Dr. Daniel Amen: Brain Boosting Habits

Marijuana Lowers Brain Blood Flow, Doesn’t Prevent Alzheimer’s

Contrary to popular belief, Dr. Amen states that marijuana reduces blood flow across all brain regions, ages the brain, and increases risks of psychosis and mental health issues in teens. He debunks claims that it prevents Alzheimer’s, noting low blood flow is a top predictor of the disease.

• Marijuana reduces blood flow in all areas of the brain.
• It increases risk of psychosis and mental health struggles in vulnerable individuals.
• It does not prevent Alzheimer’s—low blood flow is a key predictor, which marijuana worsens.

How Trauma Leaves a Mark on the Brain

Dr. Amen explains that emotional trauma creates a 'diamond pattern' of overactivity in the limbic system, making people prone to intrusive thoughts and emotional reactions. This neural imprint can be triggered years later by seemingly unrelated cues, such as a smell or image.

• Emotional trauma causes overactivity in the limbic brain.
• This creates a 'diamond pattern' visible in brain scans.
• Trauma can be reactivated by sensory triggers like smell or sight.

Obesity Shrinks the Brain and Lowers Function

Dr. Amen explains that obesity correlates with reduced brain blood flow, especially in the prefrontal cortex, impairing focus, judgment, and impulse control. He coined 'dinosaur syndrome'—big body, little brain—to emphasize the danger of rising obesity rates.

• Overweight individuals show lower blood flow to the front of the brain.
• This affects focus, forethought, and impulse control.
• He coined 'dinosaur syndrome' to describe the brain drain from obesity.

How COVID-19 Harms the Brain

Dr. Amen explains that COVID-19 increases brain inflammation, particularly affecting the limbic system, leading to higher risks of anxiety, depression, brain fog, and irritability. He also notes loss of taste and smell as neurological symptoms requiring retraining.

• COVID-19 increases inflammation in the brain.
• It overactivates the limbic system, raising risks for mood disorders.
• Smell retraining can help patients regain sensory function.

The 13 Inner Dragons That Haunt Us

Dr. Amen describes 'dragons' as internalized emotional patterns from childhood and ancestry, such as the 'abandoned,' 'inferior,' or 'death' dragon. These subconscious forces influence behavior and must be identified and managed.

• Dragons represent unresolved emotional patterns from past experiences.
• His primary dragon is the 'abandoned invisible' dragon.
• The 'ancestral dragon' carries trauma passed through genetic code.

How Lebanese Heritage Shaped His Drive and Career

Dr. Daniel Amen reflects on how his Lebanese heritage and family background instilled a strong work ethic and ambition. He credits his father’s journey from poverty to success as a key influence on his own drive, while also appreciating being the second son, which gave him freedom to pursue psychiatry instead of the family business.

• His grandparents were poor immigrants from Bethlehem and Haifa.
• His father worked his way up from a grocery clerk to chairman of a $4 billion company.
• As the second son in a traditional Lebanese family, he felt less pressure and more freedom to choose his own path.

The Goat Story: A Childhood Trauma That Haunted Him

Dr. Amen shares a poignant childhood memory where his beloved pet goat, Sugar, was killed and served for dinner after eating his father’s roses. This traumatic event resurfaced decades later when he smelled goat meat in Mexico, triggering a panic attack and illustrating how early emotional wounds can linger in the brain.

Using Havening to Heal Emotional Trauma

Dr. Amen describes havening, a self-administered technique involving gentle touch to stimulate bilateral brain activity, which helped him process grief after his father’s death. He used it to transform a painful memory of his father’s mortuary photo into a positive one.

• Havening involves stroking arms, face, or hands to calm the nervous system.
• He used it to reduce distress from a photo of his deceased father.
• After repeated use, the memory became comforting instead of painful.

How to Kill Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTS)

Dr. Amen introduces 'ANTS'—Automatic Negative Thoughts—and shares strategies to manage them, including writing them down, questioning their truth, and personifying the mind (e.g., naming it 'Hermie') to create psychological distance.

• ANTS are intrusive negative thoughts that harm mental health.
• Writing them down and questioning their truth reduces their power.
• Naming your mind (e.g., 'Hermie') helps create distance from negative chatter.

Table Tennis and Dancing Boost Brain Function

Dr. Amen highlights coordination exercises like table tennis and dancing as powerful brain boosters. These activities engage the cerebellum, improving decision-making and cognitive function through bilateral stimulation.

• Table tennis engages eyes, hands, and feet while processing spin and strategy.
• Dancing is a coordination exercise that enhances brain function.
• The cerebellum, involved in coordination, influences thinking and decisions.

Love Your Brain: The Key to Long-Term Health

Dr. Amen advocates for 'brain envy'—caring deeply about brain health—as essential for success and well-being. He emphasizes avoiding harmful substances not as deprivation, but as an act of love for oneself and one’s mission.

• Brain health should be as prioritized as physical fitness.
• Avoiding alcohol and marijuana is an act of self-love, not deprivation.
• Your brain is the organ of success in business and life.