Brain Health Education Series. Over the past few weeks you may have seen news reports about a new shingles vaccine (Shingrix) becoming available in South Africa. Most of the coverage has focused on how well it prevents shingles, a painful condition that becomes more common with age. But many of the headlines have also mentioned…
Most people think of depression as a problem of mood. However, in long-standing depression, parts of the brain involved in memory, emotional resilience, and long-term cognitive health can actually begin to shrink. One of the most important of these structures is the hippocampus. Interestingly, this is not a new or controversial idea. For decades, brain…
Introduction Modern medicine has transformed outcomes for many serious conditions. In cardiology, oncology, and critical care, it is often necessary to use multiple medications in combination to stabilise disease and improve survival. In this sense, polypharmacy is not inherently problematic. It is often appropriate and, in many cases, life-saving. However, when multiple medications are used…
A practical, science-based look at mild cognitive impairment, memory decline, and treatments that address the brain’s underlying regulatory systems. Been forgetting small things? Unable to remember if you did something? Maybe you’ve had the uncomfortable experience of a family member telling you in an irritated tone of voice that you’re repeating yourself. That’s especially bad…
The festive season in South Africa is often centred around food, friends, and a few more drinks than usual. From long afternoons at the braai to late nights with family and friends, alcohol is a familiar part of how many people celebrate. While most people think of this as harmless seasonal indulgence, alcohol has real…
A large meta-analysis involving more than 1.5 million participants has identified an association between energy drink consumption and suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Importantly, this does not imply that energy drinks cause suicide, but it does suggest that their use may be linked to underlying psychological or behavioural risk factors. Let’s unpack the connection between energy…
Neuroplasticity is critical to brain function. It’s so critical, that without it, you would die! That’s a remarkable statement, and, amazingly, it’s true. Neuroplasticity is all about how your brain forms new connections, how your brain rewires itself. And for any brain, that’s a core function. As pumping is to hearts, so forming new connections…
The Surprising Connection Between Wildfire Smoke and Brain Health: What You Need to Know Wildfires are getting worse. Look at what has happened in California, Greece, in Portugal. With global warming, you can be certain that there will be more devastating wildfires. Wildfires are not only ravaging the environment and endangering communities, but their smoke…
Neuroinflammation is swelling in the brain. It’s bad news. Swelling occurs in many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. Alternatively, diseases such as hypertension or diabetes lead to stroke, which in turn triggers neuroinflammation. Or bad luck strikes and someone suffers a traumatic brain injury, which leads to neuroinflammation. Neuroinflammation is a common…
The Classic Case of Misfolded Proteins Did you know that misfolded proteins cause Mad Cow Disease? Strictly speaking, people don’t get Mad Cow Disease. Instead, cows do! Duh! When people eat the meat of infected cows, then they get Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CKD), a kind of dementia. CKD is a serious condition and kills you quickly.…
