The Neuroimaging Of The Brain | Part 1

Introduction

The brain’s main function is to send signals throughout the body in order for it to function properly. These signals are traveling to each of the organ systems in the body. From the gut system, the immune system, and even the endocrine system, the brain will send signals to these systems, and vice versa the organ systems will send signals back to the brain.  In this 2 part series, we will be taking a look at what is the central nervous system and what factors can affect the brain. In part 2, we will take a look at how cortisol and inflammation affect the brain as well as how the gut and the brain make a connection. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers who specialized in neurological services. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

 

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, in case you are uncertain here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Is The Central Nervous System?

 

So the nervous system is where the body receives information and helps it function properly. Research shows that the nervous system is consist of two main parts of the body which are the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. So the peripheral nervous system has many nerves that are being branched off from the spinal cord and extend all throughout the entire body. The central nervous system is where the brain and the spinal cord are there to make sure that the body is functioning properly. The nervous system has many neurons throughout the body that has many different jobs that send out messages to the brain and can perform many different activities. Some of the different neurons can help the muscles move in the body, other neurons can help the body’s senses like hearing, taste feeling pressure on the skin and other neurons can help keep the organ systems functioning, like regulating heartbeat and hormonal release.

 

The Brain

 

The brain is the body’s main control system, where it sends out signals to the body and makes sure that it is keeping an individual alive. Consist of three main structures, research studies show that the brain will send out signals throughout the body that can help regulate different biological functions and even sense any environmental changes that can affect the body. The three structures of the brain are the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem. Each of these structures makes sure that the brain is working properly and that it sends signals throughout the body to make it function properly as well. The brain is also connected to the spinal cord where some of the important functions like muscle movement, secreting hormones, and emotions are being controlled by the brain.

 

The Spinal Cord

 

As one of the main parts of the central nervous system, the spinal cord is a long structural, cylindrical tube of tissue that runs in the middle of the spine. Research shows that the spinal cord is connected to the brain, specifically the brainstem, all the way to the lower back. These tubes of tissue carry out nerve signals from the brain to the entire body and vice versa since it’s all connected to the central nervous system. When these nerve signals are going through the entire body, the spinal cord has three functions to make sure that the body is working properly. These functions include controlling body movements and functions like walking or running and even regulating heartbeat and breathing rate, helping the brain to record different sensations that a person is experiencing, and even managing involuntary reflexes. All of these are important for the spinal cord to send through the brain to make sure that the body is functioning properly.

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HCTP Therapy

Stem cells* or HCTP (human cellular tissue products) are considered a form of regenerative medicine that helps repair and regenerate damaged cells, diseased tissues, and organs back to their original state. HCTP is used as therapeutic treatment in both international and national affiliated clinics and distribution organizations for individuals that are dealing with chronic issues in their bodies. Since HCTP is used to help boost up the body’s own natural healing process, there is still more upcoming research about the beneficial properties that HCTP can do for the body and make the individual pain-free.

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Factors That Can Affect The Brain

Since the brain can help the body by sending signals to each of the organ systems, it is important to take care of the brain as well. As the body starts growing and aging, so does the brain as there are many factors that can actually affect the brain. Some of the factors can be good like listening to music, exercising (both mentally and physically), sleep habits, and intellectual stimulation like puzzles. Other factors can be harmful to the brain like neurodegenerative diseases, head traumas, mood shifts, inflammation can cause unwanted problems to the brain and can disrupt the brain signal to the entire body.

 

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Studies have shown that neurodegenerative diseases are a cluster of chronic, progressive disorders that affect the neurons in the central nervous system. Some of these neurodegenerative diseases actually can affect brain function and even cause damage to the central nervous system. These include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neuroinflammation

Other studies have shown that when there is an increase in inflammation affecting the body, it can cause many neurodegenerative diseases to progress further into chronic disorders. When the inflammatory cells start to affect the immune cells in the body, it can start triggering and amplifying the degeneration in the brain.

 

Music

Studies have found that music can have an efficient method of dealing with emotions and the autonomic nervous system. A perfect example is when a person is listening to music and the way that their emotions begin to pour out as they sing to the lyrics. When a person is singing a song, it causes them to feel much better afterward due to belting out the song and pouring their emotions as they understand what the lyrics are saying. Studies have found that listening to music can help lower the heart rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure from the body. By lowering the cortisol levels in the body can provide beneficial results to the brain and improve the mood that the brain is signaling.

 

Conclusion

All in all, there are many factors that can affect the brain’s neuron signal to the body. The central nervous system makes sure that the brain is doing its job properly and making sure the neuron signals are sending the information from the brain throughout the body and vice versa. When there are factors that are affecting the brain’s signal in the body, it can cause chronic symptoms to pop up and disrupt the signals from reaching the other systems in the body, and when this happens, it can cause a person to feel horrible. By finding the cause of the situation that is cause the person pain and dampening its effect can cause relief to the individual.

 

References

Chitnis, Tanuja, and Howard L Weiner. “CNS Inflammation and Neurodegeneration.” The Journal of Clinical Investigation, American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2 Oct. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5617655/.

Ellis, Robert J, and Julian F Thayer. “Music and Autonomic Nervous System (Dys)Function.” Music Perception, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3011183/.

Gao, Hui-Ming, and Jau-Shyong Hong. “Why Neurodegenerative Diseases Are Progressive: Uncontrolled Inflammation Drives Disease Progression.” Trends in Immunology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4794280/.

Jia, Tiantian, et al. “Music Attenuated a Decrease in Parasympathetic Nervous System Activity after Exercise.” PloS One, Public Library of Science, 3 Feb. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4739605/.

Martin, Lauren. “The Human Brain: Parts, Function, Diagram, and More.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 4 July 2021, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/brain.

Medical Professional, Cleveland Clinic. “Spinal Cord: Function, Anatomy, and Structure.” Cleveland Clinic, 7 Oct. 2021, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21946-spinal-cord.

Office of Communications, NIH. “What Are the Parts of the Nervous System?” Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 Oct. 2018, www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/neuro/conditioninfo/parts.

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