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The Rise of Mood and Cognition Disorders

• Cognitive disorders have risen to alarming levels in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):¹
  
  
• An estimated 26.2% of Americans ages 18 and older—1 in 4 adults—suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.
  
  
• When applied to the 2004 U.S. Censsus residential population estimate for ages 18 and older, this figure translates to 57.7 million people.

Mood disorders are among the most common diagnosable cognitive disorders. About 20.9 million American adults, or about 1 in 10, have a mood disorder—and these conditions often occur as co-morbidities:¹

• The median age of onset for mood disorders is 30 years.
  
  
• Depressive disorders often co-occur with anxiety disorders and substance abuse.
  
  
• Approximately 40 million American adults—almost 1 out of every 5—have an anxiety disorder.
  
  
• Anxiety disorders frequently co-occur with depressive disorders or substance abuse.
  
  
• Most people with one anxiety disorder also have another anxiety disorder. Nearly 3 out of 4 people with an anxiety disorder will have their first episode by age 21.5.

Neurotransmitter Imbalances—the Root of the Problem

Neurotransmitters, which are responsible for moods, concentration, and memory, are often the culprits in mood disorders. Imbalances in these chemicals can lead to mild depression, mood swings, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. Conversely, healthy brain function can improve mood and cognition.

Illness and prescription medications can also alter moods as well as perceptions. Additionally, physical health and environment play a role in mental health. Stress, long-term illness, lack of exercise, and a nutrient-poor diet have all been linked with negative mental states.

Natural Approaches to Mental Wellness

Today a wide array of therapies is available to treat mental health, from complementary and alternative medicine to prescription drugs and counseling. In addition, recommending therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) to your patients can help improve overall health while also positively impacting neurological health:

• Get plenty of sleep. Studies show that people who sleep 7 to 8 hours each night live longer, healthier lives than those who sleep fewer hours.2 A restorative sleep will not only help your patients feel more energetic and better able to cope with stress; it is also necessary for the proper functioning of a variety of systems in the body, including the nervous system.
  
  
• Eat a better diet. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, legumes, whole grains, and fish is not only good for overall health, but recent studies have linked such a diet to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.³ They don’t call these “brain foods” for nothing.
  
  
• Start a daily exercise regimen. Exercise—even of low to moderate intensity—increases blood circulation throughout the body and prompts the release of endorphins, chemicals that help alleviate anxiety and depression. Aerobic exercise also helps prevent cardiovascular disease, which can increase the risk of dementia.⁴ Exercising the brain is also important. Staying mentally active can help challenge and maintain mental functioning.
  
  
• Take targeted supplements. Scientific research shows that concentrated levels of certain nutrients—at doses that are difficult to obtain from diet alone—may support nervous system function and neurotransmitter metabolism.^5,6
  
  
• Learn to manage stress. Along with getting plenty of sleep, good nutrition, and regular exercise, learning to manage stress is necessary for physical, mental, and emotional health.

FirstLine Therapy®—Better health now and for a lifetime

FirstLine Therapy (FLT) is a TLC program developed to help people address the underlying causes of disease and lead a healthier, more vibrant life. The basic principles of FLT—healthy eating, regular exercise, nutritional supplementation, and stress management—are the foundation upon which you can build a program tailored to your patients’ specific needs. And you can build your practice at the same time.

Make up your mind to improve your patients’ cognitive health today! Learn more about FirstLine Therapy and the FirstLine Therapy Certification Program click here.

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REFERENCES 

1. The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America. National Institutes of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america.shtml. Accessed December 18, 2007.
2. Ferrie JE, Shipley MJ, Cappuccio FP, et al. A Prospective Study of Change in Sleep Duration: Associations with Mortality in the Whitehall II Cohort. Sleep. 2007; 30(12):1659-1666.
3. Scarmeas N , Stern Y, Mayeux R, Luchsinger JA. Mediterranean diet, Alzheimer disease, and vascular mediation. Arch Neurol 2006 Dec;63(12):1709-17. Epub 2006 Oct 9.
4. Whitmer RA, Sidney S, Selby J, Johnston SC, Yaffe K. Midlife cardiovascular risk factors and risk of dementia in late life. Neurology. 2005; 64(2):277-2781.
5. Brain: The World Inside Your Head. http://www.pfizer.com/brain/etour3.html. Accessed December 5, 2007.
6. Leszek J, Inglot AD, Janusz M, et al. Colostrinin® proline-rich polypeptide complex from bovine colustrum—a long-term study of its efficacy in Alzheimer’s disease. Med Sci Monit. 002;8(10):193-196.