Hello and welcome to
"Health for a Lifetime"
00:00:45.30\00:00:47.30
I'm your host Don Mackintosh
00:00:47.33\00:00:48.88
and today we're
just delighted that
00:00:48.91\00:00:50.52
Dr. Nedley back with us.
00:00:50.55\00:00:51.55
Welcome Dr. Nedley!
00:00:51.58\00:00:52.66
Thank you, Don.
Very good to be here.
00:00:52.69\00:00:54.67
Today we're going to be
talking about something that's
00:00:54.70\00:00:58.04
very vital...
It's very important.
00:00:58.07\00:00:59.74
It's the BRAIN! Yes
00:00:59.77\00:01:01.58
And, you know,
details concerning the brain.
00:01:01.61\00:01:06.99
I understand that recently
you've been working on a
00:01:07.02\00:01:09.80
book that's
going to be released,
00:01:09.83\00:01:11.74
or maybe will be released
by the time people see this...
00:01:11.77\00:01:14.09
about the brain, but
more specifically about
00:01:14.12\00:01:17.28
depression and the brain. Yes
00:01:17.31\00:01:19.56
And so, in this segment, we
want to talk a little bit about
00:01:19.59\00:01:23.19
the brain, and
what about the brain?
00:01:23.22\00:01:26.20
What makes it so special?
00:01:26.23\00:01:27.79
Well the brain is actually
the most complex structure
00:01:27.82\00:01:32.05
known to human
beings at this time,
00:01:32.08\00:01:35.58
and when you
consider the space shuttle,
00:01:35.61\00:01:38.00
when you consider all of the
structures that are known to man
00:01:38.01\00:01:42.89
this 3-1/2 pound structure
is actually more complex
00:01:42.92\00:01:47.68
than ANY other structure
known at this point in time.
00:01:47.69\00:01:52.24
It has 100 billion neurons.
00:01:52.25\00:01:55.55
A 100 billion neurons;
I don't know how you would
00:01:55.58\00:01:58.60
picture 100
billion of something.
00:01:58.61\00:02:00.39
The neurons are
actually the brain cells that do
00:02:00.42\00:02:02.84
the communication...
do the thinking.
00:02:02.88\00:02:04.68
There's 100 billion of
them, and there's even MORE
00:02:04.71\00:02:07.47
supporting cells in the brain.
00:02:07.50\00:02:10.56
And, it's just
phenomenal when you consider
00:02:10.57\00:02:14.22
that that's all just
encased in 3.5 pounds.
00:02:14.25\00:02:17.88
So the DNA that's been
kind of decoded and whatnot
00:02:17.89\00:02:24.83
it just pales in comparison
to all the different things
00:02:24.86\00:02:28.76
that need to be decoded
to understand the brain.
00:02:28.79\00:02:30.84
Yes, it really does.
00:02:30.87\00:02:32.02
Now the DNA is there in
each one of the neurons,
00:02:32.05\00:02:35.72
but the amazing thing
is most organs in the body
00:02:35.75\00:02:39.40
have around 10
different types of cells.
00:02:39.43\00:02:42.91
The brain has thousands
of different types of cells.
00:02:42.94\00:02:47.62
So your heart would have like
5-10 different types of cells,
00:02:47.65\00:02:53.19
but the brain has THOUSANDS!
00:02:53.22\00:02:56.68
Thousands, and each one of them
is different as far as their
00:02:56.71\00:03:00.05
connections are
concerned, and each one of them
00:03:00.06\00:03:04.48
has an important
function to play.
00:03:04.51\00:03:07.52
So, these
thousand different types,
00:03:07.53\00:03:09.63
how do they
communicate with each other,
00:03:09.66\00:03:10.93
and how do they get
along? How does it work?
00:03:10.94\00:03:13.08
Well the average neuron in
the body actually has 1,000
00:03:13.11\00:03:17.90
different
connections with other neurons.
00:03:17.93\00:03:20.52
Some neurons
called "Purkinje cells"
00:03:20.55\00:03:23.62
connections...
00:03:23.65\00:03:26.30
Just 1 neuron, 200,000
connections with other neurons.
00:03:26.33\00:03:31.35
So that's like going
into your house and having
00:03:31.38\00:03:32.97
200,000 outlets but it's
all in the size of one cell.
00:03:33.00\00:03:36.77
All in the size
of one cell. Wow!
00:03:36.78\00:03:41.56
It is an incredible structure...
00:03:41.59\00:03:44.30
And then the
communication actually occurs
00:03:44.33\00:03:47.15
where those synapses are...
00:03:47.18\00:03:49.26
What we call the
synapse; that's where one neuron
00:03:49.29\00:03:52.80
is actually
touching, as it were, another.
00:03:52.83\00:03:55.98
It actually doesn't
touch, it comes very close,
00:03:56.01\00:03:58.28
and it
communicates through chemistry
00:03:58.31\00:04:00.79
from one neuron to another.
00:04:00.82\00:04:03.04
Is there any
electricity in the brain?
00:04:03.05\00:04:04.68
Oh yes! In fact, that's how
this communication takes place,
00:04:04.71\00:04:09.31
is through electric current.
00:04:09.34\00:04:11.02
One neuron will fire electricity
and at the end of that electric
00:04:11.05\00:04:16.97
current, a chemical is
released to then make the other
00:04:17.00\00:04:21.21
neuron know that it
has communicated with it.
