Brain & Prosopagnosia, 4

How do people manage to navigate the world of people relationships? Some use using alternative strategies to recognize people, using sensory system strategies that are unimpaired. They may remember how a person walks, or their hairstyle. This could be an “oops” initially. But if the friend knows about face blindness and is upfront about pointing out a new hairdo, it can just be an occasion to boost immune system function through laughter. Some remember others by the way they walk or tend to use familiar gestures, or typical clothing style, or voice recognition. Many adults with developmental prosopagnosia report that for a long time they had no idea that they had a deficit in face processing, unaware that others could distinguish people solely on facial differences. Imagine what it must be like for children in school, especially since personnel generally are not well versed in prosopagnosia, if they are aware of it at all. More tomorrow

Brain & Prosopagnosia, 3

There are at least two types of prosopagnosia.

One type is congenital or developmental prosopagnosia where there appears to be no brain damage. At this point it is a lifelong facial-recognition deficit that typically manifests early in childhood. It has a prevalence rate of 2.5 percent. Studies have shown this type to be completely compatible with compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance.

There is also an acquired form that exhibits after the brain has sustained some type of damage or injury, the type that Dr. Sacks addressed in his book. Interestingly, instances have been reported where acquired prosopagnosia spontaneously resolved on its own. More tomorrow

Brain & Prosopagnosia, 2

It appears to involve—no surprise—the part of the brain involved in facial recognition. A group of cells known as the fusiform gyrus, is in each cerebral hemisphere at the junction of the parietal and occipital lobes near the back of the head. Interestingly, the right hemisphere fusiform gyrus is more often involved in familiar face recognition than the left. So, damage to the right fusiform could be more impactful than damage to the left. Prosopagnosia has been defined as a cognitive disorder of facial perception, marked by an impaired ability to recognize familiar faces including impaired self-recognition of one’s own face. It is important to note that other aspects of visual processing such as object discrimination and intellectual functions as in decision making remain intact. More tomorrow

Brain & Prosopagnosia

Q: Have you ever heard of a brain condition called prosopagnosia?

Yes. Interesting word, prosopagnosia. It means to search. meaning to search. I read “The man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat,” written by neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks. Great read—if you are as interested in brain function as I am! As I recall, a patient who had developed prosopagnosia didn’t recognize his wife when she came to visit him in the hospital. Naturally this was disconcerting to them both! Since object recognition was unimpaired, the doctor asked the patient’s wife to always wear a specific hat when she visited. It worked. In another case, the patient had voice recognition ability so the individual was taught to say something aloud right away so the patient could recognize who ws talking to him. Reportedly, Oliver Sacks himself suffered from prosopagnosia, although he did not know this for much of his life. More tomorrow

Age-Proofing Your Brain – Macronutrition, 5

Dietary guidelines issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommend that forty-five to sixty-five percent of one’s total calories come from carbs, preferably from healthier high-quality sources, of course. 

Andrew Weil MD has said that it is important to eat some carbohydrates at breakfast because the brain needs to boot up in the morning after the ‘fast’ during sleep, and it does that best with carbs. The brain consumes a quarter pound of glucose per day—more glucose (fuel) than any other organ in the body except for muscles used during heavy physical exercise. According to Benjamin V. Treadwell MD, most glucose in the body is used to manufacture neurotransmitters, the substances needed to propagate electro-chemical signals via the electrical circuitry of the nervous system.  Plan meals on a regular basis for your brain’s sake. Select a variety of nutritious and primarily plant-based foods: fruits, ancient grains, nuts, and vegetables that contain vital macronutrients to power your brain and body. Eat them in as natural a state as possible. Choose carefully what you ingest—and where and when and how—as if your life depends upon it. Because it does! (For more information see “Age-Proofing Your Brain” by Taylor and Briggs.)

Age-Proofing Your Brain – Macronutrition, 4

Donald Layman PhD, professor of human nutrition at the University of Illinois, has said: “Carbohydrates are the only nutrients that exist solely to fuel the body.” Carbs are absolutely essential for brain function. Although the body can use proteins, fats, or carbohydrates for energy, brain cells reportedly prefer glucose from carbs almost exclusively as a source of energy. Due to rapid metabolism—levels fall during periods of intense cognitive processing—the brain requires minute-to-minute glucose. Studies on all types of people have shown improved mental ability after a meal high in carbs, which raises concerns about the long-term impact on the brain from “low-carb” dieting. Healthier carbs, however, are better than hhighly refined carbs such as sugar and white flour and processed foods made from them. High-sugar foods and beverages can trigger a glucose spike in the brain, usually followed by a dramatic low. Much like a roller-coaster, this fluctuating pattern of glucose highs and lows can be deadly for many brain functions while also causing low-grade inflammation. More tomorrow.

Age-Proofing Your Brain – Macronutrition, 3

Proteins contribute four calories per gram. They are large complex molecules composed of amino acids. Proteins are needed for the structure, processes, proper functioning, repair, and regulation of the organs and tissues of the human body—including the brain and nervous system. 

Current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that the average person should aim to get from ten to thirty-five percent of their daily calories from protein (depending on their activities). Some ingest more protein than their brain and body need, while others, often the very elderly, may not eat quite enough. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), which includes eminent physicians Doctors Dean Ornish and John McDougall, recommends getting most of your macronutrition from plant-based vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and beans (with small amounts of animal products for those not wishing to eat vegetarian or vegan).