Our Nervous Systems Under Siege!

The Epidemic of ADHD, Autism, Depression Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Disease – Part I

by Dr. Greg Fors, DC – Board Certified Neurologist DIBCN Posted On: 04/10/2009

Why is it important for the doctor chiropractic to understand the importance of promoting neurologic health in today’s practice?

Let’s look at the facts.
Today the most common mental health disorder in children is ADHD. In some cities, the incidence of ADHD has reached an astounding rate of 10% to 15% of school-age children.(1) Autism was relatively rare before 1990, after which its prevalence skyrocketed by three to five times. The rate of autistic spectrum disorder has now reached epidemic levels.(2) According to a CDC report published February 8th, 2007, about one in 150 children will develop autism or a related disorder like Asperger’s syndrome by the age of eight. Whereas the autistic rate for children of Amish people around Middlefield is only 1 out of 15,000 births.(3) More than 45% of the population suffers from mood disorders, with 30% affected by depression, and over 15% with anxiety syndromes.(4) Could this explosion of affective and behavioral disorders be a harbinger of a tsunami of neurodegenerative diseases to come? Some experts believe this to be true.

Today the most feared disease among Americans is no longer cancer, but Alzheimer’s disease, and for good reason. It is a devastating disorder that steals your memories and personality. Alzheimer’s disease is now the number one neurodegenerative disorder today, with someone devloping this disorder every 72 seconds.(5) In just the last five years, Alzheimer’s has grown by 10%, with more than 5 million currently diagnosed with this disorder. It is expected to climb in the US beyond 16 million cases by the year 2050, and more than one out of 10 of these cases will be early onset Alzheimer’s disease.(6)

It is estimated by the World Health Organization that there are currently 18 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s disease. As we shall see, there are important reasons why this is happening within the most developed countries. Furthermore, worldwide Alzheimer’s disease is projected to explode to nearly 100 million cases in a mere 17 years. Most of this increase will occur in the developed first world! This exponential growth of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the world and US are expected to bankrupt health care systems in the very near future. The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias already amount to more than $148 billion annually.(7)

Parkinson’s disease is now the second most common neuro degenerative disorder in the world today. The majority of Parkinson cases is not inherited, but instead is related to environmental factors. Parkinson’s disease is now increasing by more than 50,000 new cases each year.(8) Associated risk factors for these neurodegenerative diseases are chemical exposure, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, immune and metabolic conditions, endocrine conditions, head trauma; all that are impacted by genetic polymorphisms and increasing age.

Does the explosion of behavioral and emotional disorders, as well as neurodegenerative diseases perplex you? Are your patients asking you questions about ADHD, autism, depression, or Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease? As a healthcare professional, are you concerned about this growing epidemic? Increasing numbers of your chiropractic patients are showing early signs of an injured nervous system; signs and symptoms such as hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, difficulty making decisions or problem solving, and mild impaired comprehension of written and spoken words.

In my seminar on neurologic health, doctors learn to recognize these signs, understand the underlying pathophysiology and proper nutraceutical intervention for these neurological disorders. We explore fascinating research showing how these disorders are interrelated and arise from an injured nervous system. Through mastering the use of diet and specific nutraceuticals for the prevention of neurodegeneration, the doctor chiropractic can assist their patients in circumventing these disorders. “Early appropriate nutraceuticals intervention may actually prevent or at least delay the course of the neurodegenerative process,” according to Delanty and Dichter reported in the Archives of Neurology 2000.

My seminar, “Natural Support for Neurologic Health,” will give you a better understanding of these complex disorders and provide you with knowledge that allows you to provide your self, family and patients with optimal neurologic health. My article next month will investigate the importance of diet and nutraceuticals in the prevention and treatment of these neurological disorders. The goal of my seminar is knowledgeable doctors of chiropractic, who can help their patients avoid developing, or progressing to the full extent of these horrific and debilitating disorders.

1. Gupta VB. Manual of Developmental and Behavioral Problems in Children. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 1999.
2. Bryson SE, Smith IM, Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Re 1998; 4:97-103.
3. The United Press International Washington, D.C. June 08, 2005.
4. MSNBC Health – 2001
5. www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_alzheimer_statistics.asp
6. www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-03-20-alzheimers-report_n.html
7. www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_alzheimer_statistics.asp MSNBC Health – 2001