MeRT Can Help to Optimize Cognitive Performance
This treatment is now available at the Brain Treatment Center.
Simply stated, we use a magnetic field to stimulate and balance brain function, guided by very sophisticated imaging and diagnostics. It is completely non-invasive and drug-free.
Cognitive Performance can decline over time due to age, chronic stress, and certain health issues. Even if you are an overall healthy person, daily life, stressors, and other demands can cause burnout. You may not feel as good physically or as mentally sharp as you once were. No matter what your occupation or situation, the times we live in today are full of non-stop activities that can take a toll on you. Most Americans today are not getting enough sleep, which can also exacerbate the mental toll.
Symptoms of decreased cognitive performance can include:
- Poor concentration
- Lack of energy
- Burnout
- Lack of motivation
- Chronic fatigue
- Brain fog
- Depression/anxiety
- Reduced ability to handle stress
- Memory issues
- Overall feelings of dullness or numbness
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MeRT(sm) Treatment Can Help You to Feel Like Your Old Self Again and Regain Your Mental Sharpness!
Doctor Julie Kim provides this state-of-the-art technology for Cognitive Performance to Newport Beach and surrounding areas. MeRT stands for Magnetic E (EEG/EKG) Resonance Therapy. It is non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical. It’s used to treat different types of dysregulation in the brain by neuromodulating electrical signals and neural pathways. This stimulates and reorganizes brain function, which can help improve cognitive performance.
MeRT is an emerging technology that aims to improve brain function and communication. The equipment used in MeRT is FDA-cleared to treat Major Depressive Disorder and OCD and is used off-label to treat a wide variety of conditions.
Some benefits of MeRT(sm) treatment can include:
- Improved sleep
- Increased motivation
- Improved concentration skills
- Better attention span and decreased response to distractions
- Decreased anxiety
- Better mood
- Improved clarity of thinking
- Better decision-making skills
- Improved emotional stability
- Fewer cravings for alcohol and/or drugs
- More energy
- Improved social skills
- Improved self-confidence
- Elevated sports/athletic performance
While the equipment used in MeRT treatment has been FDA-approved for depression and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), it is currently used “off-label” to improve cognitive performance. It is also used “off label” to treat other conditions such as anxiety, traumatic brain injury/concussion, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, Parkinson’s disease, ADHD, other developmental disabilities, and the after-effects of stroke.
Some of our patients include CEOs, executives, athletes, and others who feel like their cognitive performance isn’t what it used to be. Stress and daily demands may not be something that you have control over however, MeRT can sharpen your brain performance and help you live a life of vitality again!
Cognitive Performance: Your Brain is as Unique as Your Fingerprints!
Your brain functions and reactions are unique to you. No two brains ever function exactly the same. The MeRT treatment protocol is customized specifically for you. We use a quantitative EEG to identify any dysregulation or decline and then use a targeted approach that focuses on improving function in the areas of your brain that are not performing as they should.
Your individual test results allow us to use the data to develop a treatment approach specifically for you in order to optimize your brain function. The treatment protocol uses a magnet to gently stimulate distinct areas of the brain, which can lead to improved communication and functionality.
The MeRT Process
MeRT is a non-pharmaceutical and non-invasive treatment.
This treatment protocol evolved from a technology called rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). However, rTMS is a more generalized approach because it can only target a single location in the brain with one frequency and is not guided by qEEG results.
Studies have shown altered brain wave oscillations in patients suffering from conditions such as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, and more. MeRT treatment protocol uses a magnetic field to balance and stimulate brain function. The technology involves using sophisticated diagnostics and imaging to customize the treatment for each individual. We then tailor a personalized protocol based on the location, frequency, and amount of power used by the magnet, specific to each person’s unique condition. As a result, MeRT can improve brain communication and synchronization and can lead to significant and long-lasting improvements.
Much of the initial MeRT research has been done by the U.S. Department of Defense for veterans returning from combat. There is an article that was published in Defense One that further explains the DOD’s research and the benefits that MeRT has been shown to have on people suffering from TBI, PTSD, and MDD. Additional studies have been completed in the private sector on other conditions.
The equipment used in MeRT is FDA-cleared to treat Major Depressive Disorder and OCD and is used off0label to treat other neurological-related conditions, including Cognitive Performance.
MeRT for Cognitive Performance: What to Expect
For the initial analysis, you will come in for a comprehensive testing appointment. We will gather your new patient paperwork, and then our chief neuro technician will perform a qEEG and EKG, which will enable us to identify any dysfunction or communication problems in your brain.
While this appointment usually takes about 45 minutes, if you are seeking treatment for your child with autism, please plan on spending an hour with us. Should you decide to proceed with treatment, we will schedule your assessment period.
If you are not yet ready to commit to going through an assessment period of treatment or prefer to have your qEEG and consultation done to ensure you are a candidate for treatment, we also offer the option of coming in for a qEEG/EKG and consultation with our clinician to see your results before proceeding with the assessment period.
