Latest news with #Amen
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Health
- Edmonton Journal
Nieman: 'Mommy brain' is real; allows attention and focus to shift to newborn
One of the most interesting moments in my clinic takes place when I meet first-time mothers. Article content When I inquire how their pregnancy unfolded and how they are adjusting to their new responsibilities as a mom, I am always impressed by nature's ways to remould the brain of a new mom. This process is known as neuroplasticity of the brain during pregnancy and early motherhood. Article content Article content Article content It takes a lot of effort and wisdom to handle the sleep deprivation and hormonal changes which impact the brain's functioning. Article content Article content In the September 2024 edition of the journal Nature Neurosciences, researchers reported the results of brain scans on pregnant moms. A research team led by Drs. Laura Pritschet and Emily Jacobs at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Elizabeth Chrastil at the University of California, Irvine, confirmed the neuroplasticity in the brain's anatomy as a result of being pregnant. Article content Of major note was a reduction in gray matter volume. Gray matter contains the bodies of neurons, synapses and important glial cells, which are found in the brain's surface layer known as the cortex. These changes in gray matter volume are thought to be temporary. Article content Article content In addition to gray matter changes, there were also white matter changes observed via MRI studies. The integrity of white matter increased throughout the first two trimesters of pregnancy, according to this study, but after birth returned to baseline levels. Article content During the second and third trimesters, the volume of cerebrospinal fluid increased, but then dropped sharply after the birth of a baby. Article content The implications of various changes being mapped may still not be entirely clear. The brain is indeed complex. The brain, especially during pregnancy, is possibly the one organ in the body we understand the least — there is much more to be explored. Article content One of the world's most renowned brain explorers is Dr. Daniel Amen, who is a pioneer in scanning the brain. Amen considers brain scans as essential in managing mental wellness, similar to a nephrologist who would not dream of treating patients without doing a urine test, or a cardiologist who would want to run at least an electrocardiogram or an echocardiogram to grasp the patient's heart anatomy and function. Article content In his world-famous clinic, Amen prefers to use a scan known as a SPECT scan — single-photon emission computed tomography. The activity of a brain is better understood when this tool is used. More dynamic studies are needed to map out the functional changes that occur in the brain during various trimesters and when a mom cares for her newborn. Article content On his website, Amen refers to the mommy brain in more detail and explains why pregnant moms have legitimate excuses for being more forgetful, finding it hard to concentrate, and being hyper-focused on their babies, as opposed to other cognitive skills. Article content I once met a female family doctor who told me a story of when she was a new mom. She left her baby at home with a reliable caregiver and cut her time short in the clinic. After the last patient was seen, this new mom, a doctor, raced home and parked her car on a slight slope outside her home. She rushed into the house to check on her baby, keen to find out how the first day without the full presence of the mom went. The baby was fine, but the car was dangling over an edge. She forgot to park the car properly and apply a handbrake. Article content Article content Dealing with these physiological changes in brain functioning can be more stressful if mothers are unaware that it is normal — it is part of nature's way to equip the mom to shift her focus onto the baby's needs and to become more intentional at 'reading' her infant (the so-called emotional intelligence of responding to the baby). Article content As is the case with so many other mental challenges, there are always degrees of change. Post-partum depression occurs in 20 per cent of mothers and, if the mood changes and stress becomes more and more extreme, then the diagnosis should shift away from mommy brain toward depression. Article content
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
In farewell letter to Houston, Jalen Green predicts great things for Amen Thompson
'I can tell you because I had a front row seat for it — Amen (Thompson) isn't just gonna be great,' former Rockets guard Jalen Green says. 'Amen is gonna be crazy.' As part of his Players Tribune farewell letter to Houston, recently traded guard Jalen Green made it clear that he's a big believer in one of his former Rockets teammates. 'I can tell you because I had a front row seat for it — Amen (Thompson) isn't just gonna be great,' Green wrote. 'Amen is gonna be crazy,' with the final word italicized for emphasis. It's worth noting that as good as Thompson was last season — including NBA All-Defensive First Team honors — it was only his second professional season. He remains just 22 years old. Showcasing elite defense, athleticism, and positional versatility, Thompson averaged 14.1 points (55.7% FG), 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 32.2 minutes per game last season. The 22-year-old became a full-time starter in January and never relinquished the job. At 6-foot-7, Thompson is tall and athletic enough to play in the frontcourt, and he obtained that starting position once power forward Jabari Smith Jr. went down to a multi-week injury in January. Yet, Thompson also has point-guard skills, making him capable of playing and defending anywhere. With Green headed to Phoenix as part of the trade that brought All-Star forward Kevin Durant to Houston, that could put a bit more pressure on Thompson to do more ball-handling and creation in the 2025-26 season. Per Green's own observations, Thompson should be up for the task.