00:04:21.24\00:04:23.26
So the electricity just
then triggers a certain type
00:04:23.27\00:04:26.27
of chemical, it could be
different in one case or another
00:04:26.30\00:04:29.52
There are
different types of chemicals?
00:04:29.55\00:04:31.09
There are
different types of chemicals.
00:04:31.12\00:04:32.87
There are well over a thousand
different types of chemicals
00:04:32.90\00:04:36.89
actually made in the human
brain that are going through
00:04:36.92\00:04:42.05
this communication process.
00:04:42.08\00:04:43.53
Amazing! We're sitting
her in a studio that probably,
00:04:43.56\00:04:45.95
I don't know, it may
have maybe 1,000, or 2,000,
00:04:45.98\00:04:49.89
maybe 3,000
connections... I don't know.
00:04:49.90\00:04:52.29
We have all these lights
around and different things...
00:04:52.32\00:04:54.11
haven't counted them up,
but that's just one cell,
00:04:54.14\00:04:56.62
and then that's amplified by...
00:04:56.65\00:04:59.24
what did you say...
100 billion! That's right.
00:04:59.27\00:05:04.13
Well, what about
those different chemicals...
00:05:04.17\00:05:09.00
Can you tell us a
little bit more about those.
00:05:09.03\00:05:10.89
So I understand, probably
a nerve impulse comes down
00:05:10.90\00:05:13.72
sort of like a domino
chain down one of those...
00:05:13.75\00:05:18.39
Explain what happens...
00:05:18.42\00:05:19.89
Well, it actually
goes down the axon.
00:05:19.92\00:05:23.53
The axon is the
long portion of the nerve
00:05:23.56\00:05:26.84
where the electric
current is transmitted.
00:05:26.85\00:05:29.76
And then that axon then
branches out sometimes 100,
00:05:29.79\00:05:33.09
sometimes 1,000,
sometimes more...
00:05:33.10\00:05:36.20
into the receptacles
of the other neurons.
00:05:36.21\00:05:40.59
And in that synapse
area, there are a number of
00:05:40.62\00:05:43.23
chemicals that can be released.
00:05:43.26\00:05:45.00
One of the most
common is glutamate.
00:05:45.03\00:05:47.49
Glutamate is a
stimulating chemical...
00:05:47.52\00:05:51.33
And then there are
inhibitory chemicals,
00:05:51.36\00:05:53.84
and then there are
modulating chemicals...
00:05:53.85\00:05:56.44
that are very
important in that synapse area,
00:05:56.47\00:06:00.86
or where one neuron is
communicating with another.
00:06:00.89\00:06:03.43
So glutamate then stimulates...
00:06:03.46\00:06:05.45
Is that like, would
you call it an excitotoxin?
00:06:05.48\00:06:10.62
Or maybe not a
toxin, but, you know,
00:06:10.65\00:06:13.21
they have those
things that they say...
00:06:13.24\00:06:14.56
If you eat
them, they're going to
00:06:14.59\00:06:15.70
excite your brain
or different things.
00:06:15.74\00:06:17.58
Yes, this will excite...
It actually, since it's
00:06:17.62\00:06:20.72
stimulating, it's called an
excitatory neurotransmitter.
00:06:20.75\00:06:25.97
But it's not a
toxin. It's not a toxin.
00:06:26.00\00:06:28.52
Now, of course, in
excess, it could be a toxin.
00:06:28.55\00:06:32.26
And it can actually stimulate
the nerve cells so much
00:06:32.29\00:06:35.59
that it destroys the nerve cell.
00:06:35.62\00:06:37.68
But we're talking
about something that is
00:06:37.71\00:06:40.55
not a healthy portion.
00:06:40.58\00:06:42.21
So when you think
or you are excited,
00:06:42.24\00:06:45.07
your brain then releases
a glutamate-type substance
00:06:45.10\00:06:48.70
or is it the other way around?
00:06:48.73\00:06:50.01
Well actually, the glutamate
would produce the excitement.
00:06:50.02\00:06:55.22
And how that all
works, we probably don't
00:06:55.25\00:06:57.67
understand yet, do we?
00:06:57.70\00:06:58.92
There's much about the
brain we don't understand.
00:06:58.95\00:07:01.65
We're actually
piece-by-piece unfolding
00:07:01.68\00:07:04.95
more mysteries
as the weeks go by.
00:07:04.98\00:07:06.82
So what would dopamine be?
00:07:06.86\00:07:08.14
Dopamine is actually
a modulating chemical.
00:07:08.18\00:07:12.04
It doesn't stimulate,
and it doesn't inhibit.
00:07:12.05\00:07:14.66
It actually modulates,
and to illustrate this
00:07:14.69\00:07:18.78
glutamate would be playing
the flute, providing the air
00:07:18.81\00:07:24.33
to produce the sound...
00:07:24.36\00:07:27.24
And the dopamine
would be playing the keys
00:07:27.27\00:07:30.19
in order to make the
melody of that sound.
00:07:30.22\00:07:32.86
It would be the
placement of those.
00:07:32.89\00:07:34.02
So dopamine, that's
something we normally hear about
00:07:34.05\00:07:37.27
and, you know, we
normally hear that it kind of
00:07:37.30\00:07:40.85
soothes us, and all those
different kinds of things,
00:07:40.88\00:07:43.95
and is that correct?
00:07:43.98\00:07:44.96
Well, dopamine has
a modulating effect.
