Dr. Daniel Amen: Georgia Women's Lifespan Slowing, Men's increasing

Georgia women are not as healthy as some may think, according to psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen.

“Georgia is going the wrong way as far as the health of its women,” he said. “Over the last 20 years, the male lifespan has increased almost five years. The female lifespan in 38 counties in Georgia has either stayed the same or decreased.”

Last month, the renowned brain expert opened a new Amen Clinic in Sandy Springs. Since 1989 Amen has opened clinics in New York City, Newport Beach and San Francisco, Bellevue, Washington and Reston, Virginia. His 2011 television special, “Use Your Brain/Change Your Age” has aired on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

See below: Amen studied 120 mostly retired NFL Players and trauma to their brains.

Amen’s focus is on brain health. Everything affects the brain, he said. Poor diet, lack of exercise, self-destructive behavior all hurt the brain. Depression and even antibiotics can have long term brain effects, Amen said.

“If you had a lot of antibiotics as a child that disrupted your gut, then you’re more anxious. You don’t deal with stress well,”  said Amen, during a September visit.

If a boy smokes between the ages of 10 and 12, he’s just increased his children’s chances of being obese. It’s beginning to change his genes that he’s passing on - Dr. Daniel Amen.

The doctor, who lives in California, said studies show depression can lead to Alzheimer’s disease and meditation increases blood flow to the brain.

Amen Clinics use brain imaging to learn the state of the brain, along with evaluating patients’ history, such as family relationships, genes, past emotional trauma and spirituality, in the sense of a personal purpose of mission in life.

“Then we add [brain] imaging to that because I don’t know what’s going on in your brain unless we actually look. And the scan tells us if your brain had trauma, or is it toxic; or does it work too hard or not hard enough,” Amen said

It is possible to reverse a bad brain, he said.

In a study of 120 mostly retired NFL players, Dr. Daniel Amen found most of their brains were in poor condition from trauma on the football field. After participating in a rehabilitation program, that included natural supplements, Amen said 80 percent improved in two months.

“Cognitive function went up. Blood flow to the their brain went up. Seventy percent said their memory was better. Fifty three percent said their concentration was better,” he said.

The Sandy Springs clinic is run by Robert Alpern, former president of the Georgia Psychiatric Association, Jay Faber and Steven Yungerberg. All are psychiatrists who specialize in child and adult psychiatry. The clinic is located at 5901-C Peachtree Dunwoody Road.