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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SLS on January 8, 2011, at 15:45:05
Hi All.
These are pictures of P.E.T. scans (Positron Emission Tomography) that demonstrate the differences between a depressed brain and a healthy brain. It was published by the Mayo Clinic.
http://www.slschofield.com/medicine/pet_scan_depression.jpg
I had my scans in 1992-1993 while I was a research patient at the NIH (National Institutes of Health). My scans looked very much the same as the image on the left (depressed brain). There was a bit more blue in my case. I don't recall having the hot spot in the left hemisphere.
Regions depicted in blue represent low neural activity. Yellow and orange represent high activity. The excessive blue in the depressed brain indicates brain hypofunction, which represents abnormally low neural activity. Hypofunction in depression is almost global in its effects in the cerebral cortex.
I was not very happy to see my pictures.
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on January 8, 2011, at 16:23:31
In reply to P.E.T. Scans in Depression, posted by SLS on January 8, 2011, at 15:45:05
I can only imagine your feelings. :(
Any followup scans since? I'm curious if you have detected any (esp positive) changes.
And yours did not have the hot spot on the left is it? What is that area on this unfortunate person?
Did you have lit areas at the time?
(BTW, not to start any debate, please; is this the scanning technology used by the Amen clinics?)
Babble hugs to you, Scott.
fb
Posted by Phillipa on January 8, 2011, at 19:35:06
In reply to Re: P.E.T. Scans in Depression » SLS, posted by floatingbridge on January 8, 2011, at 16:23:31
I'm betting the Amen Clinic do these Pet scans. They have a website. Google them. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on January 9, 2011, at 6:32:16
In reply to Re: P.E.T. Scans in Depression » SLS, posted by floatingbridge on January 8, 2011, at 16:23:31
> I can only imagine your feelings. :(
>
> Any followup scans since? I'm curious if you have detected any (esp positive) changes.No doctor has since asked for more scans. I would need some justification for getting any more. Right now, I'm not sure that a new scan would be helpful in choosing treatments at this point in the development of the technology.
The hot spot might be the amygdala - anxiety. That's just a wild guess, though.
Amen uses SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography). I'm of the impression that PET scans are ultimately more useful. I believe that SPECT only shows blood flow. The presumption is that blood flow is an indicator of neural activity. PET can detect radio-labeled glucose (FDG) utilization (metabolism), which is a more direct measure of brain activity. Also, PET can determine the concentrations of specific ligands that accumulate, including drugs and receptors.
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk2010 on January 9, 2011, at 6:59:13
In reply to P.E.T. Scans in Depression, posted by SLS on January 8, 2011, at 15:45:05
Hi Scott,
>The excessive blue in the depressed brain indicates brain hypofunction, which represents abnormally low neural activity.
Any ideas how the neural hypofunction can be reversed? What about the so-called nootropic drug that are supposed to improve cognitive dysfunction.
Posted by SLS on January 9, 2011, at 8:00:03
In reply to Re: P.E.T. Scans in Depression, posted by ed_uk2010 on January 9, 2011, at 6:59:13
Hi Ed.
I always appreciate your input. Thanks again.
> >The excessive blue in the depressed brain indicates brain hypofunction, which represents abnormally low neural activity.
> Any ideas how the neural hypofunction can be reversed?My guess is that the "blue" picture of a depressed brain is state specific and the result of a primary dysfunction elsewhere in the brain. Perhaps if you hit the right target lower in the brain, it would reverse the hypofunctional state higher in the brain and produce a more more orange and yellow image of the cortex.
> What about the so-called nootropic drug that are supposed to improve cognitive dysfunction.
I wouldn't know.
I have recently learned that there are ongoing studies trying to associate PET findings with successful rTMS treatment. Results are confusing at this point in time.
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on January 9, 2011, at 13:10:17
In reply to Re: P.E.T. Scans in Depression » ed_uk2010, posted by SLS on January 9, 2011, at 8:00:03
Ed, nootropic? (I'll Google...)
Scott, any trials at Stanford?
Posted by ed_uk2010 on January 9, 2011, at 15:32:17
In reply to Re: P.E.T. Scans in Depression » ed_uk2010, posted by SLS on January 9, 2011, at 8:00:03
> Hi Ed.
>
> I always appreciate your input. Thanks again.
>You're welcome, sorry I wasn't of more help. Have you tried rTMS? I don't recall.
Posted by SLS on January 9, 2011, at 18:56:43
In reply to Re: P.E.T. Scans in Depression » SLS, posted by ed_uk2010 on January 9, 2011, at 15:32:17
> > Hi Ed.
> >
> > I always appreciate your input. Thanks again.
> >
>
> You're welcome, sorry I wasn't of more help. Have you tried rTMS? I don't recall.Not yet, but that might be something I will place nearer to the top of my list of things to try.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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