00:07:44.99\00:07:48.05
It can have a soothing
effect in certain instances,
00:07:48.08\00:07:50.51
but it can also be very
important in regards to motion.
00:07:50.54\00:07:54.48
Those that don't
have enough dopamine
00:07:54.51\00:07:56.34
end up with Parkinson disease,
00:07:56.37\00:07:58.03
and that causes a
stiff walking gait,
00:07:58.06\00:08:01.66
a stooped over gait, and
actually, a decreased ability
00:08:01.69\00:08:05.82
for the entire brain
to function very well.
00:08:05.85\00:08:08.32
So, we have some public
officials in government now
00:08:08.35\00:08:15.30
that have Parkinson disease;
00:08:15.33\00:08:16.48
we hear about
that from time to time.
00:08:16.51\00:08:18.39
The fluidity of movement
and the tremors and whatnot
00:08:18.42\00:08:22.47
that's all related to that,
00:08:22.50\00:08:23.72
but can they still
think things through well?
00:08:23.75\00:08:26.19
They can think things through
00:08:26.22\00:08:28.22
pretty well up to
a certain point...
00:08:28.25\00:08:30.60
And then in the later
stages of Parkinson disease,
00:08:30.63\00:08:33.72
it actually causes dementia
which means an inability
00:08:33.75\00:08:37.51
to be able to think
things through clearly.
00:08:37.54\00:08:40.77
So the dopamine
then probably is just a
00:08:40.80\00:08:43.25
pretty big part of the brain...
00:08:43.29\00:08:44.50
How much of the brain
then has that capacity?
00:08:44.54\00:08:48.60
You would think it would
be a very important aspect of
00:08:48.63\00:08:50.97
just about every neuron...
00:08:51.00\00:08:52.15
Gotta have the "dope.. amine"
00:08:52.18\00:08:53.84
I mean, the dopamine, right?
00:08:53.87\00:08:55.87
Actually, only 200,000
neurons produce dopamine.
00:08:55.90\00:09:00.59
200,000? You said there was over
a billion, that's not very many.
00:09:00.63\00:09:03.77
Yeah, 100 billion, so
200,000 to 100 billion
00:09:03.80\00:09:07.51
is a VERY small amount of
neurons producing dopamine.
00:09:07.54\00:09:10.87
But when you consider that each
one of the neurons has about
00:09:10.90\00:09:15.11
a thousand ways in
which it can have that
00:09:15.14\00:09:18.52
dopamine communicate
with another nerve cell,
00:09:18.55\00:09:21.00
and then those nerve
cells have a thousand ways
00:09:21.03\00:09:24.83
of communicating
with other nerve cells,
00:09:24.86\00:09:28.00
if you have the dopamine
content lowered in those
00:09:28.03\00:09:30.94
200,000 cells, it can have
almost an entire brain effect
00:09:30.97\00:09:35.35
as far as its impact.
00:09:35.38\00:09:38.21
So even though there's a
small amount of cells that
00:09:38.24\00:09:41.30
produce dopamine, if they
don't they're so well-connected
00:09:41.33\00:09:44.35
that everything comes to a
00:09:44.38\00:09:46.36
grinding halt,
so-to-speak. Correct
00:09:46.37\00:09:48.16
Wow, that's sort of like,
you know, we study in the Bible
00:09:48.19\00:09:52.11
and we see the remnant,
and we see how important
00:09:52.14\00:09:55.32
the remnant were
throughout the Scriptures.
00:09:55.35\00:09:57.65
The dopamine would probably
be sort of like the remnant.
00:09:57.68\00:10:00.38
That would be a
good illustration...
00:10:00.41\00:10:02.64
A very small portion, but having
00:10:02.67\00:10:05.10
a profound effect
upon the entire brain.
00:10:05.13\00:10:08.35
So, are there treatments
when we have Parkinson disease,
00:10:08.38\00:10:12.44
and those different kinds of
things that they're developing
00:10:12.45\00:10:14.51
Well there are
treatments, yes...
00:10:14.54\00:10:15.67
we try to provide more dopamine.
00:10:15.68\00:10:17.30
And, of course, we can
do that through chemistry
00:10:17.33\00:10:20.86
of providing
more dopamine intake,
00:10:20.89\00:10:24.52
and then part of that
dopamine goes to the brain,
00:10:24.55\00:10:27.43
and then that
dopamine can then be used
00:10:27.46\00:10:29.60
to communicate
with one nerve cell.
00:10:29.61\00:10:31.75
However, that's not
all that great a mechanism.
00:10:31.78\00:10:35.50
It does work... we have
ways of trying to get more
00:10:35.53\00:10:38.21
dopamine in, and even
what we call "dopamine agonist"
00:10:38.24\00:10:41.49
which ACT like
dopamine in the nerve cell.
00:10:41.52\00:10:44.40
But we're just providing
it in the neuronal junction
00:10:44.43\00:10:47.86
without the nerve
cell itself producing it,
00:10:47.89\00:10:50.79
and releasing it...
00:10:50.82\00:10:52.56
And so, that gets into some
side effects, and that's why
00:10:52.60\00:10:56.75
all Parkinson's medications
can have side-effects.
00:10:56.78\00:11:00.39
If we could get the nerve
cell itself to produce it and
00:11:00.42\00:11:03.16
release it when it's supposed
to, we could have a treatment
00:11:03.19\00:11:06.16
that would have no side-effects.
