Timely Description
Our central nervous system is a lot like Christmas lights.... #MultipleSclerosis
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Want to raise your IQ
Mind Your Brain
@mindyourbr
Want to raise your IQ by 23 percent?
Neuroscience says take up this simple habit:
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
DVT
Anything that damages the inner lining of a vein may cause DVT -- surgery, an injury, or your immune system.
More: http://wb.md/2gDhRNr
Choking and Dysphagia in multiple sclerosis
The
cause of all my coughing and choking is complicated and very
annoying.....partly allergy and asthma symptoms and changes in
swallowing caused by m.s.
Articles
Cause of death in patients attending multiple sclerosis clinics
- A. D. Sadovnick, PhD,
- K. Eisen, RN,
- G. C. Ebers, MD and
- D. W. Paty, MD
- Abstract
- Full Text (PDF)
Abstract
Between 1972 and 1988, 145 deaths occurred
among 3,126 patients attending the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Clinics in
Vancouver,
British Columbia (N = 1,583), and London, Ontario
(N = 1,543).
We could determine the exact cause of death in 82.1% of
cases
(119 of 145). Of the 119 patients for whom the
cause of death was known, 56 deaths (47.1%) were directly attributed to
complications
of MS.Of the remaining 63 deaths, 18 (28.6%) were suicides, 19 (30.2%) were due to malignancy*, 13 (20.6%) to an acute myocardial infarction, seven (11.1%) to stroke, and the remainder (9.5%) to miscellaneous causes, of which two may have been suicides (add the 2 possible suicides and you have 32% suicides).
The proportion of suicides among MS deaths was 7.5 times that for the age-matched general population, and the proportion of MS deaths from malignancy was 0.67 times that for the age-matched general population.
The proportion of deaths due to malignancy and stroke was the same for the MS patients and the age-matched general population.
- © 1991 by Edgell Communications, Inc.
*the state or presence of a malignant tumor; cancer.
******************
Dysphagia in multiple sclerosis
Abstract
Objectives:(1) To determine the prevalence of swallowing problems in MS patients and its relation to the overall disability.
(2) To define the most frequent symptoms suggestive of dysphagia.
(3) To describe the abnormalities on manofluoroscopy (MFS).
Methods: Three hundred and eight consecutive MS patients were asked whether they ever had swallowing problems. If so the questionnaire of the Johns Hopkins Swallowing Centre was applied to qualify the dysphagia.
A MFS was performed in 30 patients with dysphagia covering the entire spectrum of MS. Overall disability was assessed using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
Results: Seventy-three of our 309 patients had permanent dysphagia (24%). Another 5% had a history of transitory swallowing problems only. Permanent dysphagia started to be a problem in mildly impaired patients (EDSS 2–3).
Prevalence increased together with rising disability to reach 65% in the most severely disabled subjects (EDSS 8–9).
Two alarming symptoms of patients with swallowing problems, coughing or choking during the meal and a history of pneumonia were present in 59%, respectively, 12% of these patients. MFS showed deficiency of the oral phase in all patients, while only the patients with an EDSS higher than 7.5 showed abnormalities of the pharyngeal phase.
Conclusions: Permanent dysphagia may already develop in mildly impaired MS patients but becomes a rather frequent finding in MS patients with moderate or severe disability.
MFS is a sensitive and useful ancillary examination. Important qualitative changes of the pharyngeal phase on MFS are seen in patients with an EDSS higher than 7.5.
Keywords:
Multiple sclerosis, Dysphagia, Prevalence, Diagnosishttp://www.clineu-journal.com/article/S0303-8467(02)00053-7/abstract?cc=y=
****************************************************
Speech and Swallowing Symptoms Associated with Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis: A SurveyHartelius L. · Svensson P.Department of Logopedics and Phoniatrics, University of Göteborg, Sweden |
Abstract
A survey of approximately 460 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) or multiple sclerosis (MS) shows that speech and swallowing difficulties are very frequent within these groups.Seventy percent of the PD patients and 44% of the MS patients had experienced impairment of speech and voice after the onset of their disease.
Forty-one percent of the PD patients and 33% of the MS patients indicated impairment of chewing and swallowing abilities.
The speech disorder was regarded as one of their greatest problems by 29% of the PD patients and by 16% of the MS patients.
Only a small number of patients, 3% of the PD and 2% of the MS group, had received any speech therapy.
© 1994 S. Karger AG, Basel
http://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/266286
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Being Resilient
Life doesn't get easier or more forgiving; we get stronger and more resilient. - Steve Maraboli
Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another. — Juvenal
– Archimedes
To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. - Lao Tzu
Success is the result of good judgement, which is the result of experience, experience is often the result of bad judgement. - Tony Robbins
Avoid talking about
things you don't like.
