Pioneering Research at Amen Clinics Highlighted in Discover Magazine as 19 th of 100 Top Stories in Science for 2015
World’s Largest Functional Brain Imaging Study on Over 21,000
Patients Shows High Accuracy in Distinguishing Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
The prestigious January/February 2016 issue of Discover Magazine lists the replicated pioneering research conducted at Amen Clinics at #19 out of the 100 top stories in Science for 2015, just behind Tesla’s new battery (18) and ahead of a discovery of a new dinosaur species (20). Led by neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and founder of Amen Clinics, Daniel G. Amen, M.D., in collaboration with scientists from UCLA, Thomas Jefferson University, and the University of British Columbia, the team published two studies in 2015 showing it is now possible to distinguish between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) with SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) in 80-100% of cases, leading to more effective treatment. One of the studies was on veterans, while the other one was on over 21,000 patients, which is the world’s largest published functional brain imaging study.
As cited in the magazine, “In many cases, the symptoms of PTSD and TBI are the same: insomnia, anxiety, irritability, poor concentration and limited impulse control. The treatments for these two conditions are very different. The problem is, there hasn’t been a consistently accurate diagnostic test to distinguish between PTSD and TBI.” Amen Clinics illustrated that SPECT imaging showed clear differences in the brains of people with TBI and PTSD, an understanding which is huge, as Discover journalist Christian Millman outlines in the article.
Dr. Amen states, “Our hope is this will help millions of people who suffer with one or both of these devastating conditions.”
In addition to the Discover Magazine designation, Dr. Amen was a consultant on the forthcoming movie “Concussion” set to release Christmas Day. Will Smith portrays Nigerian neuropathologist Bennet Omalu, whose discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (football dementia) and his war against the NFL to get them to take the sports concussion crisis seriously. In 2011, Dr. Amen and his colleagues published the world’s first and largest brain imaging study on 100 active and retired NFL players from 27 teams and all positions, demonstrating high levels of damage in players, but also the possibility of recovery in many. On the Amen Clinics Brain Rehabilitation Program, 80% of players showed significant improvement, in as little as two months, especially in the areas of blood flow, mood, and memory. This is an exciting part of the story that was not told in the movie. Many concussions can be improved. “Concussion” highlights the mental illness and suicide of Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster. His quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, took part in the Amen Clinics study and praised their work on The Jay Leno Show. College Hall of Fame running back Anthony Davis, who also played 8 years of professional football, showed improved brain function, mood and memory, even though his brain damage occurred decades before he came to Amen Clinics.
Contact: Kaitlyn Brumleu
949-274-3530
About Daniel G. Amen, M.D.
Daniel G. Amen, M.D. is a clinical neuroscientist, double board certified psychiatrist, and brain imaging expert who heads the world-renowned Amen Clinics in Costa Mesa and San Francisco, California; Bellevue, Washington; Reston, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; and New York, New York. The Washington Post called Dr. Amen the most popular psychiatrist in America and Sharecare named him the web’s #1 most influential expert and advocate on mental health. He is a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a ten-time New York Times bestselling author, including Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, Magnificent Mind at Any Age, and Healing ADD. Dr. Amen has also written and produced 10 national public television shows about the brain that have aired 80,000 times across North America. Visit him online at www.amenclinics.com.
Both Dr. Amen and Anthony Davis are available for interviews.
