BrainSpan is about empowering individuals to achieve their biological health potential in ways that are simple yet highly effective and will permeate the physical, emotional, social, and occupational (or academic) dimensions of one’s life. This enhances the quality of one’s life in addition to optimizing the process and outcomes of specific life stages that include: childhood neurodevelopment, pregnancy and fertility, and the aging process as a whole.  Lastly, there are also implications for optimizing our immune response to a variety of pathogens that threaten individuals and communities as a whole.  This is through the direct benefit of improving the quality, strength and long-term resilience of our cellular immune response.

The focus of our assessment is in specific and actionable biological parameters that comprise the structure and function of our individual cells of which we are composed. Using nutritional markers that are objective and well validated to correlate with health outcomes, we apply the lens of functional significance. This enables one to see how the nutritional, lifestyle and day to day choices we make are extremely relevant to us in the here and now; in addition to their relevance as it pertains to the risk of future negative health events.  When this is done properly, the health information we measure, which is central to the biological truth of how we are made structurally, becomes something of much more functional relevance to us today. This in turns makes the data much more meaningful and actionable when it comes to producing not just an initial decision to change, but a long term goal of staying with it.

The BrainSpan Genesis-14 Test System

A total of 14 metrics are delivered in the Genesis-14 kits, the current kit produced by BrainSpan. These 14 metrics include the following:

• 7 biological markers that include both blood fatty acids and neurocognitive function
• 7 computed metrics that enhance both patient engagement and the clinical utility of the test system.

​The computed scores are calculated from customized BrainSpan algorithms that leverage published peer reviewed science to weight various factors.  The algorithms calculate scores based on the integration of the 7 biological markers as well as several other secondary markers and demographics that have much more clinical utility if they are computed with consideration of the meaning of other well known markers.

The Fatty Acid Panel: The Biological Basis for Life

A total of 32 cellular fatty acid metrics are ran from each blood spot sample to get a true "3-D" view of the cell structural health.  BrainSpan is a unique fatty acid test in that it actually is measuring the cellular fatty acid levels which have far greater significance than total circulating levels that fluctuate day to day based on recent dietary intake alone.

The primary fatty acids that each have individual scores and full interpretation and recommendation within the BrainSpan report are listed below. BrainSpan considers these 3 markers to be the most critical for overall cell structural health.  

Primary Blood and Functional Markers

Secondary fatty acids used for both validation and computed scores.

The Cognitive Function Metrics 

The cognitive metrics that are measured with a well validated test that has been used in more than 450 peer reviewed publications are listed below. Please see the article on reliability and validity of the cognitive function test for more detailed information about this scoring tool. The four domains of function are shown below and what testing method is used.

Other Scores Using Computational Biology

​The BrainSpan Index

This is perhaps one of the most important metrics of all due to its ability to create patient engagement. The primary goal is to encourage patients to more strongly consider how the day to day decisions they make have a large cumulative affect on their quality of life tomorrow. This effect can and usually increases over time (increased negative effect on the predicted functional capacity) as the resilience capacity of the cell also declines with age.  Worsening the effect is the increased exposure of cells overtime to often poor or even harmful levels of dietary macronutrients. Of course now, especially when one considers what is at risk with respect to cognitive capacity and quality of life, the data becomes extremely actionable.  

The BrainSpan Index thus is a reflection into the future based on the quality of cell to cell function today and the projected cellular micro-environment of the future and the degree of exposure time based on their current age.  This is a great way to bring quality of life discussions and brain health to the forefront and their relevance to dietary and nutritional decisions made every day now in ways that resonate with patients that simple disease risk calculations simply do not do.

The below graphic illustrates the importance of the BrainSpan metric as the only one, true, and validated metric that integrates day to day lifestyle and dietary decisions with their impact on our future quality of life. 

