tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17396505627402056622024-03-05T05:21:46.767-08:00NeurologicaLatest in Neurological SciencesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-17241321577701797822010-05-29T01:35:00.000-07:002010-05-29T01:35:54.518-07:00Neurosurgeon Mumbai<a href="http://www.clickindia.com/detail.php?id=5513791">Neurosurgeon Mumbai</a>: "Consult us for Neurological problems.�"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-39612256667579351022010-05-26T04:01:00.001-07:002010-05-26T04:01:26.168-07:00Top US hospitalshttp://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-57835615156113993132010-05-19T04:02:00.001-07:002010-05-19T04:02:47.569-07:00A brain-recording device that melts into placeScientists have developed a brain implant that essentially melts into place, snugly fitting to the brain's surface. The technology could pave the way for better devices to monitor and control seizures, and to transmit signals from the brain past damaged parts of the spinal cord. <br />
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"These implants have the potential to maximize the contact between electrodes and brain tissue, while minimizing damage to the brain. They could provide a platform for a range of devices with applications in epilepsy, spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders," said Walter Koroshetz, M.D., deputy director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health. <br />
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The study, published in Nature Materials ("Dissolvable films of silk fibroin for ultrathin conformal bio-integrated electronics"), shows that the ultrathin flexible implants, made partly from silk, can record brain activity more faithfully than thicker implants embedded with similar electronics. <br />
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The simplest devices for recording from the brain are needle-like electrodes that can penetrate deep into brain tissue. More state-of-the-art devices, called micro-electrode arrays, consist of dozens of semi-flexible wire electrodes, usually fixed to rigid silicon grids that do not conform to the brain's shape. <br />
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In people with epilepsy, the arrays could be used to detect when seizures first begin, and deliver pulses to shut the seizures down. In people with spinal cord injuries, the technology has promise for reading complex signals in the brain that direct movement, and routing those signals to healthy muscles or prosthetic devices. <br />
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"The focus of our study was to make ultrathin arrays that conform to the complex shape of the brain, and limit the amount of tissue damage and inflammation," said Brian Litt, M.D., an author on the study and an associate professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia. The silk-based implants developed by Dr. Litt and his colleagues can hug the brain like shrink wrap, collapsing into its grooves and stretching over its rounded surfaces. <br />
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The implants contain metal electrodes that are 500 microns thick, or about five times the thickness of a human hair. The absence of sharp electrodes and rigid surfaces should improve safety, with less damage to brain tissue. Also, the implants' ability to mold to the brain's surface could provide better stability; the brain sometimes shifts in the skull and the implant could move with it. Finally, by spreading across the brain, the implants have the potential to capture the activity of large networks of brain cells, Dr. Litt said. <br />
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Besides its flexibility, silk was chosen as the base material because it is durable enough to undergo patterning of thin metal traces for electrodes and other electronics. It can also be engineered to avoid inflammatory reactions, and to dissolve at controlled time points, from almost immediately after implantation to years later. The electrode arrays can be printed onto layers of polyimide (a type of plastic) and silk, which can then be positioned on the brain. <br />
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To make and test the silk-based implants, Dr. Litt collaborated with scientists at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and at Tufts University outside Boston. John Rogers, Ph.D., a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Illinois, invented the flexible electronics. David Kaplan, Ph.D., and Fiorenzo Omenetto, Ph.D., professors of biomedical engineering at Tufts, engineered the tissue-compatible silk. Dr. Litt used the electronics and silk technology to design the implants, which were fabricated at the University of Illinois. <br />
