NeuroNews

ADHD Over Diagnosed, Sleep May Be Real Culprit

  

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Parents concerned about ADHD should not only be attentive to the AMOUNT of sleep their child receives but also to their QUALITY of sleep.

A medical study highlighted in the NY Times revealed that children with sleep breathing disorders were 40 to 100 times more likely to exhibit behavioral problems like ADHD.

Sleep medicine is one of the fastest growing fields in health care today and researchers are discovering new health implications from poor quality sleep in nearly every field of medicine.  With recent discoveries into sleeps’ implications, health care providers of all specialties are beginning to view sleep on the same level as nutrition as a component to good health.
In the Times article, one of the study’s lead authors said, “It’s incredible that we don’t screen for sleep problems the way we screen for vision and hearing problems.”

Children with sleep apnea and even milder forms of sleep breathing disorders (SBD) are not likely to “outgrow” their condition as they mature.   In fact, it will likely become worse.  Poor quality sleep due to sleep breathing disorders has been proven to increase calorie consumption (study) and weight gain which is correlated with increased risk of sleep breathing disorders.  The weight of excess tissues around the neck causes the airway to narrow or collapse.  The problem begins to spiral out of control in this manner:

Poor sleep --> Increased calorie consumption --> Weight gain --> Occluded airway during sleep (apnea or SBD) --> Poor sleep.......

The article reveals that the drugs used to treat ADHD, like Ritalin, Adderall or Concerta, can cause insomnia.  Dr. Vernon Rowe, board certified neurologist and sleep medicine physician MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute has long contended that children who snore or experience poor sleep become wired, not tired. “Unfortunately, you can add kids with ADHD to a long list where medical professionals, by using drugs to treat symptoms, may be doing more harm than good because they are not addressing the root cause of the problem.”
As the medical director at the Institute’s Sleep Disorder Center, Dr. Rowe recorded this video message for parents who are concerned with their child’s sleep and or behavior.

Dale Garver Memorial Fund for Multiple Sclerosis

  

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MidAmerica Neuroscience Research Foundation
8550 Marshall Drive, Suite 100
Lenexa, KS 66214-9836
USA

Announcement

February 29, 2012

Dr. John Hunter, Executive Director of MidAmerica Neuroscience Research Foundation has announced the formation of the

Dale Garver Memorial Fund for MS

This fund has been established as a memorial to Mr. Dale Garver, whose courageous fight against Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an example to all of us.  Stella has also been a tremendous example of living life with determination and bravery.  The research foundation is grateful to Dale and his family for the establishment of this Memorial Fund in hopes of finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Gifts received will be used to support the efforts of MidAmerica Neuroscience Research Foundation and extend the research in the area of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Donations may be made to MidAmerica Neuroscience Research Foundation (Tax ID 43-1761659) with a memo for the Dale Garver Memorial Fund for MS at the above address.  A tax deductible receipt will be provided the donor.

Neurologist Dr. Vernon Rowe Featured at The Writers Place

  

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The Writers Place Presents

Judy and David Ray and Vernon Rowe 
Longtime mainstays of the Kansas City literary community JUDY and DAVID RAY read with poet and neurologist VERNON ROWE. 

JUDY RAY’s most recent poetry book is To Fly Without Wings. She was an associate editor of New Letters and served as the first Executive Director of The Writers Place. 

DAVID RAY’s latest volume of poems is Hemingway: A Desperate Life.  Other recent titles include After Tagore: Poems Inspired by Rabindranath Tagore and When.  Music of Time: Selected & New Poems offers selections from fifteen previous volumes, several of which won national awards.  He is an emeritus professor of University of Missouri-Kansas City’s English department, where he also edited New Letters.

VERNON ROWE, reared in the mountains of North Carolina, attended Duke as an undergraduate and a medical student, was trained in Neurology at Johns Hopkins. His first collection of poems is Sea Creatures.  Dr. Rowe's most recent work is The Ride.

Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Improvements With Exercise

  

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Battling Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, one of the most challenging forms of a very tough disease, Brandon takes pride in the physical accomplishments he has achieved with the help of a fitness program.  The MS Exercise Class at MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute is a free program, made possible by a grant to MidAmerica Research Foundation, from the Heartland Borderwalk for MS.

The Exercise class is overseen by Clint McAlister, MS ATC CSCS, who makes sure the participants are following the study protocol as well as exercising in a safe and effective manner.  Meeting twice each week, the class serves a dual role for the participants as they learn from each other and share their experiences.

