Category Archives: Neurodegenerative disorders

October 19

To sleep, perchance to roam

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You jolt awake, sensing a presence in your room. Heart racing, you open your eyes and the figure comes into focus. Her glassy eyes seem to stare right through you. You sigh thinking, “not again,” and take your sleepwalking child back to bed.   In the middle of the night, I go walking in my […]

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September 07

It’s Like Uber, but for Neurologists

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Automation is one of the engines of modernity, and what it should or could be is one of our society’s central discussions. However, when we discuss automation, it is never as a change that affects everyone in our community, but instead as one targeted at certain groups. Manufacturing workers on the assembly line have been […]

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August 17

Zika: Has this virus lost its bite?

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Do you live in a generally cool, dry place and rarely think about mosquitoes? Was last year’s Zika outbreak of little personal concern? You may not have the option of staying carefree for much longer. The Zika-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquito is already enjoying widespread breeding grounds as temperatures steadily rise across the globe, indicating that […]

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June 29

Feelin’ the Beat (Frequency)

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What do you think when you read the word interference? If you’re like most people, you probably think it’s negative. Colloquially, interference tends to be obstructive or destructive, like interference keeping your radio or TV from picking up a station, or pass interference in football. I’m NeuWriting to inform you of a recent study in […]

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May 11

Identity Crisis

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Who are you? How do you know? I’ve been thinking a lot about identity this week. It all started when I received a letter from the IRS that began “Dear TAXPAYER” and essentially asked, “Are you who you say you are?” (Yes, it’s me! Please send me my tax refund!) To validate my identity, I […]

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February 18

“It ain’t about how hard you hit”

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[En español] Have you ever felt your brain bouncing inside your skull after you got your head banged? Or have you ever hit your head so hard that you felt the world spinning around you like you were totally wasted? This is how Shannon Gugerty, a professional MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter, describes his experience […]

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August 13

Things that go Bump in the Night: the Perils of Misplaced Paralysis

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Sleep is a beautiful thing. As soon as your head hits your pillow, your brain and body kick a number of essential processes into gear. Growth hormone is released, making you taller(1). The immune system is bolstered, protecting you from disease and infection(1). Memories are consolidated, making damn sure that you remember every word of […]

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October 30

Analyze your zombie walk

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Imagine a zombie costume.   You probably see – pale, bloody makeup, ripped clothes, dead-eyed stare. All of that preparation, however, would not be convincing if the zombie were to just move around normally. In fact “Walking Dead” special effects artist/director Greg Nicotero teaches a school on how to lumber around like a zombie for […]

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October 16

Lithium: Wonder Drug? Part II

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Note from the author: This post is dedicated to my biology nerds out there.  If you follow my Gene-of-the-Week posts (and you should because they’re the weirdest), you know that I often get lost in the cellular and molecular details of life, and it’s totally overwhelming.  I wrote this post specifically to discuss the mechanisms […]

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October 02

Lithium: Wonder Drug? Part I

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I’m so happy ’cause today I’ve found my friends They’re in my head What comes to mind when you hear the word lithium? A drug used to manage life-threatening mood disorders? A potentially deadly toxin? A chemical found in trace amounts in many compounds in nature? (Or maybe just the Nirvana song?) Any of these […]

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