New York Post
19-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Psychiatrist reveals what marijuana does to the developing brain
The recreational use of marijuana has become more common in recent years. But some research has found that consuming cannabis could have negative effects on the body, especially the brain. A recent French study suggested that cannabis use raises the risk of heart attack and stroke more than cocaine, while a Canadian study found that dementia risk is connected to cannabis-related hospital visits in older individuals. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Daniel Amen — psychiatrist, brain imaging specialist and founder of Amen Clinics in California — confirmed that it's 'clear' people who use marijuana have lower blood flow in their brain, according to decades of brain imaging performed at his clinics. These findings — along with associations between marijuana and heart disease — have been supported by other recent research. 5 Research shows that consuming cannabis could have negative effects on the body, like the brain. alfa27 – 5 According to Dr. Daniel Amen, people who use marijuana have lower blood flow in their brain. Africa Studio – 'We've been lied to that marijuana is innocuous, that marijuana is good medicine,' Amen said. 'And I think for some people, it can be helpful. But teenagers who use it, or people in their 20s, have a higher incidence of anxiety, depression, suicide and psychosis.' In a new study that compared people who smoked cigarettes with those who smoked marijuana, the marijuana users sustained more lung damage, he mentioned. 'This is just not great for us,' Amen said. 5 'We've been lied to that marijuana is innocuous, that marijuana is good medicine,' Amen said. 'But teenagers who use it, or people in their 20s, have a higher incidence of anxiety, depression, suicide and psychosis.' amenic181 – 5 There are also associations between marijuana and heart disease. Victor Moussa – Amen noted one of the 'horrifying trends' he's seen is parents who smoke pot with their teens and young adults. 'It just makes me think we're going the wrong way,' he said. 5 Amen advises against parents smoking with their teens, as young adult brains are not fully developed, and engaging in cannabis can set them back mentally, causing issues like anxiety and depression. Impact Photography – While some people may argue that alcohol is worse for the body than marijuana, Amen stressed that 'neither of them are good for you.' 'Why would you want to consume something that makes your brain older than you are?' he asked. As the brain of a young adult is not fully developed, engaging in cannabis use can set back young people mentally, causing issues like anxiety and depression, Amen cautioned. 'When you start using marijuana, alcohol or other drugs, your development gets arrested,' he said. 'Many people don't really appreciate how important their brain is when they're 17, 18, 21 or 23, because it really doesn't finish developing until you're 25 or 26,' Amen said. 'And if you hurt it early, it might not ever catch up.'
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
This is the BEST exercise for managing the mind, according to a leading Psychiatrist
Managing your mind can sometimes feel overwhelming. Thoughts race, worries pile up, and confusion takes over. However, a basic technique exists to eliminate mental interference while focusing on essential matters. According to leading Psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen, M.D., your personal goals serve as one of the most effective methods for mental well-being management. People who gain clarity, experience reduced stress levels and develop better decision-making abilities. The One Page Miracle exercise functions as a powerful tool, to help you reach your desired outcomes. This exercise enables you to record your essential goals, together with your desires and priorities through a single sheet. Let's see how... Why 'Know What You Want' Matters for Your Mind Humans face mental challenges, because their minds deal with numerous thoughts and multiple decisions at the same time. The overwhelming information, create feelings of worry and distress, together with indecisiveness. A defined understanding of your goals on the other hand, allows your brain to direct its energy toward productive activities, instead of repeating loops. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Redefine Your Future with a Top Online MBA SRM Online Enquire Now Undo What Is the One Page Miracle Exercise The One Page Miracle exercise, requires you to write down everything you desire or hold importance, on a single sheet of paper. A single-page list functions as a mental navigation tool. Through this list, you can identify your most important priorities, and the things you need to focus on. The entire list becomes visible at once, instead of overloading yourself with multiple mental tasks. This technique provides fast and simple, yet productive results. Regular practice of this exercise develops mindfulness and self-awareness, which Dr Amen says is essential for good mental health. How to Do the One Page Miracle Exercise Follow these steps: Take a plain piece of paper and use a pen for this exercise. Your "miracle page" will serve as this document. Find a quiet place. Avoid distractions. Take a few deep breaths to relax your mind. Examine all the various sections that make up your life. Those can include: Personal goals (health, hobbies, learning) Relationships (family, friends, work) Career or education aims Mental and emotional well-being Spiritual or philosophical desires Things you want to stop or change List down all the items you wish to achieve, within these categories. Some examples could include: Health: I will get stronger and fitter in 3 months Relationships: I will work on being a better listener to my partner/child Career: I will find my calling and do THIS to achieve it Do not consider the sequence of your entries or pay attention to grammar. Be authentic while expressing yourself with clarity. Review the items listed on the page. Identify the 3-5 things which stand out to you the most, and mark them with a circle or star. Your current main goals and desires appear in this section. Place this page in a spot where you will see it every day. Use it to remember your intentions, while helping you make decisions. The Power of Writing Things Down Writing down thoughts serves four main functions: Externalization of concerns and objectives through writing, creates mental space availability. The act of writing provides you with better understanding of your thoughts, while enabling their execution. The physical object serves as a reference point, to help you understand things better. The process of writing down abstract wants, produces specific points which minimises stress. The One Page Miracle functions effectively because of this approach. This technique converts random mental thoughts into an organised list, which becomes easier to modify throughout time.
