Jun 5, 2017
A recent study conducted at Baycrest Health Sciences has uncovered a crucial piece into why playing a musical instrument can help older adults retain their listening skills and ward off age-related cognitive declines. This finding could lead to the development of brain rehabilitation interventions through musical training.
The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience on May 24, found that learning to play a sound on a musical instrument alters the brain waves in a way that improves a person’s listening and hearing skills over a short time frame. This change in brain activity demonstrates the brain’s ability to rewire itself and compensate for injuries or diseases that may hamper a person’s capacity to perform tasks. (more…)
May 28, 2017
Source: Burden of Stroke Report 2017
Hypertension is the most important risk factor for stroke. Despite this, national data of blood pressure levels or blood pressure control is not systematically collected in most European countries. The accuracy of existing figures is dependent on access to diagnostic testing and monitoring which varies from country to country.
According to WHO estimates, high blood pressure affects 20% of the population in Israel rising up to 39% in Estonia. As observed in previous studies, there is generally a higher prevalence in Eastern European countries. (more…)
May 28, 2017
Urinary tract infections, chronic high blood pressure and bleeding or clotting disorders may increase the risk of pregnancy-associated stroke in women with preeclampsia, a high-blood pressure disorder unique to pregnancy, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke.
Women with preeclampsia are at higher risk of stroke during pregnancy and after delivery. But while preeclampsia affects 3 percent to 8 percent of all pregnancies, pregnancy-related stroke remain rare. (more…)
May 28, 2017
Written by Tom Flaherty
Published on merzsafe.wordpress.com
-Today I would like to talk about a condition called Dysarthria. Stroke survivors often suffer from a condition called Aphasia but little is known about Dysarthria.
Aphasia is a complex language and communication disorder resulting from damage to the language centres of the brain. This damage may be caused by:
a stroke
a head injury
a brain tumour
another neurological illness.
Dysarthria happens when a stroke causes weakness of the muscles you use to speak. This may affect the muscles, as a result you have to move your tongue, lips or mouth when you speak. (more…)
May 26, 2017
25th May 2017- Two of the SAFE Board members, prof. dr Anita Arsovska from Macedonia and dr Ivan Milojevic from Serbia had a successful session at 57th International Neuropsychiatric Congress in Pula, Croatia, presenting SAFE’s work and the latest project- the Burden of Stroke Report.
Talking about promoting prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of stroke, Milojevic stressed out that stroke treatment and care is unfortunately not a priority in many of SAFE member countries. Provision of care is different within Europe as a whole, but also within member countries.
-Our task is to put the experiences of people who have had a stroke and their families at the centre of all our discussions, campaigning and lobbying, acting as an advocate at a European, and local level. (more…)
May 19, 2017
Please see below the interview with Prof. Bo Norving and Markus Wagner, Vice President of SAFE, on the Burden of Stroke Report.
