Neurosciences - October 2013 Archives

Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Mayo Clinic Collaborate to Provide Telestroke Services in Northern New England When someone has a stroke, minutes can make the difference between life and death. Studies have shown that prompt access to a vascular neurologist vastly reduces mortality or the long-term disabling effects of a stroke. However, many hospitals, particularly in rural regions, do not have a stroke specialist or are unable to provide around-the-clock stroke coverage. Dartmouth-Hitchcock, in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, is now creating a “telestroke” program so patients in the region will have greater access to emergency stroke care and participating hospitals across New Hampshire and Vermont will have 24/7 access to specialists. CEO and President of Dartmouth-Hitchcock James N. Weinstein, D.O., says, “Telehealth is critical to creating a sustainable health system that focuses on population health, value and payment models that reward high-quality care. New technologies are making it possible for us to deliver care in ways never before imagined – giving patients the care they need close to home.” Click here for news release.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: If you get to the hospital quickly after having a stroke and get treatment right away, does that mean there won’t be any of the typical after-effects of a stroke? ANSWER: Although early treatment does not guarantee that there won’t be any lasting effects from a stroke, it can dramatically decrease the risk of permanent brain damage. If you have any symptoms of a stroke, get emergency medical care right away. There are two types of stroke. The first, called an ischemic stroke, is due to a lack of blood supply to an area of the brain, caused by a blocked artery. This deprives brain tissue of oxygen. Within minutes, the brain cells begin to die. Ischemic strokes make up about 85 percent of all strokes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI0B_MiICNM Today is World Stroke Day and is meant to raise awareness about the symptoms of stroke, types of strokes and recovery treatments. A stroke can occur when ...

Radiologist and noted Alzheimer’s disease researcher at Mayo Clinic Clifford Jack Jr., M.D., has been elected to the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academies. John Noseworthy, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic, says, "This is a great recognition for Dr. Cliff Jack and an honor that is well deserved. He is internationally known for his discoveries in radiology and imaging and for his impact on Alzheimer’s disease analysis. Much of what we know about how Alzheimer’s develops is because Cliff Jack found a way to visualize it.” Read news release.

Mayo Clinic researchers have found a surprising occupational hazard for teachers: progressive speech and language disorders.  The research, recently published in American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias, found that people with speech and language disorders are about 3.5 times more likely to be teachers than patients with Alzheimer’s dementia. Speech and language disorders are typically characterized by people losing their ability to communicate – they can’t find words to use in sentences, or they’ll speak around a word. They may also have trouble producing the correct sounds and articulating properly. Speech and language disorders are not the same as Alzheimer’s dementia, which is characterized by the loss of memory. Progressive speech and language disorders are degenerative and ultimately lead to death anywhere from 8-10 years after diagnosis. Click here to see the news release. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raBcYUvRRF8 Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Keith Josephs, the senior author of the study, are available in the downloads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_z6SEUOx0k The risk of concussions in youth sports like football and hockey has been in the spotlight a lot lately. But concussions don’t just ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What happens to the brain when someone suffers a concussion? Do concussions increase the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease? ANSWER: A concussion is a brain injury that changes the way your brain functions. The effects of most concussions are not long-lasting. But to avoid permanent damage, it is important to give someone who’s had a concussion plenty of time to rest and recover following the injury. Research does show that repeated concussions in some people can lead to cognitive impairment that could progress to Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfA5d-R4qNc More than a half million kids play hockey in the United States and there’s a renewed push to keep them from getting hurt. The national governing body for the sport, USA Hockey, has released a video demonstrating better ways for heads-up play on the ice. Dennis Douda has this report. [TRT 2:02] Read script. Mayo Clinic’s Sports Medicine Center is hosting Ice Hockey Summit II: Action on Concussion this week. Read news release. Journalists: Video and animations are available in the downloads. News Network pkgs. can be edited into vo/sots and incorporated into your local reporting.