Nine principles to change your brain and change your life …

Dr. Daniel Amen, a leading expert in brain health, has dedicated his career to helping people understand the crucial connection between brain function/brain health and their everyday lives. His research highlights how improving your brain can lead to meaningful changes in your thoughts, emotions, and overall well-being. These nine principles offer a straightforward guide to better brain health and a better life.

1. Your Brain Impacts Everything You Do.
From your productivity at work to the way you relate to loved ones, your brain’s health is foundational. A healthy brain enables you to thrive; when it’s not functioning well, life can feel like an uphill battle. Conditions such as brain fog, memory issues, depression, anxiety, and insomnia are all symptoms of underlying brain health concerns affecting millions of people daily.

2. When Your Brain Works Right, You Work Right.
Brain health directly impacts your ability to live well. Signs that your brain might need attention include low mood, short attention span, irritability, and even high blood pressure or blood sugar. Recognizing these warning signals early can help prevent further decline and improve your quality of life.

3. The Brain: A Marvel of Complexity.
Your brain is the most intricate organ in the universe, with 100 billion neurons and trillions of supporting cells. Despite being only two percent of your body weight, it consumes 20–30 percent of your calories and oxygen. Every choice you make — diet, exercise, sleep — affects your brain’s function and aging process. Are your habits accelerating or decelerating your brain’s performance?

4. Protecting a Delicate Organ.
Did you know your brain is as soft as tofu, yet encased in a hard skull full of sharp ridges? This vulnerability makes it critical to protect your brain from injury. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are often overlooked but can have devastating effects, including depression, anxiety, and even homelessness. Dr. Amen emphasizes: “How would you know if you didn’t look?” Brain imaging can reveal damage that would otherwise remain hidden.

5. Beware of Brain Enemies.
A host of factors can damage your brain — poor diet, substance abuse, obesity, high blood pressure, untreated emotional trauma, and even chronic stress. These stressors not only affect your mental clarity but also contribute to long-term health problems like dementia. Recognizing these enemies and addressing them is a crucial step in brain health.

6. Invest in Brain Boosters.
The good news? There are many ways to improve your brain health. Physical exercise, mental workouts, nutritious eating, stress management, and cultivating positive relationships can strengthen your brain. Supplements like fish oil, vitamin D, and multivitamins can also provide support. Taking care of your brain is an investment in the quality of your life, your health, and your future.

7. Mental Health Disorders Are Complex.
Conditions like depression or attention-deficit disorder (ADD) aren’t one-size-fits-all problems. Dr. Amen’s work reveals that mental health disorders often involve multiple factors. Personalized care, informed by tools like brain imaging, is vital for effective treatment.

8. Brain Imaging: The Key to Understanding.
Brain imaging is a revolutionary tool for uncovering the physical causes behind mental and emotional struggles. Dr. Amen’s SPECT imaging work and research has significantly impacted how we approach treatment. Without looking at the brain’s physiology, we’re simply guessing at the root cause of symptoms.

9. Change Your Brain, Change Your Life.
A profound truth is that your brain can change. With the right interventions — like tailored nutrition, improved sleep, cognitive behavioral techniques, and physical activity — you can improve your brain and change your life. Dr. Amen’s teaching encapsulates this hope: “You are not stuck with the brain you have. You can make it better.”

Scotty