Learning Objectives

• Describe the energy producing ability of the mitochondria & their role in revitalizing neurological tissue
• Recognize common neurotransmitter imbalances & how to diagnose them
• Discuss new treatment modalities for multiple sclerosis, stroke recovery, Parkinson's disease, ALS & Alzheimer's disease
• Recognize the parameters within the Functional Medicine Matrix that would indicate the need for attention to neurotransmitter function & identify common antecedents, triggers & mediators when an imbalance or dysfunction is suspected
• Identify basic neurochemistry as it relates to mood & cognition
• Outline some of the many interactions of neurotransmitters with hormonal function & dysfunction
• Explore cutting edge modalities in neurotransmitter and other advanced biomarker and genetic testing and understanding their functional roles in behavior and neurological conditions
• Discuss advanced neuroendocrine immune testing methods to identify early treatment intervention, and order of treatment to optimize neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive outcome in the complicated patient
• Identify clinical tools underlying inflammatory conditions which can result in misdiagnosis and treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders
• Review the basics of neuroimaging in identifying its impact on affective mood disorders and predicting potential psychopathology in the high risk clinical patient
• Differentiation of ADD as a genetic disorder and the impact of additional neurocognitive variables such as brain injury, sports concussion, sleep deprivation and sleep disordered breathing/sleep apnea.
• Identification of the different symptom clusters that emerge with specific developmental time periods (early elementary, junior high, high school, college, adult, aging) resulting in specific emotional and neurocognitive concerns.
• Results of the non-medication treatment programs seen on pre and post neuropsychological evaluation