Neurofeedback and Alzheimer’s Disease
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
Firstly, let’s start by defining Dementia, as this word and Alzheimer’s Disease are sometimes used synonymously and that’s not quite accurate. Dementia is a collective term used to describe various symptoms of cognitive decline, such as forgetfulness. Essentially, it is an umbrella term for “an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities”, into which several different diseases and brain disorders fall. If one begins losing cognitive abilities at a greater rate than normal aging, then they may be showing signs of Dementia.
Common Symptoms of Dementia
Memory loss
Confusion about where the person is
Loss of ability to problem solve or plan
Easily made confused, upset, or suspicious
Anxiety/Depression
Difficulty with regular everyday tasks
Poor judgment
Withdrawal from social activities
Is Dementia Reversable?
Yes and no. It depends on the cause. Some forms of Dementia or cognitive decline can occur because of depression, medication side effects, alcohol abuse, thyroid imbalances, and vitamin deficiencies, which can be evaluated and potentially treated or adjusted and an individual may have reduced cognitive issues. Many forms of Dementia are neurodegenerative diseases, where brain cells degenerate and die quicker than what is usually expected, and this kind of structural damage is generally irreversible.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s Disease (abbreviated often to AD) is a type of Dementia. AD is a brain disorder in which degenerative changes occur in the brain. It is a progressive disorder, that increasingly compromises memory and cognitive functioning. Eventually AD makes every day activities more and more challenging until the person becomes unable to care for themself. Alzheimer's is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly population, accounting for 60%-70% of dementia cases. Recent studies have estimated Alzheimer's disease to be the third leading cause of death among the elderly, just behind cancer and heart disease, affecting more than 5 million Americans today.
Is Alzheimer’s Preventable?
Alzheimer's prevention has no definitive answers at this point, but researchers all over the world are working to remedy this. We know that AD probably develops as a result of multiple factors; including age, genetics, environment, lifestyle, and coexisting medical conditions. While some aspects, like genes, are unchangeable, there is some evidence to suggest that lifestyle shifts such as healthy eating and exercise choices can minimize risk-factors like high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease that raise the chances of developing Alzheimer’s. Some studies have also found that engaging in cognitively stimulating activities can lower the risk AD-related cognitive impairment and Dementia.
Neurofeedback and Alzheimer’s
Neurofeedback brain training is a form of cognitive stimulation. It relies on the neuroplasticity of the brain and its amazing ability to learn and rewire itself to compensate for areas that have been damaged by disease or injury. If early symptoms of AD are recognized and diagnosed within the mild stage of the illness, neurofeedback can be utilized to potentially maintain cognitive ability, including the preservation of memory and reasoning. Neurofeedback cannot reverse a degenerative cognitive disease (structural damage in the brain, like what occurs with Alzheimer’s disease) but it can possibly help improve symptoms and delay progression. Essentially, neurofeedback engages with parts of the brain that are still healthy and functioning to prevent further degradation and maximize their function.
What is the Research?
In most studies, Dementia patients had stable or improved cognitive performance with Neurofeedback. Research has shown that patients not participating in Neurofeedback sessions had further declination of brain function, whereas patients who were participating in Neurofeedback saw improvements in memory, reasoning, and language, all while experiencing less confusion overall. That said, data from randomized controlled trials remains scarce, because Neurofeedback is a relatively new science, and more research is needed to conclusively determine the benefits.
NeurOptimal® and Dementia
There’s no published research yet specifically highlighting NeurOptimal’s effect on Dementia, as NeurOptimal is a state-of-the-art form of Neurofeedback (read more here about the differences), without diagnoses or specific protocols attempting to isolate particular areas of the brain. This Dynamical Neurofeedback system listens to the brain and trains the brain to be more flexible and resilient. That’s why without pushing the brain in any specific direction, the NeurOptimal® neurofeedback system interacts with the central nervous system in a way that improves cognitive flexibility and adaptability. Overtraining is not an issue, and it requires no conscious effort from the participant