Your second appointment is 45 minutes long. During this time, you will meet with Nurse Practitioner Kayleigh Prowse for your clinical evaluation. She will answer any questions you may have and discuss your applicable treatment plan. Please note that Dr. Julie Kim oversees treatment for each patient.
Assessment Period
The assessment period of treatment lasts for two weeks.
The assessment period of treatment will help you, and us, determine how you are responding to treatment. At the end of the assessment period, we will perform a second qEEG to note any changes occurring in your brain.
After completing a two-week assessment period, the patient will have their initial qEEG/EKG, and then attend treatment sessions for two weeks. The first week will be Monday through Friday, and the second week, Monday through Thursday, nine sessions in total, followed by a repeat qEEG to determine progress.
Continuing Treatment
Once the assessment period is complete, and we are seeing progress both clinically and on the qEEG, we will schedule subsequent two-week treatment periods. Because each treatment period lasts for two weeks, you must be able to stay in Newport Beach or the surrounding area. We advise that to get the most out of your treatment—and for long-lasting results—you stay for an entire six weeks of treatment (which includes the assessment period).
The comparison between the initial and second qEEG/clinical evaluation will determine if you are responding. You should also start to experience changes in the way you are feeling during this time. We highly advise a total of six weeks of treatment (which includes the assessment period) for optimal and long-lasting results.
Since each brain is unique, the protocol will be different for each patient as it is based on specific qEEG/EKG data from your brain, and the specific condition being treated. Generally, the results of treatment can last a lifetime, though some people prefer occasional follow-up treatment as needed. But each person is different, and protocols may vary. Your provider will have regularly scheduled follow-up EEGs and meet with you to gauge your progress.
Additional Information
A typical treatment session takes about 45 minutes. You will sit in a chair while the neuro-technician administers the treatment near the scalp via a hand-held magnet. The gentle magnetic impulses are delivered for six to eight seconds each minute. You may feel a slight sensation while the treatment is occurring, but it is not painful or uncomfortable.
Please note that results and improvements are based on active and strict observation of our regimens. Results may vary based on the individual users and are not guaranteed. Plus, the results of therapy can vary per individual. In general, the longer the length of MeRT therapy, the longer the changes remain.
Insurance Coverage
We are an in-network provider with TRICARE. If you have TRICARE insurance, it is possible that your policy may provide coverage, depending on your specific situation. Our New Patient Coordinator can discuss this with you in further detail.
For all other insurance, we are considered out of network and cannot file an insurance claim on your behalf. We can, however, provide you with the paperwork at the end of your treatment, which you can submit to your insurance company to see if they may provide you with any reimbursement. Unfortunately, our clinic is unable to treat patients with Medicare and Medicaid.
Currently, rTMS is FDA-approved for Depression and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) Treatment for all other conditions is considered “off-label.” For non-FDA-approved treatment, it is not likely that insurance will provide reimbursement for our protocols.
Some patients have reported that they have been able to receive some reimbursement for EEGs or clinical evaluations. But this depends on their health coverage. Medicare patients have reported that their coverage provides no reimbursement for MeRT.
We take all major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
Care Credit is also an option to help finance medical expenses. This is a separate company from The Brain Treatment Center in Newport Beach. Care Credit is a credit card that can cover medical expenses and services. They typically offer zero-interest financing for 12 months.
Usually, when you go to the Care Credit website and apply, they will promptly let you know your approval status.
Starting as a New Patient for Cognitive Performance Treatment
To get started, we will schedule an initial qEEG and then follow that with a consultation with our clinicians who can explain what the results show, and then we will proceed into the assessment period for treatment. During the assessment period, treatment is administered every day, Monday through Friday for the first week, and then Monday through Thursday the second week, followed by a repeat qEEG on Friday to see how you are responding. If there is a positive response to treatment during the assessment period, you will have likely noticed some improvements starting to take place, and we will then schedule for the additional treatment duration.
Typically, MeRT treatment lasts anywhere from 6 – 8 weeks, however, in some cases, additional treatment is recommended for optimal results. Each individual is different, and protocols may vary. Your provider will have regularly scheduled follow-up EEGs and meet with you to gauge your progress.
Contact Our New Patient Coordinator for more Information
It’s normal for patients and their families affected by brain disorders to feel alone, frustrated, and hopeless. Yet, there is hope. MeRT is a treatment protocol that has helped patients restore their brain function, reclaim their lives, and get a whole new lease on life.
We understand what you are going through. Our goal is to help guide you through the process so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not MeRT is the right treatment for you or your child.
Many of our clinicians and technicians have gone through MeRT treatment and have experienced incredible results firsthand. As a result, they are passionate about helping you to heal too.
Our New Patient Coordinator is available to answer any questions that you may have about how MeRT can help you specifically. She’ll take the time to listen to your concerns and put your mind at ease. She can also assist in getting you scheduled with the clinic should you decide to move forward with treatment.
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