Newsweek
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Talking Bird Obsessed With Quoting Scripture Wins Pet of the Week
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. This week's pet stories included incredible rescues of baby foxes and dogs, as well as unexpected animals befriending each other at an aquarium. But these viral stories aren't the only ones that captured our attention. Thanks to our readers' emails with videos and pictures of their pets, we have another roundup for our Newsweek Pet of the Week lineup. Don't forget; follow the instructions at the end of this story to submit your furbabies for our Pet of the Week. Winner A photo of Sonny, a 2-year-old parakeet, who loves quoting scripture the owners taught him. A photo of Sonny, a 2-year-old parakeet, who loves quoting scripture the owners taught him. Cindy Drake A nonstop talking bird touched our hearts, earning himself the title of Newsweek's Pet of the Week. Cindy Drake and her family taught this nearly 2-year-old Indian ringneck parakeet named Sonny scripture passages, she told Newsweek via email. Unexpectedly, he's been taking it upon himself to continue quoting verses, stepping into the role of a preacher. "He talks every day and especially loves to say 'Hallelujah, praise the Lord, Amen,'" Drake said. But Sonny doesn't stop at just quoting the Bible. Drake said he also loves saying "Good morning, Sunshine," and "What's up, Buttercup?" Finalists A photo of an owner's cats, Pepper and Rocky, who remind her of her dad who passed in October. A photo of an owner's cats, Pepper and Rocky, who remind her of her dad who passed in October. Brenda Tucker Leonard Brenda Tucker Leonard's father has always been an animal lover. He would befriend the stray cats in the neighborhood and owned a few himself. And at 90, he wanted to own one more kitten, she told Newsweek via email. He first owned Pepper, but the cat "chose" Tucker Leonard instead, which led to a friend whom he helped mentor in making jewelry with quahog shells, surprising him with a kitten of his own. He loved the kitten up until the end. After his passing in October, his daughter took in the kitten, Rocky. Now, the two cats are together, enjoying their best life with her and the dogs. These curious cats are energetic, curious and know their names. She loves them, especially as they're a daily reminder to her of her dad and his lifelong love of animals. Photos of a Gus, a 3-year-old chocolate cocker spaniel who snuck his way into his owner's lap. Photos of a Gus, a 3-year-old chocolate cocker spaniel who snuck his way into his owner's lap. Cindy Bigelow Next up, we have Gus, a 3-year-old chocolate cocker spaniel, who is "needy" for attention. He's always been curious and joyful. Cindy Bigelow shared a photo progression of Gus sneaking his way into her lap, which happens often. He can't get enough of being with his humans. It doesn't matter if they're sitting in the recliner, in the kitchen or bathroom, he'll cozy himself right up next to them. "In this photo, I was sitting with my legs crossed, and he felt he needed to see what I was doing," she told Newsweek via email. "So, he slowly pressed his face through the opening between my knee and leg." Photo of a dog named Stella watching over the turtle, Waffles, who was enjoying a soak in the pool. Photo of a dog named Stella watching over the turtle, Waffles, who was enjoying a soak in the pool. Monica Blons Last, but not least, we have a dog taking safety into her own paws after becoming concerned while a turtle enjoyed a soak in the pool. Monica Blons shared a photo of her dog, Stella, standing at the edge of the pop-up pool. The dog peered down with her nose right up against the turtle's back. The turtle, Waffles, was sitting calmly in the water, but Stella didn't want to put anything to chance as the "lifeguard" of the pool. If you think your pet could be next week's Newsweek "Pet of the Week," send us your funny and heartwarming videos and pictures of your pet, along with a bit about them to life@ and they could appear in our "Pet of the Week" lineup.