MS Exercise Class Study Objectives:

1. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of a 24 week group exercise class following physical therapy on physical function, fatigue, and quality of life in patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
2. The secondary objective of this study is to determine real and perceived barriers to exercise for patients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

 
MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute, the parent company of MidAmerica Neuroscience Research Foundation, is excited to continue in the quest to add to the body of knowledge for the multiple sclerosis community with the outcome of this study. The parameters being measured include:

• Six-Minute Walk Test
• Berg Balance Scale
• Timed Up and Go
• Multiple Sclerosis Function Scale
• One repetition maximum
• Active range of motion
• Microspirometry
• Waist Circumference
• MS Quality of Life Inventory
• Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis
• Chicago Multiscale Depression Inventory
• Trail Making Test
• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

Full descriptions for the above parameters and the full study protocol will be available when the study is complete and the abstract is presented.  The projected time for completion is still approximately one year away. To receive a PDF by email of the study abstract when completed, submit your email and contact information from the link below.

Neurological Symptoms Improving With Physical Therapy

  

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Audra came to MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute ready to shoot this testimonial video.  The Institute’s staff were excited to see and hear what she would have to say because she has been so inspirational to everyone who has witnessed what she has been able to overcome… and Audra didn’t disappoint.
As you can see from the emotions on display in this video, much of Audra’s inspiration to get better came from her physical therapist, Amy Nichols, DPT.  What you didn’t see in the video is the choreography, notes and rehearsals that Audra had prepared so that the finished product would reflect how grateful she is to Amy for pushing her to meet her goals.
Physical therapists are sometimes referred to as “drill sergeants” for their tenacity in pushing their patients to achieve more.  Amy obviously blends that characteristic with a caring and personal touch. 
As staff at MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute we have all heard Dr. Rowe, the founder of the Institute, say hundreds of times, “Keep your eye on the ball by always doing what is right for the patient.”  By following that mantra, Amy is rewarded with this heartfelt testimony.  Thank you Audra.

30 Year Chronic Migraine Sufferer Finds Relief

  

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Suffering from daily migraines for 20-plus years could become so debilitating for some, that it would be hard to keep searching for answers.  Fortunately, this person persisted in finding the solution that worked for her.  Many physicians and so-called experts have a couple of “tricks up their sleeve” that might work for a majority of headache sufferers, but there has never been, nor will there probably ever be, a single solution for every headache patient.

The best solution is to find a dedicated headache center that will work with you in a comprehensive manner to determine:

• What kind of headache you are having.
• What are the underlying causes of your headaches?
• What is the best solution to treat the root causes of your headache for the long term?
• What is the right short term solution for you while you work towards your long term plan?

Neurologist, Dr. Dana Winegarner, leads the Headache Center at MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute.  Dr. Winegarner recorded a DVD titled “Headache Secrets You Always Wanted to Know…But Didn’t Know Who to Ask.” that he send home with every new patient.  If you live within a reasonable travel distance to our Kansas City area clinic and would like a free copy of the DVD, please complete the Headache DVD Request Form and we will put one in the mail for you.

Sleep Apnea Survivor

  

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This sleep apnea patient from MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute’s Sleep Center makes several key points about sleep apnea, treated vs untreated, that deserve to be unpacked for deeper explanation.

Falling asleep while driving
This has become an increasing health hazard not only for sleepy drivers, but for everybody on the road.  Large trucking companies are finally recognizing the problem and screening their drivers for sleep apnea.  The transportation industry has recognized that treating sleep disorders can not only reduce accidents but lower health care costs due to lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and other sleep disorder co-morbidities.
Tried CPAP, BiPAP and BiPAP Auto
For some patients an adjustment period is needed before they are comfortable (compliant) with their equipment.  Finding a sleep center and/or DME provider that will work to find the solution for you is critical.  There are a variety of machine settings as well as masks (full face, nasal mask, nasal pillows) such that a clinically therapeutic yet comfortable configuration can be obtained for almost every patient.
Dreams again after 12 years without dreaming
Although dreaming can happen in many stages of sleep, it is highly unlikely that the restorative sleep that our bodies require is not occurring if dreams are never present.
Get through a day without falling asleep
The National Sleep Foundation conducted a survey and estimates the lost productivity, due to sleep disorders to be over $63 billion.
Can now drive home after the day without falling asleep
Non-restorative sleep, due to untreated sleep apnea, not only reduces productivity and increases multiple health risks, it results in daytime drowsiness.  Poor quality sleep at night can lead to the onset of sleep at all the wrong times – such as while driving.
Life changing
What are you waiting for?  If you snore or have been told your breathing pauses while asleep – there is life changing help available for you.  Find an accredited sleep center near you that will diagnose your specific problem and work with you for the best solution to fix your sleep disorder.

MS and Cane Free Thanks to Physical Therapy

  

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Cane free and headache free! 

