We overheard this conversation when a couple of our members were walking across the university campus yesterday: “You had to be there! I was so blasted I can’t remember a thing!” “Ha! You got nothing on me man, last weekend I was at ….party and I finished off a bottle of JD with ….! I… Read More
Brain Damage from Lead Exposure
A recent research article published by the PloS Medicine journal has some interesting findings linking lead exposure and permanent brain damage. Children exposed to lead were found to have reduced gray matter in areas of the brain associated with important functions such as mood regulation and decision making. With the high potential for accidental brain… Read More
SCI Cure: Creepy Fish May Offer Clues…
Just looking at these things makes my skin crawl. I don’t know how the Europeans can eat them. I’m talking about the lamprey, a jawless fish that uses its suction-cup mouth to attach itself to other fish. Once attached, the lamprey’s impressive collection of scary looking teeth go to work and bore into its host,… Read More
New Bill to Combat Brain Injury/Illness
Brain-related illness currently costs the US $1.3 trillion dollars a year (healthcare costs, lost income). Republicans and Democrats are joining together to support a new bill that aims to fix this massive problem. According to the article, the idea is increase Federally-funded research, as well as eliminate much of the red tape that keeps new… Read More
Spinal Decompression: How Soon Should it be Done?
Spinal decompression following a spinal cord injury has long been known to be beneficial. Decompressing the spinal cord prevents a lot of secondary damage to the cord. Exactly whendecompression should be done, however, has been a point of controversy. Many experts have said that decompression should be accomplished within 24 hours of injury, while others… Read More
Rats Not Cutting it for SCI Research?
A study being published in the upcoming issue of Reviews in the Neurosciencesseeks to prove that animal testing is actually hurting spinal cord injury research as opposed to helping it. The report, written by scientists from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, points to evidence that results in lab rats don’t necessarily translate to results… Read More