If you don't want them in your life
they shouldn't be in your mind.
You can't make time; so those who waste the least, achieve the most. - Tim Fargo #quote
Living with a sense of purpose in life
Conclusion:
A sense of purpose in life also gives you this considerable advantage:
The conclusions come from over 136,000 people who took part in 10 different studies.
The US studies asked people:
- how useful they felt to others,
- about their sense of purpose, and
- the meaning they got out of life.
The Japanese studies asked people about ‘ikigai’ or whether their life was worth living.
The participants, whose average age was 67, were tracked for around 7 years.
During that time almost 20,000 died.
But, amongst those with a strong sense of purpose or high ‘ikigai’, the risk of death was one-fifth lower.
Despite the link between sense of purpose and health being so intuitive, scientists are not sure of the mechanism.
Sense of purpose is likely to improve health by strengthening the body against stress.
It is also likely to be linked to healthier behaviours.
Dr. Alan Rozanski, one of the study’s authors, said:
“Of note, having a strong sense of life purpose has long been postulated to be an important dimension of life, providing people with a sense of vitality motivation and resilience.
Nevertheless, the medical implications of living with a high or low sense of life purpose have only recently caught the attention of investigators.
The current findings are important because they may open up new potential interventions for helping people to promote their health and sense of well-being.”
This research on links between sense of purpose in life and longevity is getting stronger all the time:
No matter what your age, then, it’s worth thinking about what gives your life meaning.”
- “A 2009 study of 1,238 elderly people found that those with a sense of purpose lived longer.
- A 2010 study of 900 older adults found that those with a greater sense of purpose were much less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
- Survey data often links a sense of purpose in life with increased happiness.
Read More:
Find out what kinds of things people say give their lives meaning.
Here’s an exercise for increasing meaningfulness
And a study finding that feeling you belong increases the sense of meaning.
The study was published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine (Cohen et al., 2015).
A sense of purpose in life
Link: http://www.spring.org.uk/2015/12/here-is-why-a-sense-of-purpose-in-life-is-important-for-health
The Science and Practise of Happiness
Uploaded on Jul 1, 2011
Is happiness a skill? Modern neuroscientific research and the wisdom of ancient contemplative traditions converge in suggesting that happiness is the product of skills that can be enhanced through training and such training exemplifies how transforming the mind can change the brain.
Kent Berridge, Richie Davidson, and Daniel Gilbert speak at the Aspen Ideas Festival
.
Hitler, the Tiger and Me
Documentary telling the story of Judith Kerr, creator of well-loved children's books.
From BBC's Imagine series.
From BBC's Imagine series.
Hitler, the Tiger and Me
https://youtu.be/LgKbGQMixUwMonday, November 21, 2016
Truisms
Above all else, never think you're not good enough. - Anthony Trollope
Fear is not the enemy. Paralysis is the enemy. - Seth Godin
Lewis Pugh
When can't carry on ... force yourself to keep on going. Most success is based on persistence. [Pic via @kelvintrautman]
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Work System
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Course Review http://tinyurl.com/zbkmrpo #mindfulness #zen #meditation
Life only comes around once, so do whatever makes you happy, and be with whoever makes you smile.
Choose
happiness today by taking life moment by moment, complaining very
little, and being thankful for the little things that mean a lot.
Five simple rules for happiness
1. Free your heart from hatred
2. Free your mind from worries
3. Live simply
4. Give more
5. Expect less
Multi Sclerosis News
Henri Matisse
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
How can mindfulness change your life"Jon Kabat Zin.
How can mindfulness change your life Jon Kabat Zin talks about how it works. https://sites.google.com/site/healthi...
The history of clinical stress Jon Kabat Zinn (click subtitles for the
French version) The Centre for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care,
and Society is a visionary force and global leader in mind-body
medicine. For thirty years, we have pioneered the integration of
mindfulness meditation and other approaches based on mindfulness in
traditional medicine and health through patient care, academic medical
research and vocational training, and in society in general through
various outreach initiatives and public service. Directed by Saki F.
Santorelli, EDD, MA, since 2000 and founded in 1995 by Jon Kabat-Zinn,
Ph.D., of the Centre is an outgrowth of the famous Stress Reduction
Clinic - the oldest and the largest university medical centre based on
the reduction of stress in the world. Association for the Development of
Mindfulness http://www.association-mindfulness.org
https://sites.google.com/site/healthi...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2iYp...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZikN0...
The history of clinical stress Jon Kabat Zinn (click subtitles for the
French version) The Centre for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care,
and Society is a visionary force and global leader in mind-body
medicine. For thirty years, we have pioneered the integration of
mindfulness meditation and other approaches based on mindfulness in
traditional medicine and health through patient care, academic medical
research and vocational training, and in society in general through
various outreach initiatives and public service. Directed by Saki F.