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Recently, the team described a flexible silicon device for recording from the heart and detecting an abnormal heartbeat. <br />
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In the current study, the researchers approached the design of a brain implant by first optimizing the mechanics of silk films and their ability to hug the brain. They tested electrode arrays of varying thickness on complex objects, brain models and ultimately in the brains of living, anesthetized animals. <br />
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The arrays consisted of 30 electrodes in a 5x6 pattern on an ultrathin layer of polyimide – with or without a silk base. These experiments led to the development of an array with a mesh base of polyimide and silk that dissolves once it makes contact with the brain – so that the array ends up tightly hugging the brain. <br />
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Next, they tested the ability of these implants to record the animals' brain activity. By recording signals from the brain's visual center in response to visual stimulation, they found that the ultrathin polyimide-silk arrays captured more robust signals compared to thicker implants. <br />
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In the future, the researchers hope to design implants that are more densely packed with electrodes to achieve higher resolution recordings. <br />
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"It may also be possible to compress the silk-based implants and deliver them to the brain, through a catheter, in forms that are instrumented with a range of high performance, active electronic components," Dr. Rogers said.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-88291526247506567872010-05-15T05:29:00.000-07:002010-05-15T05:29:56.749-07:00Magnetic Brain Stimulation can help DepressionA treatment called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can help depression, researchers say, even if antidepressants have failed. However, some have questioned whether the technique really works, says Dr. Mark S. George of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. According to the skeptics, it is very hard to fake the sound and feeling of a TMS treatment, making it difficult to do a placebo treatment without patients being aware of it. As long as people know they are getting the real treatment, it is difficult to rule out that they may have thought it worked simply because they believed it would.<br />
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George and his team believed they have solved this problem, however. They have developed a dummy device which clicks in a similar way and causes a person's eye muscles to twitch just like the real device.<br />
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Using this new device, the team conducted a new 190-person study - with half of the participants receiving 37.5 minutes of TMS therapy and half receiving 37.5 minutes of the sham treatment - once a day for three weeks.<br />
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After three weeks, 14% of the patients receiving the actual TMS treatment recovered from their depression, compared to 5% who had received the sham treatment. In other words, people who received the real treatment were four times more likely to get better than those receiving the fake treatment.<br />
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In the second phase of the study, all patients received TMS, with 30% of the patients receiving relief from their depression.<br />
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George said it was not clear how long treatment should last, but that it looked like patients should be treated at least three weeks, and perhaps even six weeks, in order to determine if it will work for them.<br />
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TMS works, according to George, by producing an electrical current that can pass through the skull into a target area of the brain. It is believed to work by "resetting" electrical activity of the brain, restoring normal mood regulation.<br />
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George says he hopes that when we better understand what area of the brain to target and at what dose and duration of treatment, success rates will improve even more, approaching the success rates currently seen with ECT, a treatment which uses an electric shock to trigger a convulsion while a patient is under anesthesia. About 60-70% of patients treated with ECT recover from their depression. With better success rates, TMS might be a less invasive alternative to ECT once it is fully developed.<br />
