Nov 20, 2016
High blood pressure in middle age can lead to impaired cognition and is a potential risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, according to a statement from the American Heart Association co-authored by Loyola Medicine neurologist José Biller, MD.
Dr. Biller is a member of the multidisciplinary panel of experts that wrote the statement, published in the heart association journal Hypertension. Dr. Biller is chair of the department of neurology of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. The panel is chaired by Constantino Iadecola, MD, of Weill Cornell Medicine and co-chaired by Kristine Yaffe, MD, of the University of California San Francisco. (more…)
Nov 17, 2016
A popular group of antacids known as proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, used to reduce stomach acid and treat heartburn may increase the risk of ischemic stroke, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2016.
“PPIs have been associated with unhealthy vascular function, including heart attacks, kidney disease and dementia,” said Thomas Sehested, M.D., study lead author and a researcher at the Danish Heart Foundation in Copenhagen, Denmark. “We wanted to see if PPIs also posed a risk for ischemic stroke, especially given their increasing use in the general population.” (more…)
Nov 17, 2016
Berlin – An overactive thyroid increases the risk of stroke or cardiac arrest. Dementia is also possible. According to current studies, people with slightly elevated hormone levels are already at risk. The Professional Association of German nuclear medicine (BDN) advises people with a thyroid enlargement therefore a hormone check.
The risks of a thyroid gland over-function for heart and circulation are known, says the BDN chairman Detlef Moka. He therefore urges all concerned to receive treatment. When exactly an overfunction of the thyroid is present is, however, under expert controversy. (more…)
Nov 16, 2016
The story by Judah Pollack and Olivia Fox Cabane, published on www.fastcompany.com
Your brain’s delete button and how to use it – This is the fascinating way that your brain makes space to build new and stronger connections so you can learn more.
There’s an old saying in neuroscience: neurons that fire together wire together. This means the more you run a neuro-circuit in your brain, the stronger that circuit becomes. This is why, to quote another old saw, practice makes perfect. The more you practice piano, or speaking a language, or juggling, the stronger those circuits get. (more…)
Nov 15, 2016
Heartbreak, it turns out, is more than just a metaphor: After the death of one’s spouse, people are at higher risk of having an abnormal heartbeat, a new study finds.
Why it matters:
We know emotions can have physical effects. So-called “broken heart syndrome,” which can occur after intense emotional experiences (both sad and happy) is marked by an enlargement of the heart. Very stressful life events are known to boost the risk of a heart attack or stroke. But this is the first study to show that another manifestation of emotional stress may be an irregular heartbeat. (more…)
Nov 11, 2016
Rupal Patel at TEDWomen 2013 · 11:44 · Filmed Dec 2013
– I’d like to talk today about a powerful and fundamental aspect of who we are: our voice. Each one of us has a unique voiceprint that reflects our age, our size, even our lifestyle and personality. In the words of the poet Longfellow, “the human voice is the organ of the soul.” As a speech scientist, I’m fascinated by how the voice is produced, and I have an idea for how it can be engineered. That’s what I’d like to share with you.
I’m going to start by playing you a sample of a voice that you may recognize.
(Recording) Stephen Hawking: “I would have thought it was fairly obvious what I meant.” (more…)
Nov 11, 2016
Author: Eric Butterman
Imagine the feeling of not being able to do all the routine, effortless movements you’ve always performed. The motion of brushing your teeth. Putting one foot in front of the other to walk your dog. Even raising a spoon of cereal to your lips to start your day. This unfortunately can sometimes be the fate of a stroke victim. And rehabilitation can equal huge frustration, at a time when the patient is already frustrated. (more…)
Nov 10, 2016
Story by : Christer Wik
On Saturday, 10 September, Henrik Bystrom from Kil, Sweden, had a stroke. His daughters Hanna and Ella were of course afraid, but quickly called 112.
– You did the right thing. That’s why Henry is sitting here today. It is very important to get timely treatment when you get a stroke, says Marita Tore Heim Kase, Director of the department of neurology and rehabilitation at the Central Hospital in Karlstad. (more…)
Nov 9, 2016
Written by Honor Whiteman
Published on https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/
Older women are usually considered at greater risk of pregnancy complications than younger women. However, when it comes to stroke during pregnancy, a new study suggests it is younger women who are most at risk.
Researchers find younger women are more than twice as likely to experience stroke during or just after pregnancy than their non-pregnant counterparts.
Researchers found that pregnant older women had a similar stroke risk as their non-pregnant counterparts, while younger pregnant women were found to be at more than double the risk of stroke than non-pregnant women of the same age. (more…)
Nov 9, 2016
The article published on https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/
While more people are surviving strokes, many still face long-term disability. But Johns Hopkins research finds promising ways to retrain the brain and regain independence. Here’s what experts have learned about the power of physical rehab.
The good news about stroke: More people are surviving the initial stroke. The bad news about stroke: More people are surviving the initial stroke with disabilities which might have been minimized if they had received the kind of early, intensive physical rehabilitation that researchers find can improve function and reduce long-term disability. In fact, as many as 60 percent are left with diminished use of an arm or leg. (more…)
