcomes of each of the three previously described neurological conditions of Alzheimer’s and Multiple Small Strokes, and Dementia will vary greatly.

ALZHEIMER’S:

The Alzheimer’s condition is caused by amyloid that literally destroys the brain, neuron by neuron. The Alzheimer’s amyloid condition starts in the front of the brain, such as by the ears in the temporal lobes, and works its way to the back into the parietal regions.

STROKES:

However, the neurological conditions of STROKES will NOT destroy the entire brain, but will cause problems to specific areas of the brain, and may be improved with therapy.

DEMENTIA:

The neurological condition’s of dementia vary greatly from those of Alzheimer’s, and due to this, the use of neurofeedback therapy with dementia has a high rate of success in improving and even reversing the neurological conditions of the brain associated with a loss of memory.

With dementia conditions, the brain waves have become very large and slow.

In the speech/language and memory areas of the brain, located on the left side, the brain waves that used to be fast in normal times, have now become very slow.

With STROKES…. MEMORY is STILL THERE

The delta and theta waves have become even larger and slower. In this state the brain has become so slow that it is unable to make normal connections from neuron to neuron. In actuality, the memory is still there; it just can’t get out. Thus, memory is “lost”, even though it is “still there”. It is hidden from view because of the loss of brain connections. But even though the waves are larger and slower, the brain structure is still there in its complete form, but the function itself is slower.

Therefore, because the underlying brain structure is still there, it can be improved upon owing to the plasticity of the brain,

And “rehabilitated” in order to open up those lost neural pathways and connections,

And Recover some of its Former Activity and Glory.