Search results for: disorders

We all may know a child affected by Autism.  According to the National Autism Association, 1 in 68 children fall somewhere on the Autism spectrum.  That rate has grown steadily over the last 20 years, and we now know more about what in the past has been a mystifying diagnosis: An autism diagnosis is four…

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder, signified by an abnormal interpretation of reality that requires life-long treatment.    Hallmark symptoms include distorted and disorganized thoughts, hallucinations, delusions, chronic feelings of fright and paranoia, and an inability to function normally in day to day life. While not common, schizophrenia affects a broad spectrum of children…

We’ve all known the kid, or been the kid, that has an even more limited diet than the 4 basic meals on every kids menu – pizza, chicken fingers, french fries and spaghetti  – who’s diets are limited to sugary cereal, frozen fried chicken, or even worse – certain brands of each. Picky eating behavior…

An ongoing challenge for researchers has been a way to create bench top (suitable in size or configuration for study) brain tissue to study human brain function.  But now, researchers at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) are one step closer – they’ve developed a 3-D printed layered structure that incorporates neural cells…

Medical experts have come to understand that the bacteria that lives in our digestive tract has an impact on our overall health, it is generally accepted that the balance and variety of these bacteria affect gastrointestinal conditions like IBS and Crohn’s Disease, as well as skin issues, obesity and diabetes.  But interestingly, more and more…

Burnout doesn’t just mean being tired, or stressed out, after a long day or before a big deadline – occasional stress is a normal part of a busy and healthy life.  Burnout syndrome is a psychological term that refers to long-term exhaustion and diminished interest in work, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information,…

Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease, and we all know someone who has been affected by it, either as a patient or caregiver.   Every 67 seconds someone in the US develops the disease, and an estimated 5.3 million Americans of all age groups currently have Alzheimer’s in 2015,  according to the Alzheimer’s Association. And these other…

Are people who face maltreatment in early life primed for a future of recurring or chronic mental, emotional and physical health issues?  More and more studies indicate the answer is unfortunately, yes. The World Health Organization defines child abuse, or child maltreatment, as the abuse and neglect that happens to children less than 18 years of…

It may seem harmless, when you’re stuck inside in front of the TV over a long weekend blizzard or after a surgery or bout of the flu – and find yourself binge-watching TV for a loooong stretch of time.   This is a relatively recent phenomenon, with the label popping up in the last couple years…

Whether it’s cramming for finals, preparing for that presentation to your new boss, or trying to make up for a month’s worth of missed exercise in one afternoon at the gym – we’ve all been there, having that 2nd or 3rd or (gasp!) 4th cup of coffee to fuel a 16 hour day.  Hopefully, it’s…