00:11:06.19\00:11:08.16
Yeah, in taking care of
some Parkinson's patients,
00:11:08.19\00:11:12.03
I've noticed that they
will be on a certain medication
00:11:12.06\00:11:15.58
for a certain amount of
time, like Sinemet, or whatever,
00:11:15.61\00:11:18.28
they use
nowadays, I'm not sure...
00:11:18.31\00:11:19.98
and then they have to go off.
00:11:20.01\00:11:21.79
they still have to go
off of that for a while
00:11:21.82\00:11:23.92
because they
have those reactions.
00:11:23.95\00:11:26.25
Well, so we
have the stimulating;
00:11:26.28\00:11:28.75
we have the modulating,
and then we had the inhibitory.
00:11:28.78\00:11:31.14
What would be a common
inhibitory thing that maybe
00:11:31.18\00:11:33.72
we've heard of before
that you could explain to us?
00:11:33.76\00:11:36.27
Well, there's a
relative of glutamate...
00:11:36.30\00:11:39.15
It's probably not
well-known that it
00:11:39.18\00:11:41.06
actually is an
inhibitory chemical.
00:11:41.07\00:11:43.53
There's actually
more inhibitory chemicals,
00:11:43.56\00:11:45.54
than there are excitatory
chemicals in the brain.
00:11:45.57\00:11:48.37
The brain is also meant
to have an important function
00:11:48.40\00:11:53.04
that being a BREAK on behavior,
00:11:53.07\00:11:55.80
and a BREAK on
overstimulation...
00:11:55.83\00:11:58.56
And so there are
several inhibitory chemicals
00:11:58.59\00:12:01.23
to try to prevent glutamate
from getting out of control.
00:12:01.26\00:12:04.15
So it is a balance of powers.
00:12:04.18\00:12:05.54
It's just like, sort of, the
government over the system...
00:12:05.57\00:12:08.54
The brain kind of helps us...
It's our legislative branches,
00:12:08.57\00:12:12.69
so-to-speak!
00:12:12.72\00:12:14.89
Yes, it's very
important for there to be
00:12:14.92\00:12:17.52
a balance in the brain.
00:12:17.55\00:12:18.86
And a balance in many forms.
00:12:18.87\00:12:21.63
You know, there are just
3 balances in our government
00:12:21.66\00:12:25.44
here in the United States;
00:12:25.48\00:12:26.53
there's a lot more balance
taking place in the human brain.
00:12:26.57\00:12:29.74
So we've talked about
how complex the brain is...
00:12:29.77\00:12:33.27
We've talked about the
different over 100 billion
00:12:33.30\00:12:36.76
different types of neurons
with over 1,000 connections;
00:12:36.79\00:12:42.61
some have 2,000
connections each.
00:12:42.64\00:12:44.77
We've talked about the different
chemicals that are released.
00:12:44.80\00:12:47.28
Some with 200,000
connections actually.
00:12:47.31\00:12:50.94
We're going to take a
break here in just a minute,
00:12:50.97\00:12:53.30
but let's introduce something
that we want to talk about
00:12:53.33\00:12:55.67
This is amazing...
the Bible says we're
00:12:55.70\00:12:57.90
fearfully and
wonderfully made...
00:12:57.93\00:12:59.16
And certainly with
a brain, that is true,
00:12:59.20\00:13:02.11
but is there any flexibility?
00:13:02.14\00:13:05.20
Does it HAVE to work
this way or that way?
00:13:05.24\00:13:10.08
Is the brain pretty much,
you know, you take your computer
00:13:10.11\00:13:12.94
and you get... here is
some rapid access memory,
00:13:12.97\00:13:15.63
here's some RAM memory.
00:13:15.66\00:13:16.77
We're just going to put that in,
00:13:16.80\00:13:18.03
and that's the
way it's gotta work,
00:13:18.06\00:13:19.13
and if it's not there,
it's not going to work.
00:13:19.16\00:13:20.75
Does the brain
have any flexibility?
00:13:20.78\00:13:22.46
Yes, it has a
lot of flexibility,
00:13:22.49\00:13:24.32
and that's really what
makes it different from these
00:13:24.33\00:13:26.51
simple computers
that are being used today.
00:13:26.54\00:13:29.05
I say "simple" because we
look at the new computers,
00:13:29.08\00:13:32.42
and say, "Wow, how much better
00:13:32.45\00:13:33.88
and how much more
complex they are. "
00:13:33.91\00:13:35.92
But, in
relationship to the human brain,
00:13:35.93\00:13:38.49
they are very,
very simple structures.
00:13:38.52\00:13:42.37
We've been talking
with Dr. Neil Nedley,
00:13:42.40\00:13:44.33
and we've been talking
about the AMAZING brain.
00:13:44.36\00:13:47.09
We've talked
about how complex it is.
00:13:47.12\00:13:48.82
We've talked about...
well, lots of different things
00:13:48.85\00:13:52.26
about it, but the
most interesting thing
00:13:52.29\00:13:54.12
we've just been
mentioning is that there is some
00:13:54.15\00:13:55.63
flexibility in the brain, and
it can do different things...
00:13:55.66\00:13:59.01
And when we come back,
we're going to find out more
00:13:59.04\00:14:00.90
about those different
things, so we hope you join us!
00:14:00.94\00:14:02.77
Have you found
yourself wishing that you could
00:14:05.22\00:14:06.79
shed a few pounds?
