As a parent of an autistic person, an advocate, and a governance board member of a charter school for students of all abilities, I believe autism is a way of life. In honor of Autism Awareness Month, here is the…
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'Personalized' grafts reverse Parkinson's in monkeys
Parkinson’s disease damages brain cells that produce dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that helps control movement. In a new study, researchers reversed Parkinson’s symptoms in monkeys, including movement difficulties and depression, by grafting dopamine-producing cells into their brains. They avoided…
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9 myths about multiple sclerosis
To mark the start of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, this week’s edition of Medical Myths will focus on the myths that surround this commonly misunderstood condition. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord….
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Sleep loss may disrupt the brain's ability to ‘unlearn’ fear
A study reveals how getting less sleep than normal may impair the brain’s capacity to regulate fear. The finding helps explain why frequent sleep disturbances make people more prone to anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sleep plays a crucial…
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Incurable neurological diseases: Moving toward treatments
Nerve damage from neurodegenerative conditions, traumatic injuries, and certain eye conditions leads to disability and death for millions of people in the United States. Currently, doctors consider such damage irreversible. However, researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center…
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What are the neurological complications of COVID-19?
A new report of COVID-19 patients referred to a neurological hospital in the United Kingdom describes complications including delirium, brain inflammation, and stroke. Viral infections can impact the brain, even if the virus has not directly infected brain tissue. For…
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How the brain balances feelings of stress and calm
Two regions of the brain play pivotal roles in the experience of stress and the restoration of calm, an imaging study has discovered. The effects of stress on the mind and body, such as heightened alertness and a rapid heartbeat,…
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What is trauma? Types, symptoms, and treatments
Psychological trauma is a response to an event that a person finds highly stressful. Examples include being in a war zone, a natural disaster, or an accident. Trauma can cause a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms. Not everyone…
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Low flavonoid intake associated with Alzheimer’s risk
A new study links a low intake of flavonoid-rich foods — such as berries, apples, and tea — with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Experts predict that the number of people in the United States over…
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How flickering light can help fight Alzheimer’s
Using mice, scientists have gained a better understanding of the therapeutic benefits of flickering light exposure for Alzheimer’s disease. A team of scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta has discovered some reasons why lights flickering at 40…
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