Study Points the Way to Improved Living for Adults with Concentration/Learning Problems
Adults who have been diagnosed with learning and attention disorders may find solutions to their problems with Chiropractic. The findings of a pilot study recently published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research suggest that Chiropractic treatment may help adults suffering from concentration and learning difficulties.
Research has shown that so-called conditions like “Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder” (ADHD), traumatic brain injuries, dementia and Parkinson’s disease all reduce concentration. In the United States alone, between 1-6 percent of adults and 3-10 percent of children are said to suffer from “ADHD”. Additional problems with living have been known to happen as well, including higher rates of car accidents, increased substance abuse, greater risk of failing in school or on the job, increased likelihood of divorce and greater difficulty in managing money.
The recent study was performed at the Centre Wellness NeuroFit in Lausanne, Switzerland, under the guidance of Centre Director Dr. Yannick Pauli, DC. “In this pilot study, we used objective outcome measures to evaluate attention in nine adult patients before and after two months of wellness Chiropractic care. All patients experienced significant improvement in concentration,” said Dr. Pauli, a chiropractor specializing in wellness neurology.
The connection between attention and Chiropractic is not readily obvious to most people since chiropractors work mainly with spinal manipulation. However, according to the researchers, there is a direct link between the spine and activity in the brain. “As a chiropractor specializing in wellness neurology, I understand that the spine is as much about neurology as it is about biomechanics,” said Dr. Pauli. The articulations and the muscles of the spine are rich sensors that send information to the nerve system. “Each time we work with the spine, we activate neurological circuits in the direction of the brain and bring the nerve system into balance.”
Dr. Pauli also notes that chiropractors affect a small part at the back of the brain called the cerebellum. Studies have shown that this structure is involved in attention. “Higher parts of the brain are also dependent upon the proper balance and function in the cerebellum,” he said. “If the cerebellum does not function at par, the rest of the brain becomes somewhat clumsy. By activating the spinal receptors and balancing the cerebellum, we help the brain function better.”
“Although the results are preliminary and more research is needed,” said Dr. Pauli, “the outcome of the study suggests that patients suffering from “attention deficit” benefited from Chiropractic care.”