Picture A. The Concept of the BrainSpan Index

Using over 33 validated research publications, knowing your brainspan number as you know your own height and weight helps individuals see their daily habits through a new lens that places them at the very forefront of influencers with respect to our ability to reach our potential and optimize our human performance and quality of life.  When our nutritional habits convey their importance as direct determinants of our body and brain functional well-being as well as our resilience to aging, degeneration, and various disease processes, the role of being an engaged and informed participant and patient becomes vitally apparent.

The candidates for the BrainSpan Assessment can be thought of us as two groups: clinical disease management and clinical prevention/health optimization applications. Within each of these major categories, we can provide a framework for applications of the test:

Clinical Prevention/Health Optimization Applications

BrainSpan should be considered by any practitioner their first line wellness diagnostic test system. These vital signs of cellular well being come from integrating two distinct tests into one for the purpose of providing detailed information on total cell health and thus total human well-being and resilience to disease and aging.  Cells, which comprise the most fundamental unit of life, and their health markers are the most fundamental of all well-being information.

Recommendations of how to improve them are largely based on evidence based nutritional and lifestyle recommendations. Structure-function relationships in biology are the foundation.  Yet our application of structure-function approaches to well-being at the most important and fundamental level of life itself are largely ignored.  This neglect can both contribute to the worsening of chronic disease and organ inflammation as well as be the independent major contributor through metabolic or inflammatory pathways. Loss of resistance to aging, and increased risk of premature cognitive decline and physical function with age result when these fundamentals are ignored.

Age/Lifestage by Age Groups

•  Ages for the Dried Bloodspot Fatty Acid Test: from birth to 90+ (in infants, blood sample collection can be undertaken through a heel stick with the included lancet, the same diameter as infant lancets). This would be for general cellular health, immune resilience, aging resilience, enhanced performance, decreased fatigue, and overall a more functional, longer life.
• Ages for the Cognitive Function Assessment: from age 14 to 90 for general brain function assessment compared to what would be expected and evidence based recommendations for improving.

Lifestage Benefits

• Anti-aging, health and beauty
• Pregnancy/Breastfeeding
• Fertility
• Sports Performance
• Workplace Performance
• Weight Management

Clinical Disease Management:

The BrainSpan Assessment can be used in the management of the following conditions, clinical syndromes or diseases as a way to first ensure that the underlying cellular health is properly addressed:

• Stroke
• Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussion
• Chronic Pain and Inflammation
• Mild Cognitive Impairment
• Dementia and Chronic Neurodegenerative Disease
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Obesity
• Chronic Fatigue
• Autoimmune (Rheumatoid, SLE, Sjogren's, Lyme Disease)
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Diabetes (Type I or II)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Attention Deficit Disorder
• Depression
• Bipolar Syndrome
• Antisocial Personality Disorder

The cognitive test normative database relies on a specific age range of subjects that the patient must fall within for the results to be most accurate. These age ranges are 6 to 92 years of age. However, because of the BrainSpan report requiring at least an 8th grade reading level or above, we do not recommend the cognitive test in children less than age 14. If the patient falls outside one of the limits of the database (6 to 92), they will still receive a score, but the scoring algorithm will default to the next closest age group in the database to score the patient against.

In practical use, BrainSpan recommends focusing on optimization of the fatty acid levels from infancy through age 26; due to the level of neurogenesis within this age group and the importance of optimal fatty acids, especially DHA and EPA during this time frame. The cognitive test clinical utility in our experience is best seen with those age 40 and older. It is important to note that the cognitive test results are providing information that strictly provides insight into how the scoring performance of the patient compares to what would be expected for someone their age and gender and educational status who is part of a very well controlled, healthy group and that which represents our best attempt at identifying "normal" brain function. It is a not a diagnostic for any specific disease.

That said, it is this use that we believe increases the clinical utility and interest to a broader group of people looking to optimize their brain function and in a sense, build their own data set of normal cognitive function over time--which would later serve as a sensitive indicator to abnormal findings whereas a diagnostic test may indicate nothing is of concern.

