Health Topics /

Brain Health

Brain cancer and what you need to know about the disease

Health Topics

Jan 31, 2018

The brain is one of the most complex and central organs in the human body and is composed of more than 100 billion nerves. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to function or communicate properly. But what happens when cancer...

The science and mystery behind déjà vu

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Dec 27, 2017

Most of us have experienced the feeling that we have been in an exact moment before, that though we know this is our first time in a place or situation, there is this nagging feeling that it is strangely familiar...

Simply aging or something more serious?

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Aug 19, 2017

Forgetting why you came into a room, where your keys are or someone’s name are all signs of a busy life — but they can also be signs of dementia.Sometimes, the signs are not as obvious as memory loss. Some...

Artist with MS turns her brain scans into beautiful works of art

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Aug 4, 2017

Elizabeth Jameson never intended to be an artist. For many years she worked as a human rights lawyer, fighting for social justice for children with disabilities and gender equality. But after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1991,...

Life uninterrupted following epilepsy surgery

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May 31, 2017

As a child, Megan Kidd remembers waking up in a daze, unsure of her surroundings. Sometimes she would find herself in another room. Other times trying to recall what she said a few moments before.“I didn’t understand what was happening,...

Still walking & rolling with ‘Walk with a Doc’

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May 25, 2017

Kathy Floyd (Second from right) at Walk With A Doc On the first Tuesday of every month, you will probably find Kathy Floyd strolling along the walking path at the Baylor Tom Landry Health & Wellness Center. She comes for fitness, some...

8 questions that can predict your risk of stroke

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May 21, 2017

Judy Buck was enjoying a normal Saturday morning, working on her grocery list, when her life took a dramatic turn.“My eye started watering, and then my whole left side got heavy,” Judy said. “I knew something was wrong.”Judy’s husband raced her...

Can a saliva test really detect your genetic “risk” of Alzheimer’s?

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May 15, 2017

Unlocking the data stored within our DNA can help us learn a host of different things about our ancestry and health. But how much should you worry if your genes are linked to the development of disease?23andMe, a genetic testing...

Treating tremors with deep brain stimulation

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Apr 19, 2017

For nearly 50 years, Luetta Mahavier, 84, has suffered from essential tremors. They started around age 40 and slowly got worse. She began adapting her lifestyle to work around the immense shaking.“I would order things at a restaurant that I...

Twin babies give father hope to fight through brain tumor diagnosis

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Feb 3, 2017

After struggling for years to have children, there are no greater words to hear than, “You’re pregnant.” Add to that the joy — or maybe shock — of the words “with twins,” and parents-to-be John and Stacy Ash felt doubly blessed.Everything was going well with Stacy’s pregnancy...

Remaining connected through the progression of Alzheimer’s disease

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Jan 10, 2017

As more Americans begin to age, the number of families affected by Alzheimer’s disease — a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking, and communication — is projected to grow. With the increasing prevalence of the condition, comes new challenges...

Learning to thrive, in the face of early-onset Alzheimer’s

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Dec 12, 2016

Larry spent a majority of his life in the Lewisville area, a sprawling suburb outside of Dallas, Texas. He raised his children there, held a prominent car salesman job locally and made several close friendships during his five decades in...

Would your kids know to call 911 if you had a stroke?

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Nov 9, 2016

Imagine that you’re home alone with your 7-year-old, helping her with homework. You reach over to point to a math problem, but your arm goes numb and falls off the table. The right side of your face droops. You try to...

How to keep a loved one with Alzheimer’s safe

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Oct 31, 2016

At some point in our lives, many of us will become caregivers — whether taking care of a young child, or an aging parent. But as more and more Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the role of a care...

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Can concussions cause lifelong problems?

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Sep 24, 2016

It is not unusual for a patient to report concussion-related concerns to me. Some tell me that they are worried their memory has been declining due to an injury suffered years ago. Others may share recent car accidents, sports-related injuries,...

After his stroke, I hold my dad closer to my heart

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May 21, 2016

For two years, a tiny device protruded from within my dad’s chest, monitoring his every heartbeat.I hated the creepy thing for the memories it unearthed. You couldn’t pay me a million dollars to relive the day he had his stroke....

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Do mind games actually improve cognitive function?

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Apr 28, 2016

If you are misplacing your keys or forgetting items at the grocery store, you may be looking at ways to train your brain. With the growing prevalence of dementia and other cognitive diseases, many people are looking for prevention methods,...

How NASA’s Challenger tragedy influenced the way we treat stroke victims

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Apr 14, 2016

Televisions were strategically positioned in the Clear Lake High School hallways in suburban Houston on Jan. 28, 1986. The TVs were broadcasting the late-morning launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger.Dion Graybeal was among those shuffling between classes and catching glimpses...

Patti Foster is thriving with a traumatic brain injury

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Mar 16, 2016

Patti Foster, a radio personality with a zest for life, was severely injured in a horrific car wreck in 2002, and suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI), along with multiple injuries and fractures all over her body. She had been ejected out...

4 supplements to give your brain a boost

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Feb 3, 2016

A well-balanced, whole food diet can provide most of the nutrients we need for optimal health. However, certain supplements can be beneficial for reducing inflammation and supporting the health of our brain and nervous system: Omega-3 fish oil supplement with...