Neurosciences - August 2013 Archives

  Our Labor Day weekend program (8/31) will feature a rebroadcast of a previous show with Mark Christopherson, M.D., during which we discussed spinal cord injuries.  ...

  There will be a new face at Northern Arizona University (NAU) football games this fall – only the face of this new "team member" is a robot on wheels. Mayo Clinic researchers are working with NAU to test the feasibility of using a telemedicine robot to assess athletes with suspected concussions during football games. With sophisticated robotic technology, use of a specialized remote-controlled camera system allows patients to be "seen" by the neurology specialist, miles away, in real time. The robot is equipped with a specialized camera system and remotely operated by a neurologist from the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix campus who has the ability to assess a player for symptoms and signs of a concussion, and to consult with sideline medical personnel. The first time the robot will be used in a game is this Friday, Aug. 30, when NAU kicks off its season against the University of Arizona in Tucson at 7 p.m. MDT. Click here for news release. Journalists: B-roll of the robot is available in the downloads.  

Michael J. Fox is back in the spotlight this fall in a new sitcom “The Michael J. Fox Show” and spreading awareness about Parkinson’s disease, a condition both he and his TV character have in common. Fox has been an outspoken advocate for Parkinson’s disease research and awareness since disclosing his condition to the public in 1998. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement and may cause shaking, muscle stiffness, slowing of movement, impaired balance or other symptoms. Mayo Clinic movement disorders specialist, Anhar Hassan, M.D., says it impacts about 1 in 200 people. “What Michael J. Fox is doing to spread awareness on Parkinson’s — from fundraising to education to playing a TV character with the disease — is very commendable. Parkinson’s disease touches the lives of many people. Education is vital.” says Dr. Hassan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rPkoFWuoWs Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Hassan are in the downloads. To interview Dr. Hassan or another Mayo Clinic Parkinson’s expert about the disease contact Nick Hanson at newsbureau@mayo.edu or call 507-284-5005. Read entire news release: 5 Things about Parkinson's disease Five things every person should know about Parkinson’s disease: People are typically diagnosed with Parkinson’s in their 60s. Early onset, such as Michael J. Fox’s, is rare. The disease is not a death sentence. With new medications, a healthy diet and a good exercise regimen, those who are diagnosed with Parkinson’s can live upwards of 20 years and beyond.

   DO YOU HAVE MIGRAINES OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES?  Join @TIME's @AliceParkNY for a #migrainechat - Thursday Aug. 29th, 1 to 2 p.m. ET Mayo Clinic neurologist @daviddodick is participating, along with specialists from other medical institutions, the @AANPublic and the @ahsheadache.   Topics will include:   Long-term effects of migraines How migraines effect social life, job and stress Difference between headaches and migraines and different types of migraines Who gets them and what are the triggers Treatments and how to prevent New research Never participated in a chat before, or want tips on how to participate effectively? Watch this video. Questions? E-mail Nick Hanson at hanson.nicholas@mayo.edu.

Parkinson's disease research was presented to the American Academy of Neurology earlier this year, that's being described as a "big step forward" in diagnosing the disease.   Mayo Clinic neurologist, Charles Adler, M.D., Ph.D., says, “There is currently no diagnostic test for Parkinson’s disease and this is the first study demonstrating the value of testing a portion of the saliva gland (submandibular gland) to diagnose a living person with Parkinson’s disease. Making a diagnosis in living patients is a big step forward in our effort to understand and better treat patients." Click here for news release Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Adler are in the downloads Learn more about Parkinson's disease http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWhFU-DeJds  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 300,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in the United States each year. That's roughly 10 times more cases than are generally reported to the CDC through routine surveillance. It also makes Lyme disease the most common tick-borne illness in the U.S. The CDC says this new estimate confirms that Lyme disease is a tremendous public health problem in the United States and clearly highlights an urgent need for prevention. Mayo Clinic infectious disease expert Abinash Virk, M.D., says a few basic precautions will reduce the chances of contracting not just Lyme, but all tick-borne diseases. Dr. Virk's top tick-bite prevention tips are:  Use a suitable insect repellent. Check yourself, children and pets after being outdoors. To reduce your risk on hikes, stay on trails. If you leave the path, wear long pants tucked into your socks. If you find ticks, remove them right away. Use force and pinch the tick near its mouth parts, pulling the tick out slowly in a continuous motion. Don’t twist it, which may leave mouth parts embedded in the skin. Keep grass short in yards and avoid ungroomed areas. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Abinash (AH-bih- nosh) Virk (Verk), and b-roll of ticks in the Mayo Clinic parasitology lab are available in the downloads. 

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was diagnosed last year, at the age of 38, with shingles. What causes someone who is relatively young to get shingles? Does this mean I am more likely to get it again? Should I get the vaccine at this point or wait until the recommended age of 60? ANSWER: Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once you have had chickenpox, varicella-zoster stays in your body for the rest of your life. When the virus is reactivated, the result is shingles. [Watch this animation: stages of shingles] Shingles typically involves a band-like rash on one side of the chest, abdomen or face. The rash is usually quite painful. Most people recover from shingles over several weeks. A small number have lingering severe pain, called post-herpetic neuralgia, along the nerve that was irritated when the virus came back. 

Mayo Clinic is now offering chronic pain sufferers a new, implantable pain-blocking device approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — that is safe for full-body MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanners. The device is an advancement on neurostimulation technology that's been is use for decades, but has been denied many patients who would likely need ongoing MRI scans. Also called spinal cord stimulation, the small, battery-powered transmitters deliver signals through electrical leads implanted along the spinal cord. The signals interfere with pain messages traveling from nerves to the brain. Mayo Clinic pain medicine specialist, Halena Gazelka, M.D., says the devices work extremely well for the majority of people with intractable back, arm and leg pain. But, until now, she's had to tell numerous patients they couldn't use one because MRI scans were more important for managing their medical conditions. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Halena (hah-LEE-nah) Gazelka (gah-ZEL-kah) and b-roll of the device, x-rays and a spinal model are available in the downloads. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpVLb4RCG_0

Is a good night's sleep on your list of back-to-school essentials? Pediatric sleep expert with the Mayo Clinic Children's Center, Suresh Kotagal M.D., says getting enough sleep is critical to students' well-being and ability to learn. Dr. Kotagal says an estimated 30 to 50 percent of children have trouble sleeping well, but a few healthy habits could help many of them sleep more soundly. Don't drink caffeine after dinner. Regular exercise leads to better sleep. Turn off all electronic devices an hour before bedtime. Silence phones so text or message alerts won't wake the child up. Not allowing students to stay up too late on weekend nights will make Monday's early starts easier to deal with. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Kotagal are available in the downloads. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQBHFqTqx_s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3rfsJlVEpA Headaches are very common. The World Health Organization reports up to three-fourths of all people suffered some sort of headache within the last year. For some they aren't a big deal, but for others they can be debilitating. Experts at Mayo Clinic have tips on how to manage headaches.  Vivien Williams reports.  [TRT 2:02] Read script: Managing Headaches The two most common types of headaches are tension headaches and migraines, and to treat them properly, it’s often important to distinguish which one you’re dealing with. Robert Sheeler, M.D., says it’s also important to make sure the headache is not the result of an underlying problem such as an aneurysm, tumor or other serious disease. If you have significant headaches, it’s key to see your health care provider and to get a detailed neurologic evaluation. Headaches are often not cured, but with proper treatment, patients may greatly reduce the frequency and severity of their headaches and get back into life. Journalists: The video report and additional b-roll are available in the downloads. News Network pkgs. can be edited into vo/sots and incorporated in your reporting.