I just came from a great seminar this past weekend called Neurotransmitters and The Brain. While it might not sound as riveting to you as the season finale of Lost it kept me glued to my chair. The health and well being of the brain has been a key interest to me [as it should to you as well] since my father died of Alzheimer’s disease.
I won’t go into detail on the way the brain works. I think that few patients are interested in the cascade of chemicals that make the brain and body work. It’s a little like our relationship to a microwave. Most of us have no idea how it works but we do know how to get it to work.
Here are the brain basics. The magnificent computer inside our skull needs two things. Fuel and activation. The fuel is sugar, which is why glucose metabolism is so important. When our bodies lose control of sugar [diabetes and hypoglycemia] it’s a very big problem. The brain is activated by stimulation. The how and why our body loses control of sugar is the subject for another day. Right now, let’s focus on what stimulates the brain.
First and foremost, the services we offer {chiropractic, acupuncture and massage] at Fink Family Wellness already do that. A good example of this is a study in the Journal of Neuroscience which evaluated the brain/body response to massage. The result? An increase of the vital neurotransmitter dopamine and a dampening of cortisol production. Cortisol is a hormone that makes it easier to pack on fat around the stomach. That’s just one study, there are many more.
So getting adjusted, massaged or receiving acupuncture treatment has a direct positive effect on the brain. Is that the only way to increase brain stimulation? Not by a long shot.
The easiest way to accomplish this is regular exercise. It stimulates the brain directly. The effects of exercise on the brain are well documented. Regular exercise can stave off dementia and even reverse memory loss. A recent article by Dr. Mercola summarizes these findings.
Now you have another reason to get off the couch and start working out. It’s more important than firming up and looking better…it’s about the health and well being of your brain.
