Think Neuro

The Pacific Treatment & Research In Psychedelics (TRIP) program is dedicated to the development of psychedelic-assisted therapies and the scientific exploration of how altered states of consciousness can be harnessed to change behavior and improve brain health and quality of life.

Behavioral health issues are a leading cause of disability and they remain inadequately treated worldwide. The modest effectiveness of existing treatments such as antidepressants and traditional psychotherapy approaches show us that there is an urgent need for more effective treatments for conditions such as depression, alcoholism, smoking cessation, and end of life suffering.

Early studies of psychedelic-assisted therapies for these conditions have demonstrated much larger and durable effects compared to existing therapies suggesting that there is great potential for psychedelic-assisted treatments to revolutionize the treatment of mental health and behavioral disorders.

One thing that makes Pacific Neuroscience Institute an institute is research, and Jennifer Bramen spends all of her time doing just that. Dr. Bramen earned her PhD in neuroscience from UCLA. These days, she is particularly interested in the “gut biome”: all the organisms that live in our digestive system. Strange though it may seem, those bacteria have a lot to do with our brains. That’s because the gut has its own nervous system, and it produces many of the neurotransmitters that regulate our stress levels and mood. But we can’t produce those compounds alone. We need a population of good bacteria to help. Sadly our modern diet of processed foods and cured meats, often consumed quickly at our desks, fosters bad bugs, which can push out the good ones. The key, Dr. Bramen says, is to eat foods that aren’t over-processed, like fruits and vegetables, and to eat them slowly. We should also favor foods that the good bugs like to eat, too: kiwis, bananas and avocado, among them. Dr. Bramen takes two minutes before every meal to slow down her breath, activating the part of her nervous system that helps us digest food. The bottom line: It takes a village (of bugs) to keep our guts and brains healthy. Dr. Bramen’s research is showing just how true that is.

Dr. Courtney Voelker explains about acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor that affects the nerve for hearing and balance. Find out about signs and symptoms, and the three treatment options that are available.

Cushing's disease is a pituitary adenoma that causes the production of too much adrenocorticotropic hormone resulting in excess cortisol levels in the body. Listen to Dr. Daniel Kelly, MD, founder & director of Pacific Neuroscience Institute and one of the most experienced pituitary neurosurgeons in the world talk about Cushing's disease symptoms, diagnosis, optimal treatment, minimally invasive keyhole brain surgery and how this tiny tumor can lead to significant impairment of health.

It’s important to understand the connection between carbohydrates and Alzheimer's disease. Brain cells depend on insulin to use glucose effectively. When insulin resistance sets in, as it often does with older age and AD, it can lead to cognitive decline. Both AD and type 2 diabetes share common mechanisms, including impaired insulin signaling. Lowering blood sugar and insulin levels could also help clear harmful Aβ peptides (amyloid buildup) that contribute to AD. Eating fewer carbohydrates results in lower overall blood sugar.

From Episode 350 of the RealTalkMS podcast with John Strum from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. May 2024

There are more than 20 disease-modifying therapies available to treat MS today. Some are considered high-efficacy, some are considered moderately effective, and each has its own risk profile and side effects to consider. So, how do you choose?

How much homework should someone living with MS do? Where should you look for reliable information? And what if you and your neurologist don't necessarily agree?

Dr. Barbara Giesser joins John Strum of the RealTalkMS podcast from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to talk about your role when it comes to choosing the right DMT through shared decision-making with your neurologist. An internationally recognized clinician and award-winning educator, Dr. Giesser has specialized in the care of people with multiple sclerosis since 1982, a full decade before there was even a single disease-modifying therapy available to treat MS.

Listen to learn more.

https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/brain-health/conditions-treatment/multiple-sclerosis/

Consultation: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/brain-health/schedule-a-consultation-multiple-sclerosis/

Clinic: 310-582-7613

Ryan Glatt is a certified personal trainer, a national board-certified health and wellness coach, and director of FItBrain at PNI. He’s also a big believer in the idea that just getting on a treadmill isn’t enough to keep our brains and bodies in top condition as we age. We must “dual task,” Glatt says. That means finding activities that challenge our minds and bodies at the same time, like dance or pickleball. Glatt, whose own energy and enthusiasm is infectious, is a big fan of video games that make you move. He got fit (and came out of his shell) years ago by playing Dance Dance Revolution, which requires both deft movement and undivided attention. Dual tasking is crucial as we age because it can slow dementia. Glatt has pored over the research and is convinced of that. It can also help us retain our balance, thereby preventing falls, one of the biggest causes of injury in older adults. This high-energy conversation with Ryan will show you how important dual tasking is, and we bet it will get you up and moving by the end.

For malignant brain cancers, such as glioblastoma, treatment options have not significantly improved. The current standard of care involves surgery followed by radiation or chemotherapy.

Dr. Kesari and his team are exploring a new approach. The PNI (Precision Immunotherapy in the Neoadjuvant setting) method uses targeted treatments based on the patient's tumor genetics before administering chemotherapy and radiation, when the immune system is stronger.

The goal is to prime the body to recognize and target the cancer as a foreign entity, enabling the body's own immune system to combat the disease before it is weakened by chemotherapy and radiation.

Learn more: 310-829-8265

Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD, is a world-renowned neuro-oncologist at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, CA. He treats patients with brain tumors including glioblastoma, glioma, meningioma, metastatic brain tumors, chordoma, and many more difficult brain cancers.

He believes that in order to cure patients with brain tumors we first need to gain a better molecular and biological understanding of the disease. A physician/scientist, Kesari harnesses his experience in surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy and novel devices to help develop Precision Therapeutic Strategies that will advance medicine to a new stage in the battle against brain tumors and eradicate the disease.

Dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is a rare vascular condition where abnormal connections (fistulas) form between branches of arteries and veins in the dura mater, the brain's covering. The dural arteries deliver high-pressure, oxygen-rich blood to the brain, while the dural veins return deoxygenated, low-pressure blood to the heart. DAVF causes high-pressure arterial blood to flow into veins or sinuses meant for low-pressure blood, which can lead to ruptures, brain hemorrhages, and other neurological issues.

Meet Dr. Aditya (Adi) Iyer, a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon specializing in vascular diseases of the brain and spine at Pacific Neuroscience Institute®. As one of California’s few dual-trained neurosurgeons, Dr. Iyer offers both minimally invasive open surgical techniques and incisionless catheter-based procedures to treat strokes, aneurysms, AVMs, tumors, and pain.

Discover expert care and advanced treatment options with Dr. Iyer, dedicated to ensuring the best outcomes for your vascular health.