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Email : <a href="mailto:neuro@neurodoc.in"><strong>neuro@neurodoc.in</strong></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-85659051436801918522010-04-24T04:39:00.000-07:002010-04-24T04:39:32.242-07:00Tip to prevent Cancer #2Take up a <strong>tea habit</strong>. The healing powers of <strong><em>green tea</em></strong> have been valued in Asia for thousands of years. In the West, new research reveals that it protects against a variety of cancers as well as heart disease. Some scientists believe that a chemical in green tea called EGCG could be one of the most powerful anticancer compounds ever discovered.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-2636255762691342862010-04-24T04:24:00.000-07:002010-04-24T04:24:14.144-07:00Tip to prevent CancerAdd <strong><em>Garlic</em></strong> to everything you eat. Garlic contains sulfur compounds that may stimulate the immune system's natural defenses against cancer, and may have the potential to reduce tumor growth. Studies suggest that garlic can reduce the incidence of stomach cancer by as much as a factor of 12.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-34523938928979218712010-04-24T02:35:00.000-07:002010-04-24T02:35:04.071-07:00Parkinson's Disease<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pkm-ma6OEMNkcefp8mMTBYQHc75oM3z43UKI6Yee9dwZjh4w65eABUaRfA0Y8Z2r8BJ0mZK9H3KjvNBjV_FSm6lUgSXTLtt8cdv65a9rLKbYG2pprSglROFmfDPbN0rvwLwe-PD7u1ee/s1600/pd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pkm-ma6OEMNkcefp8mMTBYQHc75oM3z43UKI6Yee9dwZjh4w65eABUaRfA0Y8Z2r8BJ0mZK9H3KjvNBjV_FSm6lUgSXTLtt8cdv65a9rLKbYG2pprSglROFmfDPbN0rvwLwe-PD7u1ee/s320/pd.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.parkinsondisease.in/">http://www.parkinsondisease.in/</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-2079710773370085302010-04-24T02:33:00.001-07:002010-04-24T02:33:52.927-07:00Epilepsy Website<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwjOlTk3IM6hpmOJLs9zaJXW9gC8ARcxPzLbOhYeDNVRg4QeebKDiCVXvEdBYxBH-IedlBMU-mzOrAXSIi6aQlJIJKxKH6SWlg9PCNjcoUzvFOUMHTzimDYCKrodw0RAOL8tKGeRbszEX/s1600/epilepsy+india.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwjOlTk3IM6hpmOJLs9zaJXW9gC8ARcxPzLbOhYeDNVRg4QeebKDiCVXvEdBYxBH-IedlBMU-mzOrAXSIi6aQlJIJKxKH6SWlg9PCNjcoUzvFOUMHTzimDYCKrodw0RAOL8tKGeRbszEX/s320/epilepsy+india.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.epilepsy.net.in/">http://www.epilepsy.net.in/</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-13200462408873296782010-04-23T04:02:00.000-07:002010-04-23T04:02:34.265-07:00Brain Tumors Website<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgdiNcSEZ8MKeDMDWYg0YyrzK3UM_xHU9tcYeuqguRAIQ0VgXoQHIDf_RMUErhs4wKf44gJ19y4StF6BKg5lVAmXu8833pU-Hf-67hSvraQui3Xc-f3yUhmqWyh5Th2aUnZnsLelO8H7I/s1600/brain+Tumors+India.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgdiNcSEZ8MKeDMDWYg0YyrzK3UM_xHU9tcYeuqguRAIQ0VgXoQHIDf_RMUErhs4wKf44gJ19y4StF6BKg5lVAmXu8833pU-Hf-67hSvraQui3Xc-f3yUhmqWyh5Th2aUnZnsLelO8H7I/s320/brain+Tumors+India.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hhttp://www.braintumors.in</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-60855638488508512542010-04-23T02:48:00.001-07:002010-04-23T02:48:51.463-07:00Spine Surgery website<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ezKbuBv0VxoXWtdYEjaFc2MjoHp9J4lRe1ker2UicOkb8z0ps87pDF6Pv5b_rfmpJAPciMwGAEUv26YdMeBuWfsyZBM54AOYgYqPUoCFiKzW4n8OX-j6r4X10FlEAwDj4PWuC1uY3LI0/s1600/spine+surgeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ezKbuBv0VxoXWtdYEjaFc2MjoHp9J4lRe1ker2UicOkb8z0ps87pDF6Pv5b_rfmpJAPciMwGAEUv26YdMeBuWfsyZBM54AOYgYqPUoCFiKzW4n8OX-j6r4X10FlEAwDj4PWuC1uY3LI0/s320/spine+surgeon.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.spinesurgery.co.in/">http://www.spinesurgery.co.in/</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-37320571244894023212010-01-18T23:44:00.000-08:002010-01-18T23:44:19.849-08:00Obsessive Comulsive Disorder (OCD)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaHzyihp8NZ9ahYkoWm0qvrKQCYbs6TvkIw_hviJZb6L_XUSOYY6aAvGcNU5baQcDMQNF_fApfkgRZAKnmlsYoR616ESJgSGX9IHKCeHpfOqsYGq_7Ale7-jh1kI1BIuE10RKQ6eg71j9/s1600-h/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaHzyihp8NZ9ahYkoWm0qvrKQCYbs6TvkIw_hviJZb6L_XUSOYY6aAvGcNU5baQcDMQNF_fApfkgRZAKnmlsYoR616ESJgSGX9IHKCeHpfOqsYGq_7Ale7-jh1kI1BIuE10RKQ6eg71j9/s320/1.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.ocd.net.in/">http://www.ocd.net.in/</a><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-70025533968114491822010-01-18T09:22:00.000-08:002010-01-18T09:22:45.053-08:00Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for AVM<strong>Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)</strong> are the leading cause of stroke in young people. Formed during embryonic development, an AVM is a tangle of dilated blood vessels that disrupts normal blood flow in the brain by pooling blood within its dense center or nidus. These vessels may enlarge over time.<br />
