Neurological Conditions

There’s not a special diet plan for those living with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). But maintaining a healthy diet is a good idea for anyone. Of course, changing eating habits can be difficult, so try setting small, easily attainable goals. Try a new recipe once a month. Cut out dessert once or twice a week. You get the idea. Just make sure to talk to your doctor before starting any diet or nutritional program. Start Slow Plan Ahead Stay hydrated Control portions Make low fat…

As we wait for Kalki Koechlin’s portrayal of a gutsy girl with Cerebral Palsy in the award-winning film Margarita with a Straw, we find out more about the condition from rehabilitation specialist Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan. The film releases on 17th April 2015.  Cerebral Palsy is a birth-related disorder that affects the brain and nervous system. The nerve damage causes difficulties in the child’s movement, coordination, posture and ability to walk. It can also affect speech,…

Many patients can be overwhelmed, surprised, or simply anxious when they are first diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis. One doctor shares how he helps patients understand more about their condition during these first steps in their MS journey. Some aspects you can talk to your doctor about are : Understand the diagnosis Treatment options and side effects Impact on work, family life, day to day living Prognosis Research opportunities      

Prem's startling discovery of the root cause of his wife’s altered personality. Prompt diagnosis and treatment gave him back the woman he had married.  In the summer of 2012, my wife’s behaviour started to change. Initially we attributed it to age-activated attention deficit disorder (AAADD). We noticed that she was forgetful, moving from one chore to another unmindful of the earlier one. She showed signs of indifference, depression and withdrawal.  These…

Rehabilitation specialist Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan suggests small changes around the home that make a big difference to the quality of life of the elderly.    Having worked in the rehabilitation field for more than 15 years and having been a caregiver to four elders above the age of 80, I kept coming across the need for adaptations in daily living activities. The idea is to keep the elders as independent as possible and maintain their dignity. अब हिन्दी में पढ़ें: घर को बुजुर्गों…

Bladder problems affect 75 to 90 percent of people with multiple sclerosis, according to a July 2014 in-depth report in MS in Focus, published by the Multiple Sclerosis International Foundation (MSIF). “Patients need to understand that bladder issues are a symptom of their disease process and not something they should be embarrassed or ashamed about,” says Dr. Marlene Murphy Setzko, a urologist and director of Urologic Services at the Mandell Center for Comprehensive MS Care in Hartford,…

By Julien Salaberry Feb 24, 2015 The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has released a lengthy white paper on the past decade of VC funding for the biotech sector. Its headline finding is that venture funding for biotech R&D fell by 21% between the five-year period before the financial crisis (2004-2008) and the subsequent five years (2009-2013).  More interesting, however, is where the big funding cuts are occurring. Namely, in areas of the largest medical need. For…

Falls are a serious concern for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, in which the body’s immune system attacks the protective covering or sheath surrounding nerve fibers.  The risk for serious head and extremity injuries can increase with the duration of the disease. As disruption of balance is both a common and debilitating symptom of MS, initiatives to reduce the incidence of falls would be welcomed by patients and medical…

Nytol, Benadryl, Ditropan and Piriton among the medications identified by scientists as raising likelihood of dementia A report published online this week in JAMA Internal Medicine offers compelling evidence of a link between long-term use of anticholinergic medications like Benadryl and dementia. Anticholinergic drugs block the action of acetylcholine. This substance transmits messages in the nervous system. In the brain, acetylcholine is involved in learning and memory. In the…

Despite known risks for older people, use of benzodiazepines—a class of sedative and anti-anxiety medications—remains common in this group. The findings raise questions about why so many prescriptions are written for older adults when there are often safer alternatives.   Benzodiazepines include the medications alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan). These drugs are widely prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep problems. But while effective, they have serious…