The University of Vermont Medical Center HealthSource brain blog is your leading source for brain news, brain articles and nervous system articles from industry experts. Read through a collection of brain and nervous system information on a variety of topics such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease and more. The HealthSource brain blog features an array of regular authors and contributors from the medical world including doctors, nutritionists, nurse practitioners and healthcare experts.
Multiple sclerosis is a disabling central nervous system disease. MS may result in a range of physical and cognitive problems. Globally, 2.3 million people live with multiple sclerosis. There is no cure. Recently a study at UVM identified misdiagnosis of MS as a problem with significant consequences for patients. Recent pilot studies at UVM also showed […]
Recreational marijuana became legal in Vermont on July 1, 2018. What do we know about the positive and negative effects of cannabis in the body and the brain? In the following interview, Peter Jackson, MD, and Karen Lounsbury, PhD, discuss the safety of marijuana. Jackson is a pediatric psychiatrist at the UVM Medical Center and […]
Every 65 seconds, somebody in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease. The number of cases of Alzheimer’s disease will grow to 70 million by 2033. In Vermont, medical experts predict that the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease will increase by 41 percent by 2030. Here to talk with us is Dr. Michael LaMantia, a […]
August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Add an annual eye examination for your child to your back to school list. More than 80 percent of classroom learning for children is completely visual. So, do it for your child’s health and their performance in the classroom! What to Expect From an Eye Exam A […]
How can the organisms in your gut affect your brain? Your gut contains 2.2 pounds of microorganisms. Bacteria, fungi, protists and viruses all share real estate in the lining of your intestine. These organisms make up your intestinal microbiome. We observe changes to the intestinal microbiome in a variety of neurologic and psychiatric diseases. They include […]
June is National Cataract Awareness Month. According to the World Health Organization, cataracts cause 51 percent of world blindness. In my experience, this is definitely true. Fortunately, cataracts are treatable, and in the United States, cataracts only accounts for about 5 percent of blindness. This is mostly due to the wide availability of surgical treatment. […]
Scleroderma is a chronic disease that leads to skin fibrosis (“thickening”) and blood vessel changes. The exact cause is unknown. It affects the skin, joints, lungs, kidneys, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. It most commonly affects middle-aged women. How do you diagnose scleroderma? The diagnosis is based mainly on symptoms and physical exam. Laboratory testing helps […]
In the United States, more than 15 million informal caregivers, primarily family, provide unpaid care to people with Alzheimer’s disease. It can take a devastating toll. Studies show that caregivers have higher rates of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and cardiovascular disease. Caregiving is truly one of the ultimate acts of love, and sometimes joy is still […]
You may have heard of Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Muscular Dystrophy, but you might not have heard about another neuromuscular disease: Myasthenia Gravis, or MG. It’s a breakdown in the normal communication between your nerves and voluntary muscles that will cause weakness, fatigue, and a loss of function. For many patients, it can make […]
Every 65 seconds, somebody in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease. The number of cases of Alzheimer’s disease will grow to 70 million by 2033. In Vermont, medical experts predict that the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease will increase by 41 percent by 2030. Here to talk with us is Dr. Michael LaMantia, a […]
