MeRT Can Help to Optimize Cognitive Performance
This treatment is now available at the Brain Treatment Center. It’s called MeRT, which stands for Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy.
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 burn out. 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 which 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!
Doctors Julie Kim and Sandy Lee have brought this state-of-the-art, emerging, technology to the Newport Beach and surrounding areas. MeRT(sm) stands for Magnetic E (EEG/EKG) Resonance Therapy. It is both non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical. It’s used to treat different types of dysregulation in the brain by neuromodulating electrical signals and neural pathways which stimulates and reorganizes brain function, which can help to improve cognitive performance.
Some of the 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
- Less cravings for alcohol and/or drugs
- More energy
- Improved social skills
- Improved self-confidence
- Elevated sports/athletic performance
While the equipment used in MeRT(sm) treatment has been FDA-cleared 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 and 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(sm) can sharpen your brain performance, and help you to live a life of vitality again!
Your Brain is as Unique as Your Fingerprints!
The way that your brain functions and reacts is unique to you. No two brains ever function exactly the same. The MeRT(sm) treatment protocol is completely 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.
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The MeRT Process
MeRT is a non-pharmaceutical and non-invasive treatment.
MeRT (Magnetic E (EKG and EEG) Resonance Therapy is a treatment protocol that evolved from a technology called TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) or rTMS (Repetitive transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). However, TMS is a more generalized approach because it is only able to target a single location in the brain with one frequency.
Studies have shown that brain wave oscillations are altered in patients suffering from conditions such as Major Depression Disorder (MDD), Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, and more. MeRT(sm) treatment protocol uses a magnetic field to balance and stimulate brain function. The technology involves using very sophisticated diagnostics and imaging so that the treatment is customized for each individual and a personalized protocol is then tailored based on the location, frequency, and amount of power used by the magnet, specific to each person’s unique condition. MeRT(sm) is used to improve brain communication, synchronization, and can lead to significant and long-lasting improvements.
Much of the initial MeRT(sm) 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(sm) 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.
What to Expect
If you are interested in seeing if MeRT(sm) treatment is right for you, we will initially schedule two appointments, both of which are about 45 minutes in length. At the first appointment, our neuro-technician will perform a qEEG and an EKG. These procedures are painless and involves the patient sitting in a chair until the test is completed. The results will then be compiled, and sent to our physician, Sandy Lee, M.D. for interpretation within 48 hours. At your second appointment, our clinician will have a one on one consultation with you to confirm that you or your child is a candidate for treatment, answer any additional questions that you may have, and schedule the assessment period for treatment. Our office manager, Maria, will also meet with you to provide you with a brief orientation so that you are clear on expectations. If you are not local, she will also provide you with additional information about Newport Beach and things to do while you are here.
During the assessment period, treatment is administered every day, Monday through Thursday, 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.
A typical treatment session takes about 45 minutes. The patient will sit in a chair while the neurotechnician administers the treatment via a hand-held magnet that is held near the scalp. The magnetic impulses are delivered for 6-8 seconds each minute. There may be a slight sensation felt while the treatment is occurring, but it is not painful or uncomfortable.
Typically, after going through the assessment treatment period, MeRT(sm) treatment lasts anywhere from 6 – 8 weeks, however in some cases, additional treatment time 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.
Insurance Coverage
Our clinic does not accept insurance. We can provide you with the appropriate paperwork at the end of your treatment so that you can submit it to your insurance company to see if they would provide you with any reimbursement.
Currently, rTMS is FDA cleared for Depression and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.) Treatment for all other conditions is considered “off label” at this time, though we are hopeful that treatment for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) will be FDA cleared at some point in the next couple of years. For non-FDA approved treatment, it is highly unlikely that any 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, depending on their health coverage. Medicare patients have reported that their coverage provides no reimbursement for MeRT.
Additional Payment Options
We take all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
Care Credit is also an option to assist in financing medical expenses. Care Credit is a separate company than The Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach, and is a credit card that can be used to 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 let you know if you are approved very promptly.
Starting as a New Patient
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 who are affected by brain disorders to feel frustrated and isolated, and many have lost hope that there is any relief in sight. MeRT(sm) is a treatment protocol that has helped patients restore their brain function, reclaim their lives, and feel passionate about living again. We understand what you are going through, and our goal is to help guide you through the process so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not MeRT(sm) is the right treatment for you.
Many of our clinicians and technicians have gone through MeRT(sm) treatment protocols themselves and have realized first hand what the treatment has done for them, and as a result, are passionate about helping others to heal too.
Our New Patient Coordinator is available to answer any questions that you may have about how MeRT(sm) can help you specifically. She’ll take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, 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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