The goal of treatment is to reduce this risk of fatal or debilitating hemorrhagic stroke. Twenty years ago, many patients were told their AVM was inoperable because the risks of treatment were considered too high. Today, advanced open skull surgical techniques, radiosurgery and endovascular embolization make the treatment of <strong>AVMs</strong> safer and highly effective.<br />
<a href="http://www.gammaknifeonline.in/gamma_knife_radiosurgery_for_avm">http://www.gammaknifeonline.in/gamma_knife_radiosurgery_for_avm</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-40410873630238522122010-01-14T06:30:00.000-08:002010-01-14T06:30:35.644-08:00Trigeminal Neuralgia : New Treatment OptionGamma Knife radiosurgery is a method for treating certain problems in the brain without making an incision. Two hundred-one beams of cobalt-60 radiation are focused precisely on a specific region in the brain. In the case of TN, the target area is the trigeminal nerve, just where it leaves the brain. The treatment does not require general anesthesia, and the patient stays in the hospital for less than ten hours.<br />
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log on to <a href="http://www.gammaknifeonline.in/gamma_knife_for_trigeminal_neuralgia">Gamma knife for Trigeminal neuralgia</a><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-92021010028537799112010-01-14T06:06:00.000-08:002010-01-14T06:06:50.903-08:00Hydrocephalus<strong>Hydrocephalus</strong> comes from Greek words: hydro means water, cephalus means head. Hydrocephalus is an abnormal accumulation of fluid "<strong>Cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF</strong> ”within cavities called ventricles inside the brain. This condition may occur at any age. CSF is produced in the ventricles, circulates through the ventricular system in the brain and is absorbed into the bloodstream. CSF is in constant circulation and has many functions. It surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts as a protective cushion against injury. CSF contains nutrients and proteins that are needed for the nourishment and normal function of the brain. It carries waste products away from surrounding tissues. Hydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF that is produced and the rate at which it is absorbed. As the CSF builds up, it causes the ventricles to enlarge and the pressure inside the head to increase<br />
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<a href="http://www.hydrocephalus.in/">Hydrocephalus - Treatment , Resources & More</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-22710599029353253232010-01-06T21:39:00.000-08:002010-01-14T06:18:26.364-08:00Gamma knife treatment<a href="http://www.gammaknifeonline.in/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423876428530178738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDfQDyxrXbSnv51Qec2qumpyBx6zprqa3OcafSCsEuD6Zr2lXufL1AbImL9amqR6JpCqILxa-rdB2T_K8_P1KG-pKlERzXM76K-MzS46kOoVa42MHN6mQ7J7zMqH4qgVFoWc6hJvLo6Ut/s320/1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 150px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<div>A Gamma knife is a device used to treat brain tumors with a high dose of radiation therapy in one day. The device was invented at the <strong><em><span style="color: black;">Karolinska Institute</span></em></strong> in 1967 by Lars Leksell , a Swedish Neurosurgeon.<br />
The gamma knife device contains 201 cobaly-60 sources of approximately 30 curies (1.1 TBq) each, placed in a circular array in a heavilyshielded assembly. The device aims gamma radiation through a target point in the patient's brain. The patient wears a specialized helmet that is surgically fixed to their skull so that the brain tumor remains stationary at target point of the gamma rays. An ablative dose of radiation is thereby sent through the tumor in one treatment session, while surrounding brain tissues are relatively spared.<br />