00:14:06.82\00:14:08.21
Have you been on a
diet for most of your life,
00:14:08.24\00:14:10.46
but not found anything that
will really keep the weight off?
00:14:10.49\00:14:13.76
If you've answered "yes"
to any of these questions,
00:14:13.79\00:14:16.24
then we have a
solution for you that works.
00:14:16.27\00:14:19.28
Dr. Hans Diehl and
Dr. Aileen Ludington
00:14:19.31\00:14:22.02
have written a
marvelous booklet called...
00:14:22.05\00:14:24.05
"Reversing Obesity Naturally"
00:14:24.08\00:14:26.47
and we'd like to send
it to you FREE of charge.
00:14:26.50\00:14:29.14
Here's a medically sound
approach successfully used
00:14:29.17\00:14:31.90
by thousands who are able
to eat more and lose weight
00:14:31.93\00:14:35.06
permanently without
feeling guilty or hungry
00:14:35.07\00:14:37.78
through lifestyle medicine.
00:14:37.81\00:14:39.56
Dr. Diehl and Dr. Ludington
have been featured on 3ABN
00:14:39.59\00:14:43.09
and in this booklet,
they present a sensible
00:14:43.12\00:14:45.62
approach to eating,
nutrition and lifestyle changes
00:14:45.65\00:14:48.61
that can help you
prevent heart disease,
00:14:48.64\00:14:50.45
diabetes and EVEN cancer.
00:14:50.48\00:14:52.56
Call or write today
for your free copy of
00:14:52.59\00:14:54.67
"Reversing Obesity Naturally"
00:14:54.70\00:14:56.57
and you could be on your
way to a healthier, happier YOU!
00:14:56.58\00:14:59.76
It's absolutely FREE of
charge, so call or write today.
00:14:59.79\00:15:06.66
Welcome back, we've been
talking with Dr. Neil Nedley,
00:15:06.69\00:15:09.89
and we're
talking about the brain.
00:15:09.92\00:15:12.38
You had mentioned something that
was fascinating before we left;
00:15:12.41\00:15:15.13
that the brain
really has some flexibility,
00:15:15.16\00:15:17.25
and that gives us hope!
00:15:17.28\00:15:20.03
We don't have to just be...
00:15:20.06\00:15:21.13
It's an organic organism; it can
reposition as to what we need.
00:15:21.16\00:15:26.33
Yes, actually just a thought
process itself can actually
00:15:26.36\00:15:31.44
weaken some associations with
other neurons, and strengthen
00:15:31.47\00:15:36.11
other associations
with other neurons.
00:15:36.14\00:15:39.01
And, a memory, a
thought to produce some memory
00:15:39.04\00:15:42.52
can actually disconnect a
neuron from some other neurons,
00:15:42.55\00:15:47.46
and then actually have that
neuron be associated with others
00:15:47.49\00:15:50.41
And so we have the ability,
so-to-speak, of having this
00:15:51.26\00:15:56.35
brain be VERY flexible.
00:15:56.38\00:15:58.18
It's not like a computer
where its circuits are there,
00:15:58.21\00:16:03.18
and the only way you're
going to change it is to go in
00:16:03.21\00:16:05.80
and do surgery on the computer
which would be having your
00:16:05.83\00:16:08.55
hardware person
come in and do things.
00:16:08.58\00:16:10.50
You can actually have
the thoughts themselves
00:16:10.53\00:16:14.95
change the makeup of the brain!
00:16:14.98\00:16:16.69
So that's what unplugs
and plugs things back in,
00:16:16.72\00:16:19.20
and so our thoughts,
and what we focus on,
00:16:19.23\00:16:22.06
and what we think
about is very important!
00:16:22.09\00:16:23.78
Very important...
particularly when those
00:16:23.81\00:16:26.13
thoughts become habitual.
00:16:26.16\00:16:27.97
Habitual
thoughts, there are very...
00:16:28.00\00:16:31.85
we could call them expressways,
or interstate highways
00:16:31.86\00:16:36.41
which are well-traveled,
and once we get into a habit,
00:16:36.44\00:16:40.42
we have interstate highways
in our brain that are NOT
00:16:40.45\00:16:44.79
easily destroyed
unless we go a different route
00:16:44.82\00:16:48.89
and don't travel that
highway for a very long time.
00:16:48.92\00:16:51.42
So how can we be delivered
about that as, you know,
00:16:51.45\00:16:54.21
we hear a lot about the
different right brain/left brain
00:16:54.24\00:16:56.80
and all this kind of
different kind of things...
00:16:56.83\00:16:58.51
How can we be delivered
about having a healthy brain?
00:16:58.54\00:17:02.48
I'd like to say there's
been an over-emphasis, really
00:17:02.49\00:17:05.58
on this left
brain/right brain things.
00:17:05.61\00:17:08.28
I hear some individuals,
and even some scientists
00:17:08.31\00:17:12.89
talk about this, and
there is some truth...
00:17:12.92\00:17:15.05
the left brain tends
to be more objective;
00:17:15.08\00:17:17.87
the right brain
tends to be more creative.
00:17:17.90\00:17:19.88
But that is an
over-simplification
00:17:19.91\00:17:22.57
of the process.
00:17:22.60\00:17:23.78
The frontal lobe is
to be the control center
00:17:23.81\00:17:26.08
of the entire brain, whether
it's the left or the right brain
00:17:26.11\00:17:30.28
And the left side
of the frontal lobe,
00:17:30.31\00:17:32.03
and the right side of
the frontal lobe have some
00:17:32.06\00:17:33.88
very similar
functions, and try to simplify
00:17:33.91\00:17:39.39
the brain by breaking
it up into these 2 sides,
00:17:39.42\00:17:42.21
is really doing
a disservice to it.
