NextTribe.com Exclusive: New Brain Screening Technology Can Identify Risk of Dementia/Alzheimer's

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- "Is it a sign?"

That's the question many people over 50 have if they can't remember where they put their keys or if they walk into a room and forget why they're there. "Is it a sign I'm developing dementia or Alzheimer's?"

New technology, called WAVI, can reduce the worry and wonder. WAVI measures the brain's quality (speed), voltage (power), reaction time, attention, and speed of processing. It is similar to, but less detailed than, an EEG, which is a very expensive diagnosis tool that can be used only if a doctor determines there's an urgent medical reason. WAVI technology will soon be available in doctors' offices and clinics across the country so that brain health screening will be accessible and affordable—less than $200.

Brought on the market in January 2017, WAVI is currently only available in five clinics in the country. Working with WAVI's distributor—an Austin-based company called Seeking Perfect Health--NextTribe.com writer Jeannie Ralston and her husband had their brains checked for possible signs of dementia and other conditions. Her article, just published on NextTribe.com, is the first report on this testing and the potential of WAVI.

"The technology is a new paradigm in medicine. It's the first time people can get affordable, objective testing of their brain health," said Mike Clark, the president of Seeking Perfect Health who has a PhD in natural medicine. "We get our blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Why wouldn't we get our brain health checked?"

Testing is conducted while the client wears an FDA-approved, 22-node helmet that registers activity in various parts of the brain. The testing includes four parts and takes less than 30 minutes. After the tests are completed, a technician goes over the results, a print out that shows scores and also normal ranges for the client's age. Seeking Perfect Health will make recommendations for improving brain function when necessary. The prescription is always a natural approach, rather than drugs, such as changing diet, increasing exercise and taking supplements such as Omega-3.

Clark points out that research shows the brain can regenerate itself even into our 90s, something called neurogenesis. Studies also support Seeking Perfect Health's belief that if you can catch dementia early enough you can make changes to prevent or lessen its brutal impact. A recent Cambridge University study estimates that about one-third of the 44 million people with Alzheimer's could have prevented the disease by making different lifestyle choices. According to the study, the disease is consistently linked with seven main risk factors: diabetes, midlife hypertension, midlife obesity, physical inactivity, depression, smoking, and low educational attainment.

Other scientific findings seem to validate Clark's methods: This May's Journal of Alzheimer's Disease reported that high omega-3 intakes increase blood flow to the brain, suggesting a link between omega-3 and Alzheimer's disease. Several studies have shown that physical activity likely reduces the risk of Alzheimer's. For instance, the Journal of American Medicine Neurology shared that a blood component, which was lower in those who developed dementia, could be boosted with exercise. 

In her reporting for NextTribe.com, Ralston discovered an issue with her brain—possibly from a concussion—and was given advice on how to improve her scores. She will retest in a few months. Because WAVI can detect brain injuries, Seeking Perfect Health hopes to use the screening on athletes (especially young athletes). "This takes the guess work out of concussion protocols," a Seeking Perfect Health representative said. "We recommend all athletes get a baseline scan so we can determine if a brain injury has occurred and if it has healed."

WAVI technology can also be used for an objective diagnosis of ADHD. In fact, brain scans to reveal ADHD have been FDA approved since 2013.

For the full story about the potential of brain scan technology in detecting early signs of Alzheimer's, go to NextTribe.com/early-detection-Alzheimers.

ABOUT NEXTTRIBE.COM: NextTribe.com is a web magazine devoted to women ages 45 and over, offering information and inspiration with a healthy dose of irreverence.

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SOURCE NextTribe.com

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