Rare Disease Day

Today, February 28, 2014, is Rare Disease Day. What is considered a rare disease? Well, by comparison, for drugs, a disease or condition is considered rare if it affects less than 200,000 persons in the United States. For medical devices, a disease or condition is considered rare when it occurs so infrequently in the US that there is no reasonable expectation that a medical device for such disease or condition will be developed without assistance. For rare diseases, according to the National Institutes of Health there are about 6,800 rare diseases and conditions. In total, nearly 30 million Americans (maybe one in ten) suffer from at least one rare disease. Stiff-Person Syndrome or SPS is one of those rare diseases. Last year, after meeting Shane James who was diagnosed with SPS in 2007,  I devoted several blogs to increasing awareness of this syndrome.  You can find out additional information through  NORD, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (www.rarediseases.org) in the USA, and the Steve Waugh Foundation (www.stevewaughfoundation.com.au) in Australia. 

Anosognosia and the Brain, 2

Although no one is exactly certain about what causes anosognosia, brain studies suggest that the lack of awareness may be linked to deterioration of the frontal lobes, especially the right frontal lobe (frontal lobes have an important role in planning, problem-solving, social interactions, and putting together the context and implications of experiences); and perhaps some atrophy in the temporal lobes as well. It can be extremely frustrating for friends and family members. If and when they bring up concerns, the involved family member may insist they are being unfairly criticized because there is nothing wrong. Reportedly, sometimes anosognosia is selective. An individual may realize he or she has a problem with one activity but lack awareness about other issues. This just reminds me how important it is to do everything within my power to maintain optimum brain function!

Watch for more next week (anosognosia and mental illness).

Anosognosia and the Brain

Anosognosia. Is that a new word for you? It’s sort of the opposite of hypochondria, when individuals think they have every illness they hear about. With anosognosia, individuals seem completely unaware that they have an illness, even after being told about their diagnosis. Although not well know, it is a common consequence of fronto-temporal dementia. (Estimates are that 42% of patients with early Alzheimer’s exhibit symptoms of anosognosia.) Sandra Weintraub, professor of psychiatry and neurology at Northwestern University, explained it this way: “This is not denial. It’s a lack of insight and awareness. Everyone else around them is aware they’re not the same, and they are not.”

More tomorrow.

Gender and the Stressed Brain, Cont'd

Males need to develop effective stress management strategies. In addition to using those to help them handle stress, they can help female brains in their circle of life to brainstorm ways of dealing with stressors that seem to impact their brains differently.  When under pressure or stress, the male brain’s spatial functions are activated. As a result, he may stop talking altogether. Three major symptoms of stress for the male brain: withdrawing, grumbling, and shutting down. Under stress, males tend. to activate the Fight-Flight stress response and may wonder the reason female brains (if they do activate-Flight-Fight) quickly move into Tend-Befriend. Though socialization likely plays a part, in the big picture it’s all about differences in brain structure and function . . .

Gender and a Stressed Brain

It’s fairly common knowledge now that male and female brains respond to stressors differently. Because of physiological factors, the female brain seems innately more reactive to stressors. Effective stress management strategies are critical for everyone but especially for the female brain. Studies have shown that females are at twice the risk for stress-related problems including depression and PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). When under stress or pressure the female brain’s function of speech is activated and she may talk nonstop. Three major symptoms of stress for the female brain are: overwhelm, overreaction, and exhaustion. Under stress, females may go into Fight-Flight initially, but quickly fall back into using the Tend-Befriend stress response. Males respond differently and exhibit different symptoms (more on that tomorrow). 

To Meditate or Not to Meditate

Some people are frightened of “meditation,” others are too busy to investigate, and still others tried something that did not work for their brains and "threw the baby out with the bath water,” as the old metaphor puts it. Studies have shown any number of benefits that can accrue to your brain, heart, and body from meditating: improved memory, stress relief, slower heartbeat, and so on. In fact, almost any activity can lead to a meditative experience if you are aware in the moment and engage your senses. The good news? You can choose to meditate by developing a style that works for you. The key is to slow down and become aware of what is happening in the present moment. It’s so easy to start thinking about all the things you need to do in the future, or all the things you crammed into yesterday, or whether you turned off the iron or the dryer or turned on the dishwasher or the coffee maker. Your mind will want to do that (out of habit) and will start to drift. Bring your thoughts back to the present moment and calm your nervous system. If it’s raining, you might close your eyes and concentrate on the sound of rain against the window pane or watch them strike the glass if you're visual. If you like specific odors, you might light a fragrant candle and concentrate on the scent. If you are tuned into sound, you might listen to yourself breathing in and out and in and out. You might prefer creating a calming picture or scene in your mind's eye and focus on that. Start with just five calming minutes. Practice again tomorrow, and so on. Each brain is different and each brain can meditate.

Brain, Heart, and Appreciation

Do you begin the day by choosing to experience a sense of genuine appreciation? There will always be a place for proper eating and appropriate physical exercise. However, the old proverb says a merry heart is good medicine. Studies at the Institute of HeartMath have shown that an appreciative heart can help improve your health. If you have difficulty thinking of something to genuinely appreciate in the present moment, recall a time when you felt sincere appreciation and then recreate and experience that same feeling. By doing this you can increase the smoothness in your heart rhythms (something HeartMath refers to as coherence), reduce your levels of emotional stress, and positively impact your health. In today’s world I can always find something to appreciate and feel good about doing so, knowing that I am also benefiting my heart and its close connection with my brain.