FONAR Symposium New York (April 2013)

Dr. Hasick attended a special MRI conference April 6, 2013 in New York City:

“The Cranio-Cervical Junction (CCJ) and Its Impact on Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Flow.”

The conference was hosted by FONAR and Dr. Raymond Damadian, who is the inventor of the MRI. Being with the inventor of the MRI and his team was a truly historic event. To hear Dr. Damadian on the podium telling a room full of about 115 MDs that adjusting the atlas is a ‘missing link’ in medicine was inspiring. He supported this statement using upright MRI imaging at the cranio-cervical junction and CSF flow study by cine phase contrast MRI (PC-MRI). The before – after images obtained by Dr. Scott Rosa using the Atlas Orthogonal atlas adjusting procedure created much interest and conversation by the MD audience.

Dr. William Bradley who developed the MRI for clinical use and ‘discovered’ phase contrast was in attendance urging further research of this topic. Dr. Bradley is the author of the three volume MRI textbook currently used in medical schools around the world.

Dr. Noam Alperin presented on his phase contrast MRI procedure in noninvasively measuring intracranial pressure (ICP) and intracranial compliance (ICCI). Of great interest was his recent publication of brain changes and ICP in comparing ‘normal’ subjects to those with mild traumatic brain injury. Dr. Alperin is currently reviewing all the PC-MRI data from the Calgary NUCCA Migraine Study. This is the collaborative project between the Britannia Clinic, University of Calgary, The CHAMP Headache Clinic and EFW Radiology where the PC-MRI scans were performed.

Dr. Joseph C. Maroon, the team neurologist for the Pittsburgh Steelers has developed “IMPACT”, a procedure of measuring the effects of trauma on the brain. His presentation centered on the inflammatory effects in the brain resulting from trauma. He showed how the inflammatory process prevents healing, especially if trauma is continual (as in sports), which may be another missing piece of the brain damage puzzle. This makes sense if CSF flow is inhibited, making it more difficult to remove the inflammatory toxins resultant from the trauma.

Garo Yepremian, two-time NFL Super Bowl Champion with the Miami Dolphins also provided a presentation and encouraged further research into the brain function. Dr. Rosa showed images showing the reversal of aberrant CSF flow and cerebral ‘white’ plaqueing following the correction of the atlas subluxation. Further study is being done.

Attendance at the Symposium by Drs. Hasick and Woodfield allowed for us to discuss the NUCCA procedure to the MDs in attendance. Many eyes were opened to the fact NUCCA is already investigating the CSF flow physiologic mechanism using an objective outcome measure (PC-MRI) and intracranial compliance in the Calgary NUCCA Migraine Study.

The potential for ground breaking research is possible only through the support by our patients through the “Small Steps Campaign” each year and through the generous help from the Corporate Supporters and Private Foundations that help us conduct meaningful clinical research.