Newsline — Wednesday, October 16, 2013 9:00
Fat Linked to Memory Loss in Study
Einstein’s Genius Likely Sparked by Well-connected Hemispheres in His Brain
Tuesday, October 15, 2013 13:00
A study published in the journal Brain has found that the left and right hemispheres of Albert Einstein’s brain were unusually well connected to each other, providing a neurological basis for his genius. The study, which assessed Einstein’s corpus callosum (the bundle of brain fibers connecting the sides of his brain), is the latest to detail brain connectivity. Click here to read the full story.
Study: Polyamine-free Diet Relieves Pain Before and After Spine Surgery
Tuesday, October 15, 2013 9:00
According to a study presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ annual meeting, diets that are lacking in polyamine may result in significant pain relief for chronic pain sufferers before and after they undergo spinal surgery. Polyamines emanate from the amino acid metabolism and urea cycle, which occurs in the liver and the kidney. Received through food, polyamines are essential to cell growth and are key to the healthy function of the nervous system. In a the study, sixty-four lumbar spine surgery patients were divided into two groups, one placed on a diet of a drink with low polyamine content and fruit-free European breakfasts for days before and after the surgery, the other with a reduced number of low-polyamine drinks and a normal diet. The patients in the first group saw reduced pain levels before and after the surgery. “Polyamine-deficient diets are a new, safer technique for improving the management of pain in combination with the analgesic drugs classically used in humans. Functional foods, defined as food that may provide health benefit beyond traditional nutrition, is a new, promising therapeutic…
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College Football Coach Grapples with Epilepsy
Monday, October 14, 2013 13:00
The New York Times profiles University of Minnesota football coach Jerry Kill, for whom “seizures are mere distractions.” Click here to read the full article.
Researchers Identify Potential Biomarker for Parkinson’s Disease
Monday, October 14, 2013 9:47
Because there is no standard clinical test to diagnose it, Parkinson’s disease often goes unrecognized until late in its progression, when neurons in the brain have already been destroyed. Now, researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have detected elevated levels of a protein called alpha synuclein in the skin of Parkinson’s patients, likely offering a possible biomarker that will allow doctors to diagnose the disease in its early stages. “There is a strong and unmet need for a biomarker for Parkinson’s disease,” says the study’s senior author. “Alpha-synuclein deposition within the skin has the potential to provide a safe, accessible and repeatable biomarker. Our next steps will be to test whether this protein is present in the cutaneous nerves of individuals at risk for Parkinson’s disease, and whether measurement of alpha-synuclein deposition in the skin can differentiate Parkinson’s disease from other neurodegenerative disorders.” Click here to read the full story.
Mental Exertion Zaps Physical Energy, Study Finds
Friday, October 11, 2013 13:00
High levels of mental exertion may lead to diminished physical stamina, even when the body still has energy physiologically. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Kent in England and the French Institute of Health and Medical Research assessed how too much thinking may zap physical energy and led to some surprising results. Click here to read the full story.
Delirium During ICU Stay Linked to Long-term Cognitive Impairment
Friday, October 11, 2013 9:40
A study conducted at Vanderbilt University has found that after being treated in intensive care units, patients who begin medical care with no signs of cognitive impairment often leave with deficits similar to those seen in cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or mild Alzheimer’s disease. These symptoms last for a least a year. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, assessed 821 patients with respiratory failure, cardiogenic shock or septic shock who later developed delirium while in the hospital. Study authors found that delirium to be a predictor of brain disease present for a year after hospital discharge. “Delirium in critically ill, hospitalized adults is a serious yet understudied issue,” said Molly Wagster, Ph.D., chief of the Behavioral & Systems Neuroscience Branch in the National Institute on Aging. “These new findings provide important evidence of the extent of the problem, the imperative for greater recognition and the pressing need for solutions.” Click here to read the full story.
Using Mindfulness to Ease Physician Burnout
Thursday, October 10, 2013 13:00
In a post for the New York Times’ Well Blog, Pauline Chen, MD, assesses recent literature on physician burnout and mindfulness, citing that job pressures can cause two of three doctors to experience physical, mental and emotional strain. For some, burnout leads to forgetfulness in working with patients and can make doctors more likely to walk away from their practices altogether. “Mindfulness gives doctors permission to attend to their own health and well-being,” said the lead author of one of the studies. “But it also allows doctor to help patients by listening more, talking less, and seeing what the patients need.” Click here to read the full story.
Decompression Shown to Be Effective in Treating Paralyzing Spinal Disease
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 13:00
Decompression may be an effective means of treating cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), according to a study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. CSM is a degenerative disease of the spine that can lead to paralysis. The study showed that after undergoing decompression surgery, which alleviates pressure on the nerves of the spinal cord, patients with mild, moderate and severe CSM recovered substantially. “With few existing interventions available for these patients, it is encouraging to have data showing improvements in quality of life as a result of surgery, in some cases, even reversing serious neurological damage that could have resulted in paralysis,” says Michael Fehlings, MD, the study’s lead author. Click here to read the full story.
Depression May Be a Risk Factor for Parkinson’s Disease, Study Finds
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 10:11
In a study published in Neurology suggests that depression may be a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. While the findings do not convey a guaranteed link between the two, researchers feel that those with hard-to-treat depression and the elderly should be aware of the possible onset of Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases. Click here to read the full story.