Stress, “Brain-Fog”, and the Effects on the Brain

1. Stress, “Brain-Fog”, and the Effects on the Brain Eesa Latif

2. Introduction • Stress has effects on brain - learning and memory • Term- adopted from the field of physics • Force and its resistance

3. What is stress? • original definition: "stress" is neither good/positive nor bad/negative • physiological means of adapting to the perpetual dynamic of life &its disruption to an ideal state of "homeostasis” • “non-specific” response of the body to any demand • In many studies the stress response -> negative

4. East vs. West • Currently - Western culture objectifies stress- instead of coping • Physiological ramifications • Supported by the fact: • in other cultures, i.e. Chinese, Japanese (before it's importation from W.) • cognitive coping value never existed • No word for this coping • Something to be endured

5. Japanese word for stress • Japanese: three words for stress • The most common - sutoresu • English word- defined by alternative two • appakukanor yuatsukan (a feeling of pressure or oppressiveness) • seishintekijyuatsu (emotional pressure) • Both words portray - connotation • emotional burdens • accepted internationally

6. Problems • Long-term problem (learning/memory) • Patients begin to resemble organic memory problems • Dementia • PTSD- accelerated aging • Impairs the immune system

7. Stress Responsive Hormonal Systems • Hormones-norepinephrine and cortisol (response) • Norepinephrine - released in the brain/body • functions critical for survival • sharpens the senses, focuses attention, raises the level of fear, increases heart rate and blood pressure • like a fire alarm • sacrifices the ability to convey specific information to specific parts of the brain in order to obtain more speed

8. PTSD effects

9. Brain fog • Unexpected • Lack of focus • Poor memory • Decreased mental acuity

10. Causes • Lack of sleep • Menopause • Neurological disorders • Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, lupus or adrenal fatigue • Stress

11. Other causes • Allergy can certainly cause foggy brain • Wheat • Medication side effects • Nutritional deficiencies

12. Hormonal disturbances • Physical and mental activity • Foggy brain is often accompanied by depression and anxiety

13. Solutions • fasting for several days • sleep - are you getting enough good quality sleep? • meditation • diet

14. Oils to treat • Lecithin - one teaspoon (5 ml) twice daily (raw material for basic building blocks of membrane). • Coconut oil - one dessert spoonful (10 ml) twice daily (perfect fuel for brain cells). • Hemp oil which has the right proportion of omega 6 to 3 (4 to 1) (ensures membranes are of perfect consistency - not too stiff, not too elastic).

15. Coconut oils -- short chain fatty acids and ketones -abundance in coconut oil. • pure cold-pressed organic virgin oils which are semisolid at room temperature • Not Hyd. • Mindfulness meditation – Buddhist enlightenment – • three roots of evil (greed, aversion and delusion) • Aim- cognitive insight ->body/environment/self -> non-existent illusions after all and so to release one’s grasp on the self.

16. Review • Stress can cause damage to the brain • Effects the hippocampus • Impairs the immune system • Brain fog- highly probable symptom • Are ways to treat

17. Questions?

18. References: • “Does Stress Damage the Brain?understanding Trauma-related Disorders from a Mind-Body Perspective”http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~jdbremn/papers/does_stress_dir_psych.pdf

19. Sources • Placebo (Vienna – New York) Bremner JD. Does Stress Damage the Brain? Understanding Trauma-related Disorders from a Mind-Body Perspective. New York: W.W. Norton; 2002

20. Bremner JD, Krystal JH, Southwick SM, CharneyDS. Noradrenergic mechanisms in stress and anxiety: I. Preclinical studies. Synapse.1996;23:28–38 • Youtube: Dr. Bruce Fife - Benefits of Coconut Oil