1.Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by differences in social communication, behaviour, and sensory processing. It reflects the diversity of human development rather than a single uniform condition. ASD arises from a complex interaction of genetic and environmental influences. Increasing prevalence incidence. Importantly Autism is not disease which can be fixed but has to be under

Introduction Why does a slice of cake feel so satisfying even when we are hungry? Beyond taste, beyond calories, beyond sweetness, sugar activates a network in the brain structure known as the mesolimbic pathway. When we eat sugar, this system releases dopamine, reinforcing behaviours the brain interprets as rewarding. While this response is a part of normal human physiology, the frequency and intensity with which it is stimulated in modern dietary environments is historicall

Post-operative delirium (POD) is a common but serious complication following surgery, particularly in older adults, characterized by sudden confusion, disorientation, and fluctuating consciousness. Raising awareness among healthcare providers and families is crucial, not only for early detection and prevention but also for responding with patience and compassion, recognizing that behind the confusion is a person deserving of dignity and understanding.

When we listen to our favorite tune, we might feel a shiver run down our spine, a sense of calm and peace, or perhaps we are transported back to a forgotten memory. These feelings are not just fleeting emotional reactions; they are a direct reflection of music's profound and complex impact on our nervous system. From soothing nerves to stimulating the brain, scientific research is unveiling a powerful relationship that transcends music as mere art, positioning it as an influe

What Triggers Addiction? Addiction manifests in many shapes and forms: drugs, alcohol, food, gambling, exercise, or even scrolling on social media. But what do they all have in common? Humans inherently seek pleasurable experiences, so it is natural to engage in behaviors that are enjoyable. Pleasure arises through the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates the “reward center” of the brain. This reward system is evolutionarily valuable, as it reinforces behavi

Introduction When the word “dementia” becomes attached to a family member or friend, an overwhelming sense of devastation often follows. Although there are various types of dementia, the general process and progression share many similarities. Dementia is an irreversible neurodegenerative brain syndrome that affects memory, thinking, comprehension, and other cognitive functions (Pergolizzi et al., 2019). The clinical nature of this form of neurocognitive decline creates signi

By: Nesredin Hassen Yesuf LinkedIn | Email Introduction Headaches remain a leading neurological complaint in everyday practice, with migraine and tension-type variants dominating the landscape. Most of us associate stress with headache onset, but for a notable subset of patients the opposite holds true. They breeze through intense workweeks only to be struck down on Saturday morning or the first day of a long-awaited holiday. Clinicians have labeled this the “let-down” headac

Written by: Olivia Orr, BSN, RN If you live with migraine, it helps to understand how hormonal changes across the lifespan can influence symptoms and frequency. Migraine is linked to fluctuations in estrogen, particularly when estrogen drops. This relationship may explain why women are about three times more likely than men to experience migraine. Many women notice that migraine episodes become more frequent, less predictable, or simply different in their 40s and early 50s. P

Pharmacology is the auxiliary science of medicine that has helped us fight disease, pain and all kind of problems, but it has always encountered a problem: every person is quite unique from a genetic point of view, and that usually don’t represent a problem at all, most of the truly important differences are well known by physicians and are extremely rare from a statistical point of view; but in the last years we have got to know something we were previously ignoring complete

What is ADHD? Before jumping into how ADHD medications actually work within the body, it is important to define what it is. ADHD is the acronym for Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a very common neurodevelopment disorder found in both children and adults where individuals may have trouble controlling impulsive behaviors, may be unable to pay attention, and may poorly follow instructions (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). For many, the effects of ADHD can be effectively

We trust our ears to tell us the truth. Sometimes, it’s our eyes that decide what we think we’ve heard. Photo by Ümit Yıldırım on Unsplash Imagine you’re standing across the road from a friend. Cars are passing, engines are loud, and the noise swallows most of what she’s saying. You see her mouth open wide, her face tense, her body leaning forward. Even before you fully hear her voice, your brain already assumes she’s shouting. In fact, you almost hear it, just from the way

Sarah Bersey BSc (Hons) Pg Dip When I was a young child, you were either a reader or you weren’t. Most of us did read off and on, as TV only had a few channels and there wasn’t any social media or an online world to lose ourselves in. A few weeks into a long school holiday had us reaching for books out of sheer boredom. These days I still know a lot of people that read for pleasure and reap the benefits. However, modern life can rob us of the time to read if we let it, and

Overview Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves, the network that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. This can cause weakness, numbness, and in severe cases, paralysis and difficulty breathing. Most people recover, but because symptoms can escalate quickly, early recognition and medical care are crucial. (1,2) What exactly is GBS? In GBS, the body’s defence sys

I have worked at a local nursing home as a dietary aide since last summer, and have recently started working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) as well. These two jobs have taught me numerous things, specifically how to care for people experiencing cognitive decline. It can be difficult to see loved ones face the challenges of memory loss, and you might feel like there is nothing that you can do to help. But there are many strategies for caring for these loved ones. In th

Written by Olivia Orr, BSN, RN Have you ever felt overwhelmed and heard someone say, “Just relax”? It can leave you questioning whether you are overreacting or imagining the problem. You are not. Stress is a real, physiological response rooted in the nervous system. Stress is often described as an emotional response, but it produces physical changes throughout the body. A stress response is the body’s way of telling you something is wrong, similar to an immune response. An im

Fatal Familial Insomnia is a rare, fatal, autosomal dominant neurodegenerative prion disease. FFI is caused by mutation in PRNP gene, causing misfolded proteins (prions) in the brain, particularly in thalamus, where sleep-wake cycle is controlled.

Introduction When a child lives with a chronic physical illness, stress becomes part of their everyday life. The influx of doctor visits, medications, ongoing symptoms, and feelings of exclusion from peers can contribute to declines in mental health. Reports of declining mental health among children are not new, but the reasons behind this decline remain unclear. A recent Canadian study offers an important suggestion: long-term stress leaves a biological fingerprint, and that

Photo by Brandon Cormier on Unsplash We spend, on average, around eight hours a day asleep, an essential biological process that plays a fundamental role in maintaining physical and cognitive health. Even a single night of inadequate sleep can noticeably impair daily functioning, leading to reduced concentration, lethargy, and mood changes. When sleep disturbances persist over time, however, their effects extend far beyond transient fatigue, contributing to long-term impairm

An open hand framed by a sunset "I've been tryin' to get down To the heart of the matter But my will gets weak And my thoughts seem to scatter But I think it's about Forgiveness, forgiveness…” Don Henley, The Heart of the Matter, 1989 As human beings, we are familiar with the concept of needing to forgive those who have wronged us. However, people are often uncertain about how to accomplish forgiveness (7) or understand its importance in their own health and wellbeing (9). Th

Introduction HIV affects over 40 million people worldwide, with up to 77% of patients accessing antiretroviral therapy. Despite efforts to control the progression of the disease with antiretroviral therapy, approximately 30-50% of people living with HIV may develop HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, or HAND. These patients present with difficulties in executive function, memory, attention, verbal fluency, and concentration. Pathogenesis HIV enters the central nervous sy