Today I received an email from a mom (I’ll call her H.) who has had her daughter on the Changing Minds protocol for the past year. She reports some very encouraging data about her daughter’s increase in head circumference. She has given me permission to share this data with you. First H quoted Merck to explain the normal rates of head circumference growth:
Head circumference reflects brain size and is routinely measured up to 2 yr. At birth, the brain is 25% of adult size, and head circumference averages 35 cm. Head circumference increases an average 1 cm/mo during the 1st year; growth is more rapid in the first 8 mo, and by 12 mo, the brain has completed ½ its postnatal growth and is 75% of adult size. Head circumference increases 3.5 cm over the next 2 yr; by age 3 yr, the brain is 80% of adult size, 90% by age 7 yr.
This means that head circumference shows a rapid increase, and then levels off. A picture would show a rapidly rising line, and then leveling off by about age three. Here is a chart of average head circumferences in Down syndrome. H. went on to give her own daughter’s data.
With that in consideration, here’s what happened with my daughter:
- at birth, her head size measured around 36cm.
- Age 1: 45cm
- Age 2.5 – 3.5: 47cm
- Age 4.5: 49 cm
- Age 5.5 – 10.5: 50cm (puberty started at age 9)
- Age 11.5: 54 cm
I’ve plotted H.’s data (violet) on the DS growth chart. Click on the thumbnail for the full picture. You can clearly see the leveling of the average growth, as well as the leveling of H.’s daughter’s growth. The child increased only 1 cm in the six years from age 4.5 to 10.5 which clearly shows that her days of rapid head growth are over. Here’s more data on average head circumference going into adolescence. Scroll to Table 5.2. which shows the greatest growth is in the first three years of age . From age 6 to 12 the average child takes three years for only one cm of growth. So what is the big deal? This:
Her head grew in the last year almost as much as it did in the prior 10 years.
In one year this child’s head grew 4 cm.– at a time in life when it should have taken three years to grow 1 cm.
Hmmm…..why? As I said puberty had started 2.5 years ago, her height and weight shot up, which is indicative of that. So it stands to reason her head should have grown also, but it didn’t.
The head didn’t grow even though the rest of the body was growing. Then suddenly the head began rapid growth.
So what changed? The only thing different….my daughter started in Oct. 2007 the Changing Minds Foundation protocol. Could her brain have grown?! New brain neurons?
The CMF protocol is here. The key components are gingko biloba which is a GABA antagonist, and prozac for neurogenesis.
Filed under: Changing Minds Foundation, development, Down Syndrome, Health, interventions, medical | Tagged: changing minds foundation, Down Syndrome, gingko, neurogenesis, prozac | Leave a Comment »
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