00:17:42.24\00:17:45.19
Doesn't understand
the complexity of all
00:17:45.20\00:17:47.34
those different connections
that we talked about. Exactly
00:17:47.37\00:17:50.25
Okay, I imagine then, do
we need to talk anything more
00:17:50.28\00:17:56.41
about the different lobes
of the brain and what they do
00:17:56.44\00:17:58.76
in talking about
complexity of the brain?
00:17:58.79\00:18:01.03
Well, there are specialized
areas of the brain...
00:18:01.06\00:18:04.07
The occipital lobe, for
instance the back portion of the
00:18:04.08\00:18:07.72
human brain, is actually
where your vision is centered...
00:18:07.75\00:18:11.71
But it's much more
than just a visual area.
00:18:11.74\00:18:15.00
It actually takes a look
at where things are in space,
00:18:15.03\00:18:18.12
the color that they are,
the hue that is coming in,
00:18:18.13\00:18:22.57
and also it's very important
in regards to geometric skills,
00:18:22.60\00:18:28.00
and even spatial
engineering-type skills
00:18:28.03\00:18:30.53
involve the occipital lobe.
00:18:30.56\00:18:32.54
So anything to do with
spatial orientation, colors,
00:18:32.57\00:18:37.81
and those type of things would
involve the occipital lobe...
00:18:37.84\00:18:40.10
so geometry, all those
different kind of things...
00:18:40.13\00:18:42.08
Do you develop... is
balance back there too?
00:18:42.11\00:18:44.56
Balance is even further
back and it's a little lower.
00:18:44.59\00:18:48.18
It's in what we
call the "cerebellum. "
00:18:48.21\00:18:50.20
And, this is a very important
area, particularly for certain
00:18:50.23\00:18:54.03
creatures such as
monkeys that are very athletic,
00:18:54.06\00:19:00.41
and very smooth in
their going upside-down,
00:19:00.44\00:19:03.77
swinging by
their tail, etcetera.
00:19:03.80\00:19:05.38
And our athletes of today
have to have well-developed
00:19:05.41\00:19:08.43
cerebellums in order to be
good in their athletic sport.
00:19:08.46\00:19:11.92
With all this complexity, I'm
sure there could be problems.
00:19:11.95\00:19:14.77
Oh yes, problems develop.
00:19:14.80\00:19:18.23
In fact, problems more
commonly than you might
00:19:18.26\00:19:20.50
imagine, Don.
00:19:20.53\00:19:22.40
Only 22% of individuals,
from the time they were born,
00:19:22.43\00:19:26.60
will have a mental illness at
some time during their lifetime.
00:19:26.61\00:19:31.22
So 22 out of 100
people are going to have,
00:19:31.25\00:19:32.85
what we would
call, a mental illness.
00:19:32.88\00:19:34.57
What do you mean
by a mental illness?
00:19:34.60\00:19:36.28
A mental illness is
beyond just feeling blue,
00:19:36.31\00:19:39.27
or just having a
personality problem.
00:19:39.30\00:19:43.22
All of us, I would
say, and probably 100% of us
00:19:43.25\00:19:46.32
are going to end up in some
problem with our brain itself...
00:19:46.35\00:19:50.15
But that doesn't mean
that we're going to have
00:19:50.18\00:19:51.80
a mental illness, per se...
00:19:51.83\00:19:54.23
That just means that we
got off the right track,
00:19:54.26\00:19:58.01
and we had problems, as
far as the brain development,
00:19:58.04\00:20:01.78
and making
appropriate decisions, etcetera.
00:20:01.81\00:20:04.90
But a mental
illness goes beyond that.
00:20:04.91\00:20:06.84
A mental illness would involve,
for instance, major depression..
00:20:06.87\00:20:10.87
where instead of just
feeling sad or empty, we also
00:20:10.88\00:20:13.83
have a constellation of
symptoms that bring about this
00:20:13.84\00:20:17.39
major depression.
00:20:17.42\00:20:18.54
We also have
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,
00:20:18.57\00:20:22.48
affective disorders
such as anxiety disorders,
00:20:22.51\00:20:26.77
which can produce what we call
obsessive compulsive disorders,
00:20:26.80\00:20:31.91
phobias, or even chronic
anxiety in and of itself.
00:20:31.94\00:20:37.15
These are disease processes of
00:20:37.16\00:20:41.14
the brain that
need special attention.
00:20:41.17\00:20:43.93
The good news about
these diseases though, Don,
00:20:43.96\00:20:46.25
is that about 90% of
them are actually reversible
00:20:46.28\00:20:51.96
through finding the
cause, and getting on the
00:20:51.99\00:20:54.91
appropriate treatment.
00:20:54.94\00:20:56.58
Okay, so you gave us a
lot to think about there...
00:20:56.61\00:20:59.21
22 out of every 100
people are going to have this
00:20:59.24\00:21:02.15
at some time in their lives;
00:21:02.18\00:21:03.90
some major depression...
00:21:03.93\00:21:06.03
Well let's talk about that...
What about major depression?
00:21:06.06\00:21:08.08
How many of that 22% are going
to have the major depression?
00:21:08.11\00:21:11.18
10% of individuals will
develop major depression.