The recommended re-testing strategy based on several well done studies and BrainSpan's own internal analysis published in the form of 3 technical reports indicates that the ideal re-testing strategy that serves to both drive patient adherence as well as provide important dose or treatment modification adjustment opportunities is the following:

This serves six important purposes:

• An initial dose estimate to correct the typical deficiency in long chained, poly unsaturated fatty acids like EPA/DHA as well as reduce Omega-6s and palmitic acid with more broad and aggressive strategies that need to be adjusted once the corrections take place.
• Establish proper maintenance dosing and strategies.
• Keep the patient engaged in the process with consistent follow-up but not overly taxing.
• Allow time for the cognitive function improvements to be measured and evaluated which take longer than the initial fatty acid corrections (changes continue at 6 and 12 months by our analysis).
• Annual retesting allows the patient to build their own, personalized and custom cognitive function trajectory that can serve as a sensitive barometer to future cognitive changes from normal that would otherwise not be apparent.
• ​As we age, our fatty acid requirements change and our concerns and life stages also may demand an adjustment in the dosing approach so regular testing is critical to ensure long term cell health; especially with so many external factors working against the patient's long term commitments wit respect to optimized fatty acid levels.

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The cognitive function test is ran strictly by access to the world wide web with at least a 3G equivalent connection or greater. There is no software to download. The tests used and the areas of the brain tested are shown in the graphics below.

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BrainSpan's Fatty Acid Testing Methodology

BrainSpan’s methodology for the blood biomarker testing is the most clinically validated method available on the market today and is based on decades of research from leading journals and institutions around the world some of which are shown below.  This precise method and the same lab used today by BrainSpan was chosen by the US Army for example, when studying the role of fatty acids in contributing to performance and cognitive function in combat in 2011.  BrainSpan utilizes a method called "RBC method" for how the fatty acids are measured. This technique is rarely used by most of the larger labs in the United States but is by far the most clinically relevant and the most evidence based. To date, there are over 160 peer reviewed studies on fatty acid levels and clinical outcomes and over 95% of these rely on the RBC method.

This method does not require the patient to be fasting, is considerably more reliable and stable from plasma fatty acids or other techniques that include plasma levels, and has far more clinical relevance as it pertains to health and health outcomes.

Science Behind the Finger stick Dried Blood Spot Fatty Acid Test

BrainSpan’s methodology for the blood biomarker testing is the most clinically validated method available on the market today and is based on decades of research from leading journals and institutions around the world some of which are shown below.  This precise method and the same lab used today by BrainSpan was chosen by the US Army for example, when studying the role of fatty acids in contributing to performance and cognitive function in combat in 2011.  BrainSpan utilizes a method called "RBC method" for how the fatty acids are measured. This technique is rarely used by most of the larger labs in the United States but is by far the most clinically relevant and the most evidence based. To date, there are over 160 peer reviewed studies on fatty acid levels and clinical outcomes and over 95% of these rely on the RBC method. This method does not require the patient to be fasting, is considerably more reliable and stable from plasma fatty acids or other techniques that include plasma levels, and has far more clinical relevance as it pertains to health and health outcomes.

Science Behind the Cognitive Test

BrainSpan’s cognitive function test is one with a fascinating background and there are specific reasons why it was chosen for this wellness instrument. The cognitive function test is not a disease diagnostic but rather an excellent barometer to understand how one's performance compares to what is expected based on a very well studied group of controls across many age groups that serve as the normative database to which the performance of the patient is compared against.

The test was born out of a non-profit corporation called the Brain Resource International Database® headed by the esteemed Dr. Evian Gordon and contributed to by over 350 scientists around the world, many leaders in the neuro-cognitive clinical, research and academic space. Funded with over 10 million dollars by big pharmaceutical companies who were looking for a tool that could rapidly screen people in or out of clinical trials for long term drug studies, the test was used as an accurate way to detect what we can best identify as "normal" brain function in a specific age, gender and educational status of society. The database is the world’s largest standardized international database. The Brain Resource® methodology has provided the basis for over 450 peer-reviewed publications.

