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Study Links Reduced Brain Blood Flow to Post-COVID-19 Fatigue and Cognitive Impairment

Study Links Reduced Brain Blood Flow to Post-COVID-19 Fatigue and Cognitive Impairment

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have investigated the biological mechanisms behind persistent fatigue and cognitive difficulties in individuals with post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), often referred to as long COVID. The study, published in NeuroImage: Reports, involved 22 PCC patients and 19 healthy control participants. Participants completed a 20-minute sustained attention task while their brain blood flow was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The findings indicate that PCC patients reported a greater increase in fatigue during the task and exhibited consistently slower reaction times compared to the control group. Furthermore, the study identified differences in cerebral perfusion, with PCC participants showing slightly lower overall cerebral blood flow and more pronounced differences in brain regions associated with attention, sensory processing, and cognitive control. Sonia Miri Hedberg, a doctoral student at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolins...
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Study Links Elevated Plasma Volume Status to Increased Mortality in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Study Links Elevated Plasma Volume Status to Increased Mortality in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

A recent study analyzing data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database, spanning from 2008 to 2022, has found a significant association between elevated Kaplan–Hakim estimated plasma volume status (KH-ePVS) levels and an increased risk of 30-day mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The retrospective cohort analysis included 1,440 TBI patients, revealing that those with higher KH-ePVS levels faced a greater likelihood of death within 30 days of ICU admission. While another method of estimating plasma volume, Duarte-ePVS, was also examined, it did not show a statistically significant relationship with mortality in multivariable analyses. The study highlights the importance of fluid balance in critically ill TBI patients, suggesting that volume overload, indicated by elevated KH-ePVS, could be a critical factor influencing patient outcomes. Researchers adjusted for various confounders, including age, race, and severity of injury, to isolate the impact of ...
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SSRIs and Ketamine Offer Distinct Approaches to PTSD Treatment, Differing in Mechanism and FDA Status

SSRIs and Ketamine Offer Distinct Approaches to PTSD Treatment, Differing in Mechanism and FDA Status

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and ketamine therapy represent fundamentally different approaches to treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). SSRIs, such as sertraline and paroxetine, are FDA-approved and recommended as first-line treatments, working by gradually increasing serotonin levels in the brain over several weeks. In contrast, ketamine acts on the brain's glutamate system, promoting neuroplasticity and often showing symptom relief within about two weeks. Ketamine is currently used off-label for PTSD and is not recommended by major clinical guidelines due to lower-quality evidence, though it is considered when first-line treatments are insufficient. Clinical trials indicate SSRIs help approximately 58% of individuals respond, while real-world data for ketamine therapy report higher response and remission rates, though no head-to-head controlled trials have been conducted. SSRIs are less effective for combat-related PTSD, a particularly challenging form of the condition. Side ...
ReutersReuters
Use of untested 'Wolverine' peptide backed by US Health Secretary Kennedy on the rise, study finds

Use of untested 'Wolverine' peptide backed by US Health Secretary Kennedy on the rise, study finds

By Nancy Lapid Sept 15 (Reuters) - An experimental peptide backed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F.
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Adam Ryan Morris Documents Respite Care for Alzheimer’s Association Campaign

Adam Ryan Morris Documents Respite Care for Alzheimer’s Association Campaign

Photographer Adam Ryan Morris was selected by Cramer Krasselt and AtEdge to capture the human aspect of respite care for the Alzheimer’s Association. The campaign aims to build an asset library focusing on respite care providers and their crucial role in delivering person-centered care for individuals living with dementia, while also providing caregivers with opportunities for rest and rejuvenation. Morris, known for his compassionate and documentary approach, won the competitive bidding process. He utilized his thoughtful production expertise to create a versatile collection of imagery in a single day. The resulting photographs are described as intimate rather than clinical, highlighting quiet moments of connection, trust, and everyday life that are central to the Alzheimer’s Association’s respite care narrative. Heliotrope Productions managed the project, with Barbara Kramer serving as producer.
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Representative Buddy Carter Supports Emergency Alert Modernization and Fentanyl Detection Research

Representative Buddy Carter Supports Emergency Alert Modernization and Fentanyl Detection Research

Representative Earl L. “Buddy” Carter, a Republican from Georgia's 1st congressional district, has actively supported two key legislative initiatives. He voiced his support for the Mystic Alerts Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at updating and improving America's emergency alert systems. This legislation seeks to enhance the effectiveness and reach of alerts during critical situations, ensuring that the public receives timely and accurate information. Additionally, Representative Carter backed a congressionally directed spending award designated for Augusta University. This funding is specifically allocated for research focused on developing rapid fentanyl detection methods. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, poses a significant public health challenge, and rapid detection is crucial for intervention and prevention efforts. These actions highlight Carter's engagement in both public safety infrastructure and critical health research.
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Long COVID Brain Fog Linked to Dopamine Nerve Damage, Study Finds

Long COVID Brain Fog Linked to Dopamine Nerve Damage, Study Finds

A new study by researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the University of Toronto has identified a biological explanation for the 'brain fog' experienced by many Long COVID patients: damage to dopamine-releasing nerve terminals. Using PET imaging, the study measured levels of VMAT2, a protein found on these nerve terminals, in 24 Long COVID patients and 24 healthy individuals. The findings revealed significantly lower VMAT2 levels in Long COVID patients across brain regions associated with motivation, movement, and memory (the striatum). Reductions ranged from 16% in the planning region (dorsal putamen) to 20% in the motivation and apathy region (ventral striatum). This research builds on a previous 2023 study by the same team that found elevated inflammation in these brain regions, suggesting a potential link where inflammation may damage dopamine nerves.
USA TodayUSA Today
Congress set to discuss this once taboo topic in women's health

Congress set to discuss this once taboo topic in women's health

Congress will talk about vaginal estrogen and hot flashes at its first-ever hearing on menopause Wednesday, Sept. 16.
Rolling StoneRolling Stone
The Veterans Who Built a Movement for Disability Rights

The Veterans Who Built a Movement for Disability Rights

Joseph A. Jordan Jr. was only two years out of high school when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 during the height of World War II. Two years later, while stationed in France, Jordan’s jeep rolled while traversing a minefield in northern France. The crash left him permanently paralyzed from a spinal cord […]
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Oxford Brain Diagnostics Appoints Healthcare AI Executive Jieun Choe as CEO

Oxford Brain Diagnostics Appoints Healthcare AI Executive Jieun Choe as CEO

Oxford Brain Diagnostics Appoints Healthcare AI Executive Jieun Choe as CEO
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Why Most Americans Misread Treating Eczema

Why Most Americans Misread Treating Eczema

Many common approaches to treating eczema are based on myths. Here’s how to shift from merely chasing symptoms to managing the condition effectively.
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New AI-Powered Method Discovers Brain's Two-Speed Waste Clearance System During Sleep

New AI-Powered Method Discovers Brain's Two-Speed Waste Clearance System During Sleep

Scientists have developed a new method using physics-informed artificial intelligence (AI) to measure the speed of fluid flow in the brain, revealing a two-speed waste clearance system during sleep. This research, published in Science Advances, was conducted by a team from the University of Rochester, Brown University, and the University of Copenhagen. The study focuses on the glymphatic system, a brain-wide cleanup process that removes metabolic waste, including amyloid beta proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease, during deep sleep. The AI method extracts fluid flow speeds from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, overcoming previous limitations in measuring such slow circulation in living brains. The findings indicate that fluid moves at a few microns per second in more open areas around the brain, but 50 times slower within deeper brain tissue.