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<div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-46014195938400200842009-03-19T11:07:00.000-07:002009-03-19T11:12:56.039-07:00PsychoSurgeryClinical depression or major depression is a mental disorder characterised by a pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Depression is a disabling condition that adversely affects a person’s family, work or school life, sleeping and eating habits, and general health.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em><strong>Diagnosis</strong></em></span><br /> Depression is now recognised by doctors as a potentially serious medical condition. The diagnosis of major depressive disorder is based on the patient’s self-reported experiences, behaviour reported by relatives or friends, and a mental status exam. The most common time of onset is between the ages of 30 and 40 years, with a later peak between 50 and 60 years.<br /><br />Approximately 3.4 per cent of people with major depression commit suicide, and up to 60 per cent of all people who commit suicide have depression or another mood disorder.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em><strong>Treatment</strong></em></span><br /><br />Most patients are treated in the community with antidepressant medication and some with psychotherapy or counselling. Medications may relieve depression only partially, may not help, or may stop working after a while. Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) occurs when 4 or more adequate antidepressant treatments have not provided desired improvement. There are also as many as four million individuals that suffer from this type of depression that is known as ‘Treatment Resistant’. These are people that have tried everything, medication, therapy, shock treatments, you name it, but all have proven to be ineffective.<br /><br /><strong><em>Surgical procedure</em></strong><br /><br />Neuro science is now offering a surgical procedure to individuals who feel that all other options have failed them and are desperate enough to try the surgery. This type of surgery involves drilling holes in the patient’s head and placing electrodes in an area of the brain known as ‘Area 25’. Deep brain stimulation is Neurosurgical treatment for chronic depression in which the brain is stimulated with electrical impulses. Deep brain stimulation is an invasive form of brain stimulation treatment for depression.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em>Deep brain stimulation</em></strong></span><br /><br />Deep brain stimulation works much like a pacemaker for your brain. With deep brain stimulation, a neurostimulator device is implanted in your chest and electrodes are implanted in your brain. Wires under your skin connect the electrodes to the neurostimulator. The neurostimulator sends electrical signals to your brain, affecting mood centres and improving depression symptoms. This surgery is reversible and the electrodes can be adjusted without further invading the brain. It is performed under a local anaesthetic, and the changes in patients could sometimes be seen ‘almost instantly’.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em><strong>Vagus nerve stimulation<br /></strong></em></span><br />Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has a privileged place in the management of drug-resistant depression depressive disorder. Despite the fact that surgery is needed to implant the stimulating device, the option of long-term use largely devoid of severe side effects would give this treatment modality a privileged place in the management of drug-resistant depression.<br /><br /><strong><em>Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)</em></strong> in humans refers generally to stimulation of the left vagus nerve at the cervical level using the NeuroCybernetic Prosthesis. This equipment consists basically of three parts:<br />The implantable, multiprogrammable bipolar pulse generator<br />Two helical electrodes, which are wrapped around the vagus nerve and are linked to the pulse generator by a bipolar lead; and<br />A programming wand linked to a computer running programming software, which allows non-invasive programming. The pulse generator is implanted in a subcutaneous pocket in the left chest wall, whereas the electrodes are attached to the vagus nerve. VNS improves depressed mood by affecting the metabolism and thus the function of limbic structures and altering the concentration of monoamines in the brain.<br />It is interesting and impressive to see how the patient’s lives change over time. They go from being withdrawn and not interacting to going back to work, and show marked improvement in self-care and social function. They live their lives much more fully than they were when they were stuck in the grip of depression.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-4714272091439542652008-07-07T08:13:00.000-07:002008-07-07T08:16:44.870-07:00Computer Games Help People With DementiaComputer games offer an exciting and engaging way of helping older people with dementia keep their brain active and learn new skills. This is the finding of Arlene Astell and her colleagues at the Universities of St Andrews and Dundee.Poor memory and concentration make it difficult for people with dementia to function. 