by Lisa Frederiksen
This is a top down SPECT of a healthy brain. Compare it to the bottom, right image in the block of scans below. Courtesy Amen Clinics, www.amenclinics.com.
Sometimes a picture speaks a thousand words and that is certainly true of the brain imaging that is now possible. Brain imaging technologies developed and/or advanced in the past 15 years, or so, are allowing neuroscientists and medical professionals to study the live human brain like never before. These technologies include SPECT, PET, fMRI, MRI and the like.
With regards to alcohol (or other drugs) and the brain, these imaging technologies provide the visual “proof” of the impact on the brain of a person’s alcohol abuse ( defined as drinking more than moderate limits ) and/or alcoholism (defined as an addiction to alcohol; addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disease).
To the left, you will find SPECT scans done by the Amen Clinics and reprinted with permission. The top image is of a healthy brain, and the bottom set of images shows the brain of a 56-year old man with daily alcohol use of 3-4 drinks, however he was NOT an alcoholic. Compare the single brain image (healthy brain) to the brain image in the bottom, right corner of the 4 scans below (daily alcohol use, 3-4 drinks but not alcoholic). The bumpy areas show areas of low blood flow and thus reduced brain activity.
It is important to understand that the brain can change when alcohol abuse is stopped.
Amen Clinics Inc. specializes in brain health and innovative diagnosis and treatment for a wide variety of neuropsychiatric, behavioral and learning problems among children, teenagers and adults. Established in 1989 by Daniel G. Amen, M.D., the center has a national reputation for utilizing brain SPECT imaging for a wide variety of neuropsychiatric problems, including substance abuse, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression and memory problems.
Brain of a 56 Year-old man with daily use of 3-4 drinks but NOT an alcoholic. L to R, scans show brain from the bottom, right side, left side and top down. The image in the bottom right corner (top down) compares to the image above - a top down view of a healthy brain. Courtesy Amen Clinics, www.amenclinics.com
by Lisa Frederiksen
This is a top down SPECT of a healthy brain. Compare it to the bottom, right image in the block of scans below. Courtesy Amen Clinics, www.amenclinics.com.
Sometimes a picture speaks a thousand words and that is certainly true of the brain imaging that is now possible. Brain imaging technologies developed and/or advanced in the past 15 years, or so, are allowing neuroscientists and medical professionals to study the live human brain like never before. These technologies include SPECT, PET, fMRI, MRI and the like.
With regards to alcohol (or other drugs) and the brain, these imaging technologies provide the visual “proof” of the impact on the brain of a person’s alcohol abuse ( defined as drinking more than moderate limits ) and/or alcoholism (defined as an addiction to alcohol; addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disease).
To the left, you will find SPECT scans done by the Amen Clinics and reprinted with permission. The top image is of a healthy brain, and the bottom set of images shows the brain of a 56-year old man with daily alcohol use of 3-4 drinks, however he was NOT an alcoholic. Compare the single brain image (healthy brain) to the brain image in the bottom, right corner of the 4 scans below (daily alcohol use, 3-4 drinks but not alcoholic). The bumpy areas show areas of low blood flow and thus reduced brain activity.
It is important to understand that the brain can change when alcohol abuse is stopped.
Amen Clinics Inc. specializes in brain health and innovative diagnosis and treatment for a wide variety of neuropsychiatric, behavioral and learning problems among children, teenagers and adults. Established in 1989 by Daniel G. Amen, M.D., the center has a national reputation for utilizing brain SPECT imaging for a wide variety of neuropsychiatric problems, including substance abuse, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression and memory problems.
Brain of a 56 Year-old man with daily use of 3-4 drinks but NOT an alcoholic. L to R, scans show brain from the bottom, right side, left side and top down. The image in the bottom right corner (top down) compares to the image above - a top down view of a healthy brain. Courtesy Amen Clinics, www.amenclinics.com