PTSD and Social Working Memory Connection
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, almost 7% of the population will deal with PTSD at some point in their life. PTSD is characterized by intrusive memories of a traumatic event which result in persistent sleep difficulties, feelings of loneliness, anxiety and social isolation. Research from a new study published in the journal […]
What Does a Brain Scan of a Dying Patient Look Like?
Answering the question, “what happens to a human brain during the process of dying” has interested neuroscientists forever. Having the opportunity to record brain activity from a dying person that researchers could then analyze to determine what the neural circuitry does in it’s last moments, has now been revealed in a new study. Could you […]
Neurotypical, Neurodivergent, and Neurodiverse Differences
Neurotypical, neurodivergent and neurodiverse are terms that are used to describe how an individual(s) sees, interacts and understands the world. These words helped change, deflect and broaden the conversation from focusing on the mental health component of the behaviors involved. To a more inclusive perspective that looks at how society can draw new lines into […]
Brainwaves Linked to Dementia Diagnosis in Sleep Study
A new study published in Sleep was done by a research team at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, that correlate certain brain wave patterns (sleep spindles) to cognitive function. A particular type of sleep brain wave pattern is being assessed by clinicians to aid them in detecting early onset dementia […]
Autism Risk Linked to Certain Biomarkers in New Study
There was a new large study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, that provided findings that linked gestational inflammation to an increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the Norwegian National Institute of Public Health determined that abnormal brain development could be a result […]
New Fibromyalgia Data Takes a Different Approach
Current statistics suggest that fibromyalgia (FMS) affects 1 in 40 people worldwide, with 80% being women. The common characteristics of FMS include widespread body pain, fatigue (fibro fog), and emotional stress. FMS commonly develops in people between 25-55 years of age and can affect children as well. New research points to the immune system as […]
MRI Study Shows Structural Differences in Bipolar Brain
According to The World Health Organization, bipolar disorder affects about 60 million people globally. This debilitating psychiatric mood disorder has serious far reaching health implications that affect individuals and families in every facet of their lives. Much of the issue has been in finding the “neurobiological mechanism” behind the disorder, that once discovered, would develop […]
What is Nonverbal Autism?
Nonverbal autism describes a set of symptoms within the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The term nonverbal is often misinterpreted as someone who cannot speak, communicate or lacks understanding of language. The fact is that some nonspeaking autistic individuals do have some ability to use words. About 25-30% of autistic people are nonverbal or speak minimally. […]
Are Our Minds Controlled by Microbes?
The human body consists of approximately 30 trillion cells. There are approximately 40 trillion bacteria in our intestines. It is for this fact that it could be said we are more bacteria than man. Bacteria predates man by billion of years and will likely out survive our species by billions more. These single-celled lifeforms are […]
Lower Dementia Risk Linked to Plant-Rich Diet
A European study and a part of the Joint Programming Initiative “A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life,” involved 842 people over the age of 65 years. It took place over a 12 year period in the regions of Bordeaux and Dijon, France. It concluded that a diet rich with plant foods reduced the risk […]