Santorelli, EDD, MA, since 2000 and founded in 1995 by Jon Kabat-Zinn,
Ph.D., of the Centre is an outgrowth of the famous Stress Reduction
Clinic - the oldest and the largest university medical centre based on
the reduction of stress in the world. Association for the Development of
Mindfulness http://www.association-mindfulness.org
https://sites.google.com/site/healthi...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2iYp...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZikN0...
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Monday, November 14, 2016
Glenn Gould and his dog
'Men are from earth,
Women are from earth.
Deal with it.' -
George Carlin
Henri Cartier-Bresson, Texas 1947
Henri Cartier-Bresson, Texas 1947
Glenn Gould and his dog
Shinichi Maruyama practicing his kusho art: Japanese
calligraphy in the sky. His work is amazing and can be found at shinichimaruyama.com.
Loeky Firet
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Mindfulness as a Love Affair with Life: An Interview with Jon Kabat-Zinn
Mindfulness
Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) founder Jon Kabat-Zinn talks about what
mindfulness is, what it isn't, and how we can use mindful techniques to
improve our health and wellbeing.
Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) founder Jon Kabat-Zinn talks about what
mindfulness is, what it isn't, and how we can use mindful techniques to
improve our health and wellbeing.
Friday, November 11, 2016
Rats are ticklish
Rats ARE ticklish - but they only 'laugh' when they are in a good mood
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3924300/Rats-ticklish-laugh-good-mood.html#v-7180138883129691345
How do you make a rat laugh? Just tickle it, say scientists (and if you don't believe them, watch their bizarre experiment)
- Researchers found neurons in rat brains linked to ticklishness and laughter
- When they stimulated these brain cells they made the animals chuckle
- Rats were only found to enjoy the sensation if they were already happy
- The findings suggest the somatosensory cortex may play a role in mood
Associated with the plague and demonised in novels such as George Orwell's 1984, rats don’t have the best of reputations.
But the vilified rodents are known to giggle.
Now scientists have found that rats ‘enjoy’ being tickled – but only if they were already in a good mood.
Researchers
at Humboldt University of Berlin identified neurons in rats’ brains
linked to ticklishness and laughter and by stimulating them, were able
to elicit a chuckle from the furry creatures.
The finding suggests the somatosensory cortex - the brain region where the neurons were located - may play some role in mood.
It was previously thought this brain region is primarily associated with the sense of touch.
The
study, published in the journal Science, builds on previous work in
which it was discovered tickling rats causes them to laugh at high
frequencies that are inaudible to humans.
While tickling is easy to do, how the sensation reaches our brain is unclear.
Know any good jokes? Rats love to
chuckle, according to a new study. Researchers captured footage of a rat
emitting ultrasonic vocalisations when it was tickled (still pictured)
To
investigate, Shimpei Ishiyama and Michael Brecht monitored neuron
activity in the rat somatosensory cortex before and during tickling.
They
found that consistent with earlier claims that tickling is rewarding,
the rats readily approached the tickling hand and performed ‘joy jumps’
as well as ultrasonic giggles when tickled.
The
experts observed that neural firing rates in the deep layers of the
somatosensory cortex increased along with laughter when the rats were
tickled.
To
test this correlation, they stimulated somatosensory cortex neurons
when the rats were not being tickled, which they found also resulted in
laughter.
However,
when the rats were in an anxious mood – as a result of being placed on a
high platform, for example - tickling-evoked laughter and neural firing
were suppressed.
The
authors believe their findings support Darwin's idea that ‘the mind
must be in a pleasurable condition’ for ticklish laughter to occur.
'TWO MICE WALK INTO A BAR...': THE SCIENCE OF HOW RATS LAUGH
Researchers have found that rats laugh at high frequencies inaudible to humans
Laughing
rodents may seem like a strange phenomenon, but researchers have found
that rats laugh at high frequencies inaudible to humans.
Their 50-kHz ultrasonic calls, known as chirps, are distinct from the other noises they make, Scientific American reported.
Researcher
Jaak Panksepp is thought to have been the first to discover that
chirping can be compared to laughter in humans, by tickling rats,
He
also found that the most ticklish rats - those that chirped the most -
were also the most naturally playful and that laughter in young rats
seems to increase bonding.
This
is because in his experiments, young rats actively sought out a hand
that had tickled them - presumably because the experience was enjoyable.
But
he stopped short of asserting rats have a sense of humour, simply
pointing out there seems to be similarities between laughter in children
when they play and the same activity in rats.
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