'Living in the moment' is a project that has drawn on the principles of gaming development and the psychology of dementia to develop helpful and fun computer games for dementia sufferers. The presentation will include videos of the games being used by participants, who were involved at every stage of its development. The project demonstrated that people with dementia can learn new activities with appropriate prompting. Arlene said; 'Working together with people with dementia we have explored over 20 different games and activities in our efforts to find out what people enjoy. The people with a diagnosis of dementia were very helpful in telling us what they like and dislike and were very accommodating in trying out what ever we put in front of them.'<br />'This project may be unique in working solely with people with dementia rather than involving family or professional caregivers and it clearly demonstrates that people with a diagnosis of dementia can participate fully and make their news known.' 'Based on the feedback received we are now developing a gaming package designed to support and engage people with dementia in enjoyable and stimulating activitiesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739650562740205662.post-8520547875658354232008-07-07T07:28:00.000-07:002008-07-07T07:47:18.583-07:00Diet to Boost MemoryAs concern over Alzheimer’s disease grows, more Indians are turning to expensive and potentially unsafe supplements that claim to enhance memory. But prevention of age-related memory loss may be no further away than your refrigerator, and no more expensive than a bag of groceries, experts say.<br />More research is being done than ever these days on diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Scientists are developing a better understanding of why memories fade, and along the way they are finding new ways to combat the decline.<br /><br />For one thing, research increasingly suggests that diet may be important in preventing Alzheimer's.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#663333;">Inside the aging process<br /></span></em></strong>As the brain ages, it loses the ability to protect itself from the barrage of commonplace dangers it faces every day, particularly inflammation and oxidation, a process which allows damaging free radicals to attach themselves to cells.<br />While it's not entirely clear what causes Alzheimer's disease, amyloid plaque — a goopy, fibrous substance akin to fur balls in the brain — plays a key role. As the plaque builds up, it causes more oxidation and inflammation, and begins to kill off brain cells.<br />In addition, brain cells often stop communicating with each other as people age, making it harder for the brain to process thoughts, retain short-term memory and create new cells<br /><br />While research in the field of aging and nutrition is still in its infancy, scientists have found that diet may help minimize the brain's sensitivity to oxidation and inflammation, as well as improve brain cells’ ability to communicate with each other.<br />One of the most intriguing areas of research involves the role of antioxidants, potent chemicals in plants that protect against free radicals, highly active molecules that damage cells. Antioxidants are what give fruits and vegetables their bright colors. Plants produce these chemicals to protect themselves from environmental insults, such as pollution, and when humans eat plants, they also reap the protective benefits.<br />Recent Research shows that brain has a capacity to recover some age-related loss of cognitive function.<br />Moreover, MRI scans later revealed structural changes in the brains of the patients on the antioxidant diet, most notably a decrease in the buildup of amyloid plaque.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#663333;">A cornucopia of benefits</span></em></strong><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Many</span> fruits and vegetables primarily valued for their powerful antioxidants may in fact provide multiple benefits for the aging brain. They may not only slow oxidation, but may also act as anti-inflammatory agents, make the brain less vulnerable to amyloid plaque, improve communication between neurons and allow the brain to regenerate — all of which contribute to better memory in old age.<br />Purple fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, cranberries and Concord grapes, may be especially beneficial for the brain.<br />In addition to particular fruits and vegetables, scientists believe that curcumin, a spice used in our country and known for its anti-inflammatory effects, may prevent memory loss. Curcumin is what gives yellow curry its bright color and is frequently used as a natural food dye.