Monday, November 28, 2011
In honor of Alzheimer Awareness Month I have been asked to contribute several articles on the connection between Alzheimer’s disease and depression and how depression can affect both patients and caregivers. In an interview with practicing psychologist Dr. Deborah Serani, we discussed how careg...
Merely Me,
Thank you for an interesting interview with Dr. Deborah Serani. There is much to learn from what she had to say regarding dementia. It is helpful to hear that if one worries about memory loss it is unlikely to be due to the worst of the types of dementia.
From her last name and one of the last answers she gave regarding the use of meditation, spirituality, and yoga to prevent depression I wonder if her ethnic background is Indian, and if that is the source of her beliefs. I'd like to know on what she bases her beliefs regarding these practices and a "healthy brain." Have there been clinical trials or other studies to show that these practices do prevent depression? Is there any proof that a "healthy brain" produces a "healthy mind?" Just wondering...
patsy
Thanks for your comment Patsy!
Wanted to let you know...this interview was with Dr. Nitin Sethi. But a previous interview was with Dr. Deborah Serani. Dr. Sethi is from India. And I may pass along your question as he answer it more adequately than I can.
I am so glad you stopped by to read!
Thank you Patsy and Merely me. Now to answer your question. Yes my ethnic background is Indian. I was born in New York but raised in India so very much carry those roots with me. While completing my residency training in New York City, I became very interested in the eastern philosophies . Anyone who has read eastern philosophies shall agree with me that Hinduism and Buddhism are not “really” religions, rather what they preach is more a way of life. The eastern philosophers were enchanted by the mysteries of the human mind and spent a lot of time pondering over the same. Questions like why is the mind so restless and how can this restless mind be controlled are topics on which entire books were written. In my personal experience as a physician neurologist a healthy brain and a healthy mind go hand in hand. While it is possible to have one without the other ( like for example take the example of Professor Stephen W Hawking. You will agree with me that he has a healthy mind . Books like “ A Brief History of Time” are a testament to that. On the other hand, many people shall argue that his brain is unhealthy as he suffers from a neurodegenerative condition called Motor Neuron Disease) in the vast majority of cases the health of the brain and mind are closely intertwined.
A healthy brain is relatively easy to define. A brain free of disease such as Alzheimer’s dementia, stroke, multiple sclerosis and so forth is a healthy brain. What is a healthy mind though is much tougher to define. Let me explain with a few examples.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->30-year-old woman with anxiety and depression: unhealthy mind or not?
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->30-year-old woman with panic attacks: unhealthy mind or not?
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->30-year-old woman who has no anxiety or depression but is a compulsive worrier: unhealthy mind or not?
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->30-year-old woman who has no “psychiatric” conditions but likes to shop lift—unhealthy mind or not?
I think you understand the point I am trying to make here. The health of the mind is indeed very hard to define and hence we lack good studies on this subject.
Now to the question whether the qualities I listed of a healthy mind namely inner peace, calmness, introspection, tranquility and by no means is this list all inclusive prevent depression. All I can say is that we still do not know the answer. I personally believe in the healing powers of meditation, spirituality and yoga and if my patients are open to it, I do recommend it to them.
Nitin Sethi, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurology
New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Weill Cornell Medical Center
New York, NY 10065
Director and Chief Coordinator
Brain Care Foundation
http://braindiseases.info
http://braindiseases.wordpress.com