- Integral Medicine | Alexander Smithers M.D., A.P.1014 N. East Ave.
Sarasota, Fl. 34237941-444-6336 - 1014 N. East Ave.
Sarasota, Fl. 34237941-444-6336 - Testimonials
Dr. Alex Smithers is outstanding…a talented Dr. Who is extremely passionate about healing as well as the skills involved in rejuvenative therapies. I go to him for ozone (prolozone) and dextrose (prolotherapy) injections. Have gone to him already at least 8 times. He uses ultrasound to diagnose and monitor and his injections really work. Best of all he’s a great guy and very easy to chat with.
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I had Prolozone therapy with Dr Alex Smithers. My knees and thumbs were injected due to meniscus issues in my knees and arthritis in my thumbs. Dr Alex was wonderful. He’s very gentle, kind and patient. I’m a very nervous patient and he took his time with me and did his best to make sure I was comfortable. I’m feeling better and continue to expect more and more improvement. I highly recommend Dr Alex and his staff. TheyMy husband had severe sciatic pain so bad he was bed ridden. Because our regular Dr. was out of town we went to our chiropractor to try to get some relief. He was not able to get as much relief a he needed so Dr. Daly asked us to see Dr. Smithers – another Dr. in his office.. What a BLESSING!! Dr. Smithers is the best of both worlds Eastern and Western medicine! He suggested something called PROLOZONE therapy... Read more » - TestimonialsI would highly recommend Dr. A. Smithers if you are considering an alternative to orthopedic surgery. My shoulder has been in pain for months and after finding out I have some rotor cuff tears, I decided to pursue Prolotherapy with Dr. A. Smithers. The result so far has been outstanding! The first night after the shots was still painful, but woke up the next morning and pain was almost completely gone. I was equally impressed with his attentiveness to answering... Read more »
Dr Smithers is so acute and atuned to what others miss. I had been suffering with abdominal issues for over 20 years getting no help from traditional medicine. He found and correctly treated the issue. Words cannot describe the quality of life that has been restored to me. He’s very caring and takes the time to listen.
I had been suffering from chronic neck and shoulder pain for almost 2 decades. I tried chiropractic and acupuncture, which didn’t do anything for my pain. Using essential oils and CBD would help, but that was a temporary fix. Through an online documentary, I found this clinic in Sarasota. Meeting Dr. Smithers was the best thing that ever happened to me. He’s not just a very competent doctor, he’s also very compassionate and patient. He’s extremely knowledgeable and well read,
... Read more »Doctor Alex has been treating me for severe gut issues. I was tired of going to doctors that didn’t listen to me and would just prescribe a pill not ever trying to get to the real issues I was having. Dr. Alex has listened and treated me holistically and I am feeling great!! Thank you for everything Dr. Alex.
Dear Dr. Smithers,
This letter is to thank you for your caring, skills and services. Having Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy for over five years was pure misery. I visited over 30 doctors in over a dozen states. I scoured the computer for the best of the best, which included university professors and authors on Prolotherapy and Orthopedics. Four of those even taught Prolotherapy while others focused on Stem Cells. I even received advice on the countries leading scientist on cartilage.
... Read more »I had my second appointment with Dr. Alex Smithers today. I was treated for painful arthritic hip, back, and neck. After treatments I felt immediate results. I was able to go shopping with my daughter with no pain which wouldn’t have been possible before without considerable pain. I am very thankful to my daughter who found Dr. Alex and this office. I am also very thankful to Dr. Alex. I have flown twice from Pa. To see him and will
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Uncategorized
Mediterranean Diet and Brain Structure in the Elderly
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
- High-resolution structural MRI scanning was completed in a cohort of 674 elderly multiethnic people (mean age, 80.1 years) with no history of dementia. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire to determine adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet (MeDi). Those who showed higher adherence to a MeDi had a larger total brain volume (TBV), total gray matter volume (TGMV), and total white matter volume compared with people who showed a lower adherence to a MeDi. There was an association seen between higher fish and lower meat intake and larger TGMV as well as lower meat intake and larger TBV. Higher fish intake also showed an association with increased mean cortical thickness.
- MeDi adherence in the elderly is associated with significantly less brain atrophy. The key elements of the MeDi appear to be a higher fish intake combined with a lower meat intake.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether higher adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet (MeDi) is related with larger MRI-measured brain volume or cortical thickness.
METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, high-resolution structural MRI was collected on 674 elderly (mean age 80.1 years) adults without dementia who participated in a community-based, multiethnic cohort. Dietary information was collected via a food frequency questionnaire. Total brain volume (TBV), total gray matter volume (TGMV), total white matter volume (TWMV), mean cortical thickness (mCT), and regional volume or CT were derived from MRI scans using FreeSurfer program. We examined the association of MeDi (scored as 0–9) and individual food groups with brain volume and thickness using regression models adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, education, body mass index, diabetes, and cognition.
RESULTS
Compared to lower MeDi adherence (0–4), higher adherence (5–9) was associated with 13.11 (p = 0.007), 5.00 (p = 0.05), and 6.41 (p = 0.05) milliliter larger TBV, TGMV, and TWMV, respectively. Higher fish (b = 7.06, p = 0.006) and lower meat (b = 8.42, p = 0.002) intakes were associated with larger TGMV. Lower meat intake was also associated with larger TBV (b = 12.20, p = 0.02). Higher fish intake was associated with 0.019 mm (p = 0.03) larger mCT. Volumes of cingulate cortex, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and hippocampus and CT of the superior-frontal region were associated with the dietary factors.
CONCLUSIONS
Among older adults, MeDi adherence was associated with less brain atrophy, with an effect similar to 5 years of aging. Higher fish and lower meat intake might be the 2 key food elements that contribute to the benefits of MeDi on brain structure.