The Future is Extremely Bright for Omega-3s and Omega-3 Testing 

First proposed for use in medical care about 15 years ago, the fatty acid panel, specifically the Omega-3 Index, is still a relatively new test from a medical standpoint. A new blood test usually takes about 30 years to be standardized and finally adopted by the medical community. 

With the public (and your patient's) awareness of omega-3s being nearly universal these days, the increase in research funding and positive results from recent studies will only continue to fuel this very important nutritional category. And the BrainSpan Core Assessment will be along for the ride, as future studies make it a standard measure of health among subjects and  correlate actual blood levels of omega-3s with health outcomes. 

Some recent studies worth mentioning

In 2018 alone, several high profile studies strengthened the importance of omega-3s and the BrainSpan Core Omega-3 Index not only in heart health, but also in brain health and  pregnancy. The most important takeaway from these studies is that retailers, consumers  and health practitioners alike can all recommend with great confidence improving one's fatty acid status, especially the RBC level of EPA/DHA (or the Omega-3 Index) and if you do not measure, you simply do not know.

It all started in March with the publication of data from the Framingham Heart Study in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, where omega-3 blood levels were shown to be a better predictor of death than serum cholesterol.  Results showed that the risk for death from any cause was reduced by about 33% when  comparing participants with the lowest Omega-3 Index to those with the highest Omega-3 Index. This test used the exact same validated methodology as the BrainSpan Core Assessment and also used a CLIAA certified lab.

Then in June a study published in Hypertension found a direct link between the Omega-3 Index and blood pressure. The researchers concluded that a higher Omega-3 Index was associated with statistically significant, clinically relevant lower blood pressure levels in healthy, young adults, and that diets rich in  omega-3 fatty acids — specifically EPA and DHA — might be a strategy for preventing hypertension. 

This is all great news that should further bolster your confidence in the role of fatty acid testing in your clinical practice; not to mention the importance of cognitive function testing which is touched on elsewhere.

Other Important Recent Studies

Finally, November witnessed the publication of three landmark studies on omega-3s — the REDUCE-IT and VITAL trials, as well as an updated Cochrane Review. REDUCE-IT was notable for being the highest dose omega-3 study looking at effects on risk for, in this case, cardiovascular disease, ever performed. VITAL stood out for being the largest and most ethnically diverse study with clinical endpoints. In short, REDUCE-IT found a 25% risk reduction in cardiovascular events, while VITAL found significant reductions in heart attacks (28%) and fatal heart attacks (50%). 

The Cochrane Review looked at omega-3s and pregnancy and whether or not they represent an effective strategy for reducing risk for early preterm birth. The 70 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) the researchers analyzed in this updated review involved more than 20,000 women — showing that supplementation with omega-3s reduced the risk of having a baby before 37 weeks by 11% and before 34 weeks by 42%. The researchers went so far as to say that “more studies are not needed … to prove causality in relation to preterm birth.” 

Additional Information: the Cochrane Study 

As 2021 approaches, it is important to remember that getting your omega-3s from fish or supplements is critical... and frankly for most, fish alone is simply too expensive and too inconvenient. But everyone in the family should know their BrainSpan Index--this is the only way that you know you are taking enough of the right omega-3s —EPA and DHA — to achieve evidence based, health protective levels. 

In the end, it is reassuring to know that a laboratory test like the BrainSpan Assessment is a covered health expense that is simple, safe and convenient. 

Yes, BrainSpan is FDA cleared to be performed by the patient or a legal parent/guardian. The finger stick is a simple 4 step process that a patient can walk through on their own (using the test kit instructions on the sample card  which can be shared with patients who are taking the test from home.)  They then mail the sample card in from their place of residence/collection.

The cognitive test, as a web based assessment, can be provided to the patient via an email with an embedded link that is uniquely assigned to that kit code and patient; as long as the kit is registered correctly. There is nothing else needed except a compatible device, basic wifi internet connectivity, and the ability to read the instructions before each part of the test which are written at about the 4th-5th grade reading level. This permits any healthcare practitioner to provide BrainSpan to any client/patient.