Gluten Myths

Philadelphia New 6 ABC aired a segment entitled, “Can going Gluten-free make you fat?” I wanted to take a moment to address some of the misinformation presented. The following is a statement taken from the segment, “If you have no intolerance symptoms such as stomach pain and bloating after eating gluten, then despite some of the buzz experts say going gluten free isn't worth the hassle or the money.” This statement implies that gluten intolerance symptoms only present as gut symptoms. This is GROSSLY incorrect. In fact, gluten sensitivity being regarded as principally a disease of the small bowel is a historical misconception. (J. Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2002) The majority of patients with Celiac disease have NO gastrointestinal symptoms. For every one person with gastrointestinal symptoms there are eight people without gastrointestinal symptoms. (BMJ 1999) Undiagnosed/non compliant patients with Celiac have an increased risk of dying from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma times 11.4, cancer of small intestine times 17.3, inflammatory bowel disease times 70.9, disorders of immune deficiency times 20.9, etc. (Arch Intern Med 2003). I hope this segment does not mislead any viewers not to seek appropriate medical advice for a suspected problem, that mistake could be fatal. Going gluten-free is not about weight loss, it is about health. If you would like more information, visit us at www.functionalneuro.com or email at drcaffery@gmail.com

Yours in health,

Drs. Chris & Lauren Caffery

Mirror therapy and limb pain

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine 2007 demonstrates the benefit of mirror therapy in the treatment of phantom limb pain. Mirror therapy simply involves moving the intact limb on the opposite side of the body, and viewing the reflection of the limb in the mirror. This gives the perception of moving the amputated limb. In the study, 100% of the subjects utilizing mirror therapy had a decrease in their pain.

We utilize mirror therapy in our practice in the treatment of patients with phantom limb pain, complex regional pain syndrome (RSD), and post strokes. The reason it is effective is due to the fact that it creates the cortical perception of moving the injured or amputated limb. The movement stimulation of the limb serves to activate areas of the brain that will inhibit pain. With regular practice this will create “plasticity” in these cortical neurons. Plasticity is an increased level of efficiency. If you know anyone with these aforementioned conditions please share this information will them as it can be life changing. If you would like more information about of approach to patient care please visit www.functionalneuro.com

Yours in health,

Drs. Chris & Lauren Caffery

Belly Fat and Dementia Risk

First, we would like to say Happy New Year to everyone, and hope that you all enjoyed the holiday season. Many people indulge themselves during the holidays and find that they have put on some extra pounds the past few weeks. If you are one of the many Americans that have made New Year's resolutions to lose weight this year, this article might prove to be another motivating factor.

The Journal of Neurology 2009 reported that a high midlife waist to hip ratio (greater than .80) more than doubled the risk of developing dementia. So what does this mean to you? A high waist to hip ratio would be caused by an increase in belly fat (measuring around waist) relative to hip circumference (measuring around the hips). So look at yourself in the mirror and ask the question, “Is my waist bigger than my hips?” If they are the same size, then this would be a waist to hip ratio of 1.0. Now you must understand that belly fat accumulation is associated with insulin resistance and hypercortisolemia.

Insulin is the hormone that facilitates glucose to get into your cells. If you have elevations in insulin due to poor lifestyle then your cells can become resistant to the effects of insulin. When they become resistant to insulin, glucose is less efficient at getting into your cells. If your fasting glucose rises to 126 then you are referred to as “diabetic”, if it reaches 115 you are referred to as “prediabetic”. Optimally your fasting glucose should not be over 100. If it is, then this is a sign of insulin resistance, and needs to be addressed.

Hypercortisolemia means high cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone made in your adrenal glands. Stress can come in the form of emotional stress, underlying food sensitivities, chronic gut infections, inflammatory conditions, dysglycemias (unstable blood sugar), etc. One of the most common forms of stress is from unstable blood sugar. Cortisol levels can be evaluated very simply with a four point salivary cortisol test. Not only is it important to look for quantity of cortisol, but also cortisol rhythm. Cortisol levels change throughout the day and four samples allow this “rhythm” to be evaluated. If this rhythm is lost then it is a sign of hippocampal degeneration (the area in the brain lost with dementia).

We routinely look at fasting glucose and four point cortisol testing, and it is rare that we do not find a problem here. If you would like more information about our approach to patient care please visit www.functionalneuro.com.

Yours in health, Drs. Chris & Lauren Caffery