By Rebecca Fleeman, PhD The following is a synopsis of my PhD thesis that I defended on January 19, 2023, titled Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Conveyed by Apolipoprotein E ε4: Immunometabolism and the Brain-Body Connection. Thank you to LTS for the opportunity to share my PhD findings in a unique way to reach more people! The … Continue reading APOE4-get About It: How the Greatest Genetic Risk Factor for Alzheimer’s Disease affects the Brain and Body
neuroscience
Is eternal happiness a myth?
By Yash Kulkarni "One feels inclined to say that the intention that man should be 'happy' is not included in the plan of 'Creation.' " –Sigmund Freud, Civilization, and Its Discontents, 1930 Sigmund Freud is indeed right; one cannot know the true meaning of pleasure (happiness) unless and until one hasn’t known what pain is. For … Continue reading Is eternal happiness a myth?
Help! My brain is on fire!
By Mariam Melkumyan Burnout is unfortunately a common feeling among graduate students. While you can find information on ways to fight burnout in a 2019 LTS article, in this piece, I intend to dive deeper and examine the neuroscience behind burnout. First, as a quick reminder of the definition of burnout: Burnout is a process … Continue reading Help! My brain is on fire!
Can nature work to nurture our brains?
By Alexandra Evans Most Americans are guilty of it, but how much time do we spend staring at our screens throughout the day? A Nielson Total Audience Report published in 2017 determined that a majority of Americans spend approximately 10 hours a day staring at a screen, whether that be a computer, laptop, smartphone, or … Continue reading Can nature work to nurture our brains?
Bring the Beat In: How the Brain Processes Binaural Beats and the Potential Cognitive Benefits the Beats Provide
By Gaelyn Lyons Finals are just around the corner, and you're scrambling to study for that last exam. You're probably stressed out, having a hard time focusing, and *most likely* losing sleep. First, let's take a deep breath. Breathe in. Breathe out. How are you feeling? Are you still stressed? Then let me tell you … Continue reading Bring the Beat In: How the Brain Processes Binaural Beats and the Potential Cognitive Benefits the Beats Provide
How Aggressive and Costly is End-of-Life Care for Cancer Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias?
By Xingran Weng, DrPH This article is based on the dissertation of Dr. Xingran Weng who defended his thesis at PSCOM on February 22, 2022. Let’s think about a tough situation Imagine an older individual has been diagnosed with cancer and moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (roughly 20% older persons with cancer diagnosed with … Continue reading How Aggressive and Costly is End-of-Life Care for Cancer Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias?
Predicting Alzheimer’s Disease: The Rise of Novel Biomarkers
By Rebecca Fleeman Why are some diseases easy to diagnose and others aren’t? For instance, we can get a COVID rapid test and have a result in hours, whereas a disease like Alzheimer’s requires numerous tests over several months to make a diagnosis. Simply put, COVID is an infectious disease, caused by one single known … Continue reading Predicting Alzheimer’s Disease: The Rise of Novel Biomarkers
COVID-19 Causes Lingering Brain Fog: How Can We Combat The Effects?
By Laura Budurlean Are you a victim of “brain fog”? You can blame the pandemic. Individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, resulting in COVID-19, sometimes experience lingering brain fog, one of the symptoms of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS or “long-COVID”). Brain fog is characterized by a general confusion, an inability to focus, and decreased mental clarity … Continue reading COVID-19 Causes Lingering Brain Fog: How Can We Combat The Effects?
Alcohol Increases Excitability in The Central Amygdala Through Neuroinflammation
By Mariam Melkumyan Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is highly prevalent, affecting around 15 million individuals annually in the United States1. The harmful effects of excessive alcohol use on the liver and other organs are well known, however, the exact effect of alcohol on the activity of the different regions and function of the brain is … Continue reading Alcohol Increases Excitability in The Central Amygdala Through Neuroinflammation
Does your brain know all your secrets?
By Victoria Vernail In 1986, geneticist Alec Jeffreys was the first to use DNA profiling techniques in a murder investigation. The use of DNA resulted in the release of an innocent suspect and eventual identification of the culprit.1 In the coming decades, DNA would become the backbone of forensic science, serving as evidence in over … Continue reading Does your brain know all your secrets?
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