A comprehensive study published in the September 27, 2007 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine 1 has demonstrated “no causal association” linking exposure to a mercury-based preservative used in routine childhood vaccines to abnormalities in later neuropsychological development.
The preservative, known as thimerosol, is approximately 50% (by weight) mercury and had been used as [...]
Archive for the ‘Disability’ Category
New Study Demonstrates No Link Between Vaccines, Child Development Problems
Posted in Autism, Disability, Medical Research, mercury, vaccination on September 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
A Role for Vitamin A in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s?
Posted in Alzheimer's, Disability, Medical Research, Medicine, Parkinson's on September 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
An article to appear in the October, 2007 issue of the journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience 1 will present the strongest evidence to date that a form of vitamin A known as retinoic acid may be of value in the treatment of conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
While vitamin A-complex (meaning the vitamin itself as [...]
“Chemo-Brain” is a Potential Side-Effect of Cancer Therapy
Posted in Chemo-brain, Disability, Medical Research, Medicine, Memory on September 18, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
For years those that have received chemotherapy as part of their treatment for cancer have been reporting a set of neurological symptoms that include difficulties with short-term memory and decision-making that developed after receiving anti-cancer medical therapy. These symptoms, informally called “chemo-brain” or “chemo-fog,” are finally being recognized and studied by researchers in fields from [...]
Tourette Syndrome
Posted in Disability, Medical Research, Tourette Syndrome on September 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disease that is associated with muscular or vocal tics. 1 More severe cases of this condition may be associated with self-abuse such as punching or slapping oneself or even the involuntary use of profanity (the action that many people associate with Tourette, but it is present in less than 5% [...]
The Four Theaters, Autism, and the Theory of Mind
Posted in Disability, Medical Research, Medicine on September 9, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
In A User’s Guide to the Brain psychiatrist John Ratey offers a model of the human neuropsychological forces that give each individual their own “personality signature” and how a problem in one “upstream” area may not become obvious until it impacts another area “downstream.”
This, of course, is certainly not a new observation in any [...]
Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
Posted in Disability, Medical Research on September 5, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system that is estimated to affect more than 400,000 Americans. While the exact cause of MS has been widely thought to be a manifestation of some type of autoimmune reaction, current research indicates that, in addition to autoimmunity, several other factors may be involved [...]
Lawrence, Mike, Wal-Mart, and the “Letter from the Birmingham Jail”
Posted in Disability, Personal on September 4, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Today I would like to share with you the stories of two men who are beating the opinions of the medical profession and are living productive lives.
A few months back my son-in-law conned me into going to a local taping of one of the Worldwide Entertainment (WWE, formerly World Wrestling Federation) shows. I met [...]
Movies’ Failure to Accurately Portray Coma May Influence Decisions Related to Medical Care
Posted in Disability, Medicine, Personal on August 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
In my personal opinion, the saying that “Old habits are hard to break” is probably one of the most accurate statements ever made regarding human behavior.
Before my retirement, I spent almost 30 years as a medical para-professional as first a Physician’s Assistant and then as an ultrasonographer with special qualifications in adult and pediatric cardiology [...]
Donepezil Effective in Later Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease
Posted in Disability, Medicine on August 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
A clinical study published in the medical journal Neurology1 has demonstrated that donepezil (Aricept®, Eisai) preserves or improves the brain’s ability to perform cognitive functions such as basic mathematics and facial recognition as well as more global functions such as motor skills and self-awareness in patients diagnosed with severe Alzheimer’s disease
The report, authored by an [...]
Most Autism “Treatments” are Nothing More than “Hope, Hypertext, and Hype”
Posted in Disability, Medical Research, Medicine on August 21, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
According to participants in a symposium convened as part of this year’s meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA), literally hundreds of “therapies” purporting to “treat;” “cure;” or “reverse” Autism Spectrum Disorder are flooding the Internet.
According to symposium moderator James Mulick, professor of psychology and pediatrics at Ohio State University, many of these treatment [...]