00:21:11.21\00:21:15.66
So that's a
BIGGIE! That's a biggie.
00:21:15.69\00:21:17.52
And I know that you're actually
writing a new book on that
00:21:17.55\00:21:22.14
because you see so much
of that, and we want to talk
00:21:22.17\00:21:23.87
a little bit more about that.
00:21:23.90\00:21:27.32
And then, how does
it breakdown after that?
00:21:27.35\00:21:29.78
Well actually, the most common
00:21:29.81\00:21:32.44
mental illness
is chronic anxiety.
00:21:32.47\00:21:34.80
We'll deal with that
as well in our book...
00:21:34.83\00:21:38.06
and it does have a
tie-in with depression.
00:21:38.09\00:21:40.39
About half of patients with
00:21:40.42\00:21:41.98
chronic anxiety will
end up with depression.
00:21:42.01\00:21:45.11
And then other
common disorders are
00:21:45.14\00:21:46.76
obsessive compulsive disorder...
00:21:46.79\00:21:48.88
Meaning just a certain
routine you can't get away from,
00:21:48.91\00:21:52.93
or you have to do
it this way or else
00:21:52.96\00:21:54.49
you have a lot of anxiety as
a result. That's right, exactly.
00:21:54.52\00:21:56.95
And then there
are simple phobias...
00:21:56.98\00:22:00.80
You know, fear of being in
enclosed spaces, for instance.
00:22:00.83\00:22:03.98
What about fear of snakes?
00:22:04.01\00:22:05.16
No, fear of snakes is not
classified as a mental illness.
00:22:05.17\00:22:10.27
It's very good to
be afraid of snakes.
00:22:10.30\00:22:13.21
Well, I know that some
people watching today will be
00:22:13.24\00:22:15.03
very happy that that's not.
00:22:15.06\00:22:17.89
What would be a bad phobia?
00:22:17.92\00:22:21.28
Like you said, fear of people?
00:22:21.31\00:22:22.85
Would that be
considered a mental illness?
00:22:22.88\00:22:25.77
Yes, fear of people is actually
a classified mental illness
00:22:25.80\00:22:29.78
where you have fear of actually
getting in a group of people,
00:22:29.79\00:22:33.76
or a fear of even
going to a social encounter
00:22:33.79\00:22:36.92
because of that
phobia, unnatural.
00:22:36.95\00:22:40.60
So you said something
very encouraging though
00:22:40.61\00:22:42.47
that 90% of
these can be reversed.
00:22:42.50\00:22:44.93
Let's talk about the
discouraging first part of
00:22:44.96\00:22:47.09
that statement, and let's
talk about the encouraging next.
00:22:47.12\00:22:49.86
The discouraging part
is that 10% that can't be.
00:22:49.89\00:22:52.53
What's that 10% that
really can't be addressed?
00:22:52.56\00:22:55.46
Well actually 10% in regards
00:22:55.49\00:22:57.74
to standard ways
of looking at this.
00:22:57.77\00:23:00.44
I actually am more optimistic.
00:23:00.47\00:23:02.82
I think there's probably, a
far greater than a 90% chance...
00:23:02.85\00:23:07.06
if we really take a
look at the root cause,
00:23:07.09\00:23:09.05
and try to find the
cause of these diseases,
00:23:09.08\00:23:11.53
I think we'll do a
lot better than even 90%.
00:23:11.56\00:23:14.49
But out of those
that 10% or less,
00:23:14.52\00:23:17.56
a lot of it has to do
with how their brain was formed
00:23:17.59\00:23:21.24
during the time when it
was in the mother's womb.
00:23:21.25\00:23:25.51
So some genetic things,
some things that come as
00:23:25.54\00:23:27.98
result of drug abuse by the
parents, those kinds of things
00:23:28.01\00:23:31.66
where the wiring...
the 1,000 circuits per cell
00:23:31.69\00:23:35.25
are just not there...
that kind of thing. Right
00:23:35.28\00:23:38.41
And that's what
accounts for that 10% that
00:23:38.44\00:23:40.41
it's a little bit more
problematic in reversing it
00:23:40.44\00:23:44.22
without divine
intervention which, of course,
00:23:44.25\00:23:47.62
God can do ANYTHING! Exactly
00:23:47.65\00:23:50.91
And, the other thing I
would like to bring out is
00:23:50.92\00:23:53.23
even though you have the
genetic basis for mental illness
00:23:53.26\00:23:56.16
does not mean
you're in that 10%.
00:23:56.19\00:23:58.98
If your mother and
father were both depressed,
00:23:59.01\00:24:01.66
or even if they
both committed suicide,
00:24:01.69\00:24:03.79
that does not mean
that you are resigned to get
00:24:03.82\00:24:06.48
major depression, no matter
what you do in your lifetime.
00:24:06.51\00:24:08.85
And you hear that a lot...
00:24:08.88\00:24:10.03
A lot of people say,
"Well they committed suicide so
00:24:10.06\00:24:12.37
you must be headed that way. "
00:24:12.40\00:24:15.52
But, for the person
that's listening today,
00:24:15.55\00:24:17.35
that's just not
true. No, it's not true!
00:24:17.38\00:24:19.83
It does make them
have a greater tendency,
00:24:19.86\00:24:22.45
BUT if they actually
get on the proper program,
00:24:22.48\00:24:26.52
lifestyle-wise, and
thought process-wise,
00:24:26.55\00:24:28.86
they can completely
avoid the major depression
00:24:28.89\00:24:31.31
that their parents had.
