SPECT Scans & Your Brain on Drugs- Part 2

In our previous post we shared what some of the most commonly abused substances will do to your brain.  This post will continue with other substances that are much abused as well as the amazing regenerative power of the brain to heal itself.


                            Effects of Long Term Alcohol

38 y/o – 17 years of heavy weekend use

top-down surface view		underside surface view
front on surface view		right side surface view
marked overall decreased activity

Alcohol Abuse and Brain Trauma

underside surface view		front on surface view
48 y/o — 22 years of daily use with history of past head injury marked scalloping overall decreased activity
44 y/o — 18 years of daily use underside surface view marked overall decreased activity		45 y/o — 25 year history of daily abuse underside surface view marked overall decreased activity

                                         

         Effects of Heavy Nicotine & Caffeine Abuse

45 y/o — 27 year history of heavy use
Smoking 3 packs of cigarettes and drinking 3 pots of coffee daily

underside surface view marked decreased overall activity

Now at this point, if I’m showing these images to a substance using client in my office I’ll often ask “So what stands out most for you seeing these images?” (usually the client is a bit wide eyed with jaw dropped).  I’ll then see if I can pick an example of what the client’s brain might look like, for example.

“So you’re in your late 20’s and you say you smoke pot really “just on weekends”.  Oh, here is an image of what a late 20 year old’s brain looks like who smokes just on weekends….

28 y/o — 10 years of mostly weekend use
underside surface view
decreased pfc and temporal lobe activity  

...is this what your brain looks like? Client, still a bit wide eyed with jaw dropped often with a response of "Whoa". "I guess maybe you hadn't heard the concentration of THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) is way more potent now than it was in "hippy days".

I will often leave the client hanging with the reality and consequences of their choices for a little bit and then segue way to something a bit more optimistic.

The brain is quite adaptable and “plastic” and will regenerate once healthier (non-substance) choices are made. For example, here are some images of what the brain looks like while still using (left image) and when not using a year later (image on the right).

Hope for Healing Alcohol, Drug Abuse, Cocaine & Meth On and Off Drugs and Alcohol

Effects of drug abuse and alcohol abuse vs one year substance free

top-down surface view during substance abuse		top-down surface view a year drug and alcohol free
underside surface view during substance abuse		underside surface view   a year drug and alcohol free

There is hope!  The brain will regenerate given the proper conditions.  These images are often a powerful motivator for a person to realize the consequences of their choices and begin to think twice the next time they use.  I usually get a comment of...

“I DON’T want my brain to look like that!”

 

Best of health and warmest regards, Paul Radkowski

info@liferecoveryprogram.com

https://liferecoveryprogram.com/

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SPECT Scans & Your Brain on Drugs- Part 1

It is often a big wake up call is to see the visual impact and images of what drugs can do to the human brain  (part 1 of 2).

This is some of the latest functional brain imaging available called SPECT scans (short for Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography).

You’ll see in this first image a SPECT scan view of a healthy human brain. Notice the smoothness of the surface area, looks like everything is connected and intact and the bright yellowish colour means greater brain activity throughout

Normal view
top down surface view
full, symmetrical activity

Now, this is where we get into “darker” territory (literally).

Effects of Smoking Marijuana

18 y/o – 3 year history of 4 x week use underside surface view decreased pfc and temporal lobe activity		16 y/o — 2 year history of daily abuse underside surface view prefrontal and temporal lobe activity
38 y/o — 12 years of daily use underside surface view decreased pfc and temporal lobe activity		28 y/o — 10 years of mostly weekend use underside surface view decreased pfc and temporal lobe activity

Now compare these last few images to a healthy brain scan (as seen with first image).  Notice the darkened colour of the image of the scan and perforations (holes) of the tissue area (appearing as if someone poured acid on the brain).  Now these images are not actually photographs of brain matter, but are showing the holes or gaps in functioning of brain activity.  The holes you are seeing is where connectivity is impaired and reduced brain volume and activity results.  All these substances are “vasoconstrictors” i.e. they shrink brain cells! 

It’s been said, you blow your brain, you blow your life because your decision making, emotional world, social relationships etc often all take a turn for the worse.

Here is an overview of the effects of other substances.

Long Term Effects of Heroin & Methadone

Normal view top down surface view full, symmetrical activity
39 y/o — 25 yrs of frequent heroin use front on surface view marked overall decreased activity		40 y/o, 7 yrs on methadone heroin 10 yrs prior top down surface view marked decreased overall activity

Long Term Effects of Cocaine & Methamphetamine

52 y/o – 28 yr hx frequent meth use top down surface view multiple holes across cortical surface		24 y/o — 2 yr hx of frequent cocaine use top down surface view multiple holes across cortical surface
28 y/o – 8 yrs heavy meth use front on surface view marked overall decreased activity		36 y/o, 10 years frequent meth top down surface view multiple holes across cortical surface

Stay tuned for more images of various substances and the remarkable capacity for the brain to heal and regenerate.

Best of health and warmest regards, Paul Radkowski

info@liferecoveryprogram.com

https://liferecoveryprogram.com/