Expert profile

Dr. Daniel Amen

Clinician

Psychiatry • brain imaging (SPECT) • cognitive decline prevention

1Discussion
109 minAnalysed
Last reviewed: Jun 23, 2026·Credential: MD·First indexed: Jun 23, 2026

About the expert

Focus: Brain health as a foundation for mental health using imaging-led psychiatry

Daniel Amen is a psychiatrist and the founder of Amen Clinics, where he applies SPECT brain imaging to psychiatric assessment. He has authored multiple bestselling books on brain health and runs a large clinical operation. His work is influential but also contested in mainstream psychiatry, particularly around routine SPECT use for diagnosis.

Expert discussions with Dr. Daniel Amen

The 11 Risk Factors That Are Destroying Your Brain - Dr Daniel Amen
Dr. Daniel Amen, psychiatrist and founder of Amen Clinics, explains how psychiatric conditions may track with measurable brain changes rather than purely abstract states. He introduces the Bright Minds acronym — 11 modifiable risk factors including blood flow, inflammation, head trauma, toxins, and sleep — and pairs it with the daily practice of identifying and managing automatic negative thoughts (ANTs).