In Effects of brain-directed nutrients on cerebral blood flow and neuropsychological testing: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, Amen, along with Taylor DV, Ojala K, Kaur J, and Willeumier K. examined whether supplementation with brain-directed nutrients (BDNs) improved regional cerebral blood flow rCBF and neuropsychological function in healthy individuals. A region of interest (ROI) analysis for each of the 2-mo phases (baseline, then placebo and treatment according to randomized order) showed significant improvement in rCBF for the BDNs as compared to the placebo (as assigned at the start of the first intervention) in the prefrontal cortex, anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, and cerebellum. This study demonstrates the potential effectiveness of BDNs in enhancing rCBF and neuropsychological function across various cognitive and psychological domains.
NeuroVite Plus, Amen's BDN supplement, has the following ingredients: Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Folic Acid, Vitamin K2, Biotin, Choline, Zinc, Copper, Chromium, Magnesium, Calcium (as calcium carbonate), Manganese, Molybdenum, Selenium, Vanadium, Iodine, Lycopene, Lutein, Quercetin, Broccoli Sprout Powder, Hesperidin Complex, Resveratrol, Pterostibene Powder, Proprietary Brain Boosting Blend (Acetyl-L Carnitine, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Phosphatidylserine, CoQ10), Full Spectrum Digestive Enzyme Blend (Lipase, Amylase, Cellulas, Lactase, and Protease), Proprietary Fruit and Vegetable Blend (Wild Blueberries, Phosphatidylserine, Alpha- Lipoic Acid, and CoQ10), Gelatin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Microcrystaline Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Silica, Calcium Sulphate, Palm-Oil, Lecithin, Corn Starch, Sodium copper chlorophillin, titanium dioxide.
The aforementioned study came after another study in which Dr. Amen examined the brains of 116 retired football players.
In Reversing brain damage in former NFL players: implications for traumatic brain injury and substance abuse rehabilitation, Amen along with Wu JC, Taylor D and Willeumier K. report:
Brain injuries are common in professional American football players. Finding effective rehabilitation strategies can have widespread implications not only for retired players but also for patients with traumatic brain injury and substance abuse problems. An open label pragmatic clinical intervention was conducted in an outpatient neuropsychiatric clinic with 30 retired NFL players who demonstrated brain damage and cognitive impairment. The study included weight loss (if appropriate); fish oil (5.6 grams a day); a high-potency multiple vitamin; and a formulated brain enhancement supplement that included nutrients to enhance blood flow (ginkgo and vinpocetine), acetylcholine (acetyl-l-carnitine and huperzine A), and antioxidant activity (alpha-lipoic acid and n-acetyl-cysteine). The trial average was six months. Outcome measures were Microcog Assessment of Cognitive Functioning and brain SPECT imaging. In the retest situation, corrected for practice effect, there were statistically significant increases in scores of attention, memory, reasoning, information processing speed and accuracy on the Microcog. The brain SPECT scans, as a group, showed increased brain perfusion, especially in the prefrontal cortex, parietal lobes, occipital lobes, anterior cingulate gyrus and cerebellum. This study demonstrates that cognitive and cerebral blood flow improvements are possible in this group with multiple interventions.
Preliminary but you, football players, only go round once. Consider losing weight, getting on a fish oil, a high-potency multiple vitamin and a BDN like NeuroVite Plus. Get in touch with one of Dr. Amen's clinics here on the East coast or out West asap.
Dr. Amen on a study he did on 135 players: "Even people who reported no concussions at all had significant trauma in their brain."
Dr. Amen on the NFL's improved response to the concussion issue since Roger Goodell was named commissioner of the NFL: "No question... In front of Congress he (Goodell) said that the league was studying the issue. Two months later, they completely changed their position, in larger part because of their own study. Now there are concussion posters in every major locker room in the NFL. I have seen a shift and I have been very pleased about the shift."
Tony Dorsett on Dr. Amen's interview: "I'm glad to see that the NFL, the owners in particular, have owned up to the (fact) that there is a concussion problem."
He sat down with Bob Costas (February 2014) to discuss.
And now? The interview has been deleted.
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