00:24:31.34\00:24:32.58
Does this mean medication...
00:24:32.59\00:24:34.86
when you say reversing
it, does that mean medication
00:24:34.89\00:24:37.19
in that 90% of the cases
that are going to be reversed?
00:24:37.22\00:24:40.20
It could mean
medication for the short-term.
00:24:40.23\00:24:43.21
In some cases, it might mean
medication for the long-term.
00:24:43.24\00:24:47.12
But, in dealing with
major depression, for instance,
00:24:47.15\00:24:50.36
we're able to get
major depressed patients
00:24:50.39\00:24:53.18
OFF of their medication
in about 90% of cases,
00:24:53.21\00:24:56.96
and NOT have a relapse
into their depression...
00:24:56.99\00:24:59.78
if we get to the cause,
and put them on the right
00:24:59.81\00:25:02.81
lifestyle and
nutrition treatment program.
00:25:02.84\00:25:06.10
Dr. Nedley, you're
a Christian physician.
00:25:06.11\00:25:07.95
I mean, that's one
of the great benefits,
00:25:07.98\00:25:10.70
and I understand that in medical
schools across the country,
00:25:10.73\00:25:12.93
they now even have all
these seminars on spirituality,
00:25:12.96\00:25:17.54
they're bringing all of
this in, and I think that they
00:25:17.57\00:25:20.42
don't pick and choose between
religions and different things,
00:25:20.45\00:25:23.90
but as a CHRISTIAN physician,
00:25:23.93\00:25:26.13
what have you seen in
the research and whatnot
00:25:26.16\00:25:29.53
that kind of
ties this all together
00:25:29.56\00:25:32.16
in terms of addressing it?
00:25:32.17\00:25:33.39
What brings this all together,
Don, is where scientists
00:25:33.42\00:25:38.73
are converging on the
area of the brain that tends to
00:25:38.74\00:25:42.58
bring out all of
these mental disorders...
00:25:42.61\00:25:44.87
and that is the
frontal lobe of the brain.
00:25:44.90\00:25:47.93
The frontal lobe of
the brain is now the
00:25:47.96\00:25:50.57
CENTER of where
depression originates from.
00:25:50.60\00:25:53.84
Before, we used to think
it was the emotional area
00:25:53.87\00:25:56.68
of the brain because depression
has so much to do with emotions.
00:25:56.71\00:25:59.79
But actually, it's due to the
control center of the brain...
00:25:59.82\00:26:03.72
having a decrease in circulation
and a decrease in activity
00:26:03.75\00:26:07.23
that brings about depression.
00:26:07.26\00:26:08.96
I happened to listen to
the top bipolar researcher
00:26:08.99\00:26:13.78
in the United States
just a few weeks ago,
00:26:13.81\00:26:16.47
and he says that bipolar
disorder, we are now finding out
00:26:16.50\00:26:20.29
is originating in the
frontal lobe of the brain.
00:26:20.32\00:26:22.64
Schizophrenia has to do with
the frontal lobe of the brain.
00:26:22.67\00:26:25.50
And just about every one
of these mental illnesses
00:26:25.53\00:26:28.90
converge on the
frontal lobe of the brain
00:26:28.93\00:26:31.88
a problem with the control
center that then brought about
00:26:31.91\00:26:34.59
the mental illness.
00:26:34.62\00:26:36.23
And, as a Christian physician,
what is meaningful to me
00:26:36.26\00:26:39.77
here is the frontal lobe
is the CENTER of morality,
00:26:39.80\00:26:43.42
spirituality and the will.
00:26:43.45\00:26:45.84
Without the frontal lobe,
there is no spiritual person,
00:26:45.87\00:26:48.55
there is no will.
00:26:48.58\00:26:49.84
And so, this is vitally
important to understanding
00:26:49.85\00:26:56.49
these mental
illnesses and treating them.
00:26:56.52\00:26:58.56
So and in treating
this, the 22% of Americans
00:26:58.59\00:27:01.62
that have mental
illness, and you have given us
00:27:01.65\00:27:04.53
OPTIMISTIC words that
90 and even more than that
00:27:04.56\00:27:07.99
90% or more of
them can REVERSE this...
00:27:08.02\00:27:13.33
What should they do to
build their frontal lobe
00:27:13.36\00:27:16.53
to either prevent or perhaps
REVERSE these mental illnesses?
00:27:16.56\00:27:22.19
Well in a statement, it
would eating appropriately,
00:27:22.22\00:27:26.74
drinking appropriately, being
on the appropriate lifestyle,
00:27:26.77\00:27:30.39
and thinking appropriately.
00:27:30.40\00:27:33.55
That sounds like a Bible text!
00:27:33.58\00:27:35.18
Whatsoever you do... whatever
you eat, whatever you drink,
00:27:35.19\00:27:40.13
whatever you do, do all to
the the glory of God. Wonderful!
00:27:40.16\00:27:44.51
Thank you so much for
joining us, Dr. Nedley.
00:27:45.45\00:27:47.56
And thank YOU for joining us.
00:27:47.59\00:27:48.97
We hope that what you've
learned has been a help to you.
00:27:49.00\00:27:51.76
If you want more information
about Dr. Nedley's book,
00:27:51.79\00:27:54.24
call 3ABN, and we
hope you join us next time!
00:27:54.28\00:27:56.28