The metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, impaired levels of blood cholesterol, altered glucose metabolism or insulin resistance, and obesity. These risk factors together increase the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular... Read more →

The upper Midwest has been besieged by a bitter cold front for the past several days. Chicago recently reported wind chills of 30 degrees below zero, and several locations in North and South Dakota posted high ambient air temperatures of several degrees below zero, without wind chill. Though not exactly... Read more →

Welcome to the forty-second edition of Brain Blogging. In this round, we discuss the profession of neurology, the transforming power of stroke, whether suicidal behaviors should make the DSM V, potential location of autism genes, and many more topics. Remember, we review the latest blogs related to the... Read more →

Depression is a risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease in healthy patients, as well as a predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diagnosed heart disease. One-fifth of patients with coronary heart disease and one-third of patients with congestive heart failure... Read more →

Listening to music activates a network of brain regions associated with memory, motor functioning and emotional processing. Certain tunes can spark an individual to recall the lyrics of a song, even if they have not heard the song for several years. A certain song can help to recall a certain memory... Read more →

Stroke patients may have a new tool in their rehabilitation shed: a mirror. A study presented at the 6th World Stroke Congress in Vienna, Austria, in September 2008 suggests that adding mirror therapy to traditional rehabilitation programs may speed the recovery of stroke patients. Mirror therapy is... Read more →

There is a rare neurological condition called alien limb syndrome in which a person has one or more limbs that will often move without conscious control. Little is known about the exact cause of this rare and interesting disorder. The person usually can have conscious control of the limb at times but... Read more →

Many people have a general familiarity to the obvious symptoms of stroke complications: paralysis, thinking and concentration deficits, speech problems, emotional difficulties, and daily living problems. However, many are unaware of the possible pain complications. A 29 year old stroke victim in the... Read more →

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA or stroke) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the USA; each year about 700,000 people sustain a stroke across the country. Based on the location and size of the lesion, there may be severe and permanent loss of function. The most significant residual... Read more →

Welcome to the thirty-sixth edition of Brain Blogging. In this round, we cover the diagnostic dilemma in ADHD, novel radiological therapies for Aspergers, unravel cross-gender studies, and discuss personal stories of escaping depression through creativity. Remember, we review the latest blogs related... Read more →

An intracranial aneurysm can be defined as a thin sac that develops in the brain through the swelling of a weakened blood vessel. As the swelling increases, the wall of the blood vessel (aneurysm) becomes weaker and runs the risk of causing a stroke if it ruptures in the patient’s brain. Most patients... Read more →