This is a wonderful testimonial to the doctors and physical therapists at MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute.  Another example of how someone's life was  drastically improved simply because a doctor didn't dismiss some symptoms (in this case headaches) as an unfortunate consequences of having multiple sclerosis. 

Headache Information Group of Kansas City

  

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Neurologist, Dr. Dana Winegarner, of MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute (MANI) led the first meeting of the Headache Interest Group of Kansas City.  The Group meets on the first Thursday of each month (except January and July) from 6:30-8:00 PM.  The Headache Interest Group of Kansas City is sponsored by KU Medical Center and MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute.  The goal of these monthly meetings is to educate and inform headache sufferers on the resources available to them throughout the Kansas City area (see introductory video below). 

The meeting was held at MANI’s headquarters in Lenexa and featured a short talk by the founder of the Institute, neurologist Dr. Vernon Rowe (video below).  Dr. Rowe spoke to the group about some of the different components that can contribute to headaches.  He went into depth on sleep disorders and their role in chronic migraine and discussed some of the research that he has conducted through MANI’s Headache Center and Sleep Disorders Center.  A future meeting will feature a presentation on sleep issues that relate to headaches as well as the lack of awareness of sleep disorders being a possible reason so many headache sufferers fail to find relief.

Next, physical therapist Shane Jackson, DPT, briefly discussed the impact that the cervical spine has on headaches (video below).  He demonstrated to the group, with a model of the spine, how some motion segments of the neck often become hyper-mobile while others lack mobility.  A future meeting will feature a presentation by a MANI’s physical therapist on some of the methods they utilize and outcomes they have experienced for their patients with chronic migraine.

The next meeting will be February 2^nd at 6:30 and will be held at the Prairie Village Community Center at 7700 Mission Road in Prairie Village, KS.  This meeting will introduce a new tool, “6 M’s of Headache” - Methods, Management, Meditation, Memory, Movement and Medication. 

No RSVP is required but you may call 913-588-0608 with any questions. Stay informed by "Liking" MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute on Facebook.

Stress & Sleep Part II: Coping Skills for Thought-Racing When It’s Time to Sleep

  

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In Part I, we talked about how thought-racing can trigger physiological changes called The Stress Response, and that chronic activation of this response can not only fuel insomnia, but can also lead to potentially harmful biological changes in the body and brain that can lead to other medical conditions. So, how can we convince the brain (and of course, ourselves), that we’re under no immediate danger, and that now is the time to sleep? Shutting down thought-racing and worry can be as simple as practicing a few tricks that are used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which research has shown to help address distressing thoughts as they occur.

Try this coping skill exercise for thought-racing in the next week. See if you notice less thought-racing, and as a result less stress, when you are trying to go to sleep:

1. Get up briefly (turn on only a small light) and get a piece of paper and pen.
2. Make three columns on the paper, labeled: 1) Situation, 2) Negative Thoughts, 2) and Positive Thoughts.
3. Briefly describe the situation(s) you are thinking about, in the first column. An example might be, “I’m worried about my sister’s health…she is going through medical tests to determine a diagnosis for her chest pain”. Though of course you are concerned about your sister, staying up all night worrying is probably not going to help her (or you).
4. For each situation, write down the negative thoughts associated with that situation in the second (“Negative Thoughts”) column. Going with our previous example, this might be, “I don’t know how she is doing.”, “I wish I could help her”, and, “Who is going to take care of her family?”. When thought-racing occurs, many people get stuck in the negative thoughts and never move on to more healthy and productive coping. That’s when the third column becomes useful.
5. Find a more positive thought to counteract each negative thought, and write it in the third (“Positive Thoughts”) column. For each of the negative thoughts above in #4, a few positive alternatives may be, “I’ll be able to get more information about her health in time”, “I can ask her about what ways she needs my help over the next week”, and, “I can see what other resources I have and can offer to her if/when she needs them”.
6. After you have identified some positive alternative thoughts, notice how you feel. Most people feel less anxious, worried, agitated, sad, etc. after going through this exercise. Using this and other techniques can help you feel more relaxed, making it easier to get to sleep.

Many studies have tied CBT coping skills like this one to reduced anxiety, depression, and other negative emotional states that interfere with sleep. One study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that using CBT coping strategies increased both sleep time and sleep efficiency for those with chronic insomnia (Edinger, et al., 2001). Other CBT exercises can be found in a variety of books on the market today (e.g. Edinger & Carney, 2008).

For additional help in using CBT techniques to aid in sleep, Dr. Carolyn Karr at MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute offers sessions for those who would like help in applying these coping aids to their nightly sleep efforts.

Dr. Carolyn Karr is a neuropsychologist that practices at MidAmerica Neuroscience Institute in Lenexa, KS.