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#5Thoughts Friday

Edition
4/21/2023


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The family of Connor Sturgeon – who was killed after he fatally shot five people Monday morning at the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky – plans to have his brain tested for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly known as CTE, his father and a spokesperson for the family told CNN on Thursday.

“Yes, Connor is being tested for CTE. Probably will take a while to get results,” Todd Sturgeon, Connor Sturgeon’s father, texted to CNN.
Pete Palmer, a family friend who is speaking for the Sturgeons, said the family and the state medical examiner are looking to have Connor Sturgeon’s brain tested.

The medical examiner’s office has completed most of its tests, and the process of testing for CTE will now begin, Palmer said.
A spokesperson for the Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet, which includes the medical examiner’s office, said “several tests and lab results” are pending on the autopsies of those killed in the bank shooting.

“Until all tests are complete and results have been issued no information will be released,” spokesperson Morgan Hall said. “This process will take several weeks.”
CTE, a neurodegenerative brain disease, can be found in people who have been exposed to repeated head trauma. Studies have found that repetitive hits to the head – even without concussion – can result in CTE.

Sturgeon’s family thinks he had three significant concussions – two as an eighth-grade football player and one in basketball as a high school freshman, according to Palmer.

The disease, which can only be diagnosed with an autopsy and neuropathological exam, is pathologically marked by a buildup of tau protein in the brain that can disable neuropathways and lead to a variety of symptoms including memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, aggression, depression, anxiety, impulse control issues and sometimes suicidal behavior.

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Sr. Clinical Program Coordinator Needed!

Johns Hopkins is seeking a Sr. Clinical Program Coordinator who will develop and manage relationships with assigned patients while coordinating their medical care at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. Responsible for the acceptance and scheduling for all assigned program patients, and coordinates care between all disciplines to ensure the seamless delivery of services. Proactively communicates and reports out on status of all active program participants.


CLICK HERE for Job description and link to apply.
A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), HES-SO Geneva and EPFL has discovered that practicing and listening to music can alter cognitive decline in healthy seniors by stimulating the production of grey matter.

To achieve these results, the researchers followed over 100 retired people who had never practiced music before. They were enrolled in piano and music awareness training for six months. These results open new prospects for the support of healthy aging.
They are reported in NeuroImage: Reports.

Throughout our lives, our brain remodels itself. Brain morphology and connections change according to the environment and the experiences, for instance when we learn new skills or overcome the consequences of a stroke. However, as we age, this ‘‘brain plasticity’’ decreases. The brain also loses grey matter, where our precious neurons are located. This is known as ‘‘brain atrophy’’.

Gradually, a cognitive decline appears. Working memory, at the core of many cognitive processes, is one of the cognitive functions suffering the most. Working memory is defined as the process in which we briefly retain and manipulate information in order to achieve a goal, such as remembering a telephone number long enough to write it down or translating a sentence from a foreign language.

A study led by the UNIGE, HES-SO Geneva, and EPFL revealed that music practice and active listening could prevent working memory decline. Such activities promoted brain plasticity, they were associated with grey matter volume increase. Positive impacts have also been measured on working memory.

This study was conducted among 132 healthy retirees from 62 to 78 years of age. One of the conditions for participation was that they had not taken any music lessons for more than six months in their lives.

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Photo by Dogukan Sahin on unsplash
In a Phase 2 clinical trial of a potential treatment for fatigue associated with long COVID-19, people who received the medicine reported positive results over those receiving a placebo.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford and reported in  eClinical Medicine.

It was one of the first randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial for a possible treatment for long COVID, Oxford said in a press release

"People living with long COVID in the trial who received AXA1125 had a significant improvement in fatigue compared to those who received a placebo," Oxford said.

Forty-one people participated. They had fatigue for 18 months beforehand. All completed the study, and none reported serious side effects, Oxford said.

AXA1125 was developed by US pharmaceutical company Axcella Therapeutics.

Long COVID refers to persistent symptoms, including fatigue, that last more than 12 weeks after infection. "Potential causes include reduced mitochondrial function and cellular bioenergetics," the study says.

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A story to help understanding a neurodivergent brain.
Created and inspired by my daughters ADHD diagnosis, I wanted to gift her a book that help explained her brain's processes and needs. No big words or acronyms that result in 'what does that mean' and bring the child out of the story.

"Brains are just like cars, they all drive round and round a track, picking up information and then bringing it back. Some brains are Race Cars that like to drive extra fast. Sometimes though, they forget to sop and fully complete a task.'
But driving cars fast all the time and not servicing or maintaining them leads to overheating and burnout.
We can apply that same logic to our brains.

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1) Quote We are Contemplating
Spring adds new life and new joy to all that is”

Looking for Something fun to do in Maryland this weekend?



Click the picture below and discover a world of possibilities for things to do this weekend!

HAVE A WONDERFUL
WEEKEND!

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