<br />New research has also shown that B vitamins, such as niacin and folic acid, are vitally important to brain function and may help keep the mind sharp. Found in a range of foods, including lean meat, fish, legumes, dairy products, grains and green, leafy vegetables, B vitamins appear to help control inflammation and may play a role in the development of new brain cells.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#663333;">Supplements may not do the same</span></em></strong><br />Given the growing evidence of the benefits of antioxidants and other chemicals on the brain, why not just take specific supplements to prevent memory loss?<br />Most researchers caution that sources of antioxidants from food are far more effective — and safer — than supplements. Although it isn't precisely known how the chemicals work, it’s believed that they act in combination with one another.<br />In addition, different chemicals in plants protect against different kinds of damage, and there may be additional but as yet undiscovered substances in plants that work with antioxidants to provide the protective effects.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#663333;">Cutting cholesterol, eating fish may keep mind sharp</span></em></strong><br /> Besides eating more fruits and veggies, avoiding saturated fats and trans fats may also help prevent age-related memory loss. When it comes to the amount of fat in the diet, researchers have found that what’s good for the heart is good for the brain. In the same way that reducing levels of bad cholesterol can prevent arteries from becoming ravaged by atherosclerosis, low cholesterol levels in the diet may also help protect brain cells.<br />A high-fat diet is bad for learning and memory, and the low-calorie and intermittent fasting diets preserve learning and memory. Although an actual cause and effect has not yet been proven, cholesterol appears to promote the production of amyloid plaque and contains an enzyme that the plaque needs to grow. It also promotes harmful oxidation and can cause damage to cell membranes.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#663333;">A fishy story</span> </em></strong><br />While diets high in cholesterol are bad for the brain, getting plenty of omega 3 fatty acids, found primarily in fish, is vital for a healthy noggin, researchers say. In particular, a component of omega 3 fatty acids known as DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is key.<br />DHA is found in high concentrations in the brain and is needed for healthy cognitive function. It is widely believed to have an anti-inflammatory effect and is known to have a protective benefit on the heart. The most concentrated source of DHA is oily fish, such as salmon, tuna, herring, sardines and mackerel.<br />In an observational study conducted at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Dr. Martha Clare Morris, associate professor of internal medicine, found that people who ate fish once a week had a 60 percent reduction in the risk of Alzheimer’s compared with people who never ate fish. Eating fish more than once a week did not appear to provide additional benefits.<br />Other studies have found similar results.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#663333;">What about toxins?</span></em></strong><br />Despite the protective effects of eating fish, many people may worry about the potential dangers of fat-soluble toxins such as mercury and dioxins. Most researchers don't have an answer to this conundrum except to point out that the health benefits for populations of people who eat lots of fish, such as the Japanese, appear to outweigh the risks.<br />For those consumers willing to pay extra, fish oil or purified DHA may offer similar benefits, although it's unclear if they're as beneficial as eating fish itself.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#663333;">Top brain-enhancing foods<br /></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#660000;">Antioxidants</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#990000;">Fruits </span></em></strong>- Blueberries- Blackberries- Cranberries- Strawberries- Raspberries- Plums- Avocados- Oranges- Red grapes- Cherries- Red apples<br /><strong><em><span style="color:#990000;">Vegetables</span></em></strong>- Kale- Spinach- Brussels sprouts- Alfalfa sprouts- Broccoli- Beets- Red bell peppers- Onions<br /><span style="color:#660000;"><strong><em>B vitamins</em></strong> -</span>Brewers or nutritional yeast- Nuts and seeds - Legumes- Wheat germ- Dairy products- Lean meat and poultry- Seafood- Eggs- Whole grains- Spinach and leafy greens- Carrots- Asparagus- Broccoli<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#660000;">Omega 3 fatty acids -</span></em></strong>Salmon- Sardines- Bluefish- Herring- Mackerel- TunaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098934856261361976noreply@blogger.com0