Latest news with #Parkinson'sdisease
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Importance of brain health stressed in Guntur
Lalitha Hospital, Guntur, marked the World Brain Day with an awareness programme titled 'Brain Health for All Ages', underscoring the need to protect brain health across all life stages. Speaking during the occasion on Tuesday, Dr. P. Vijaya, head of Department of Neurosciences, Lalitha Hospital, emphasised that brain disorders are a leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death globally. 'From fetal development to old age, neurological well-being must be a priority. Over 1 billion people live with neurological disorders worldwide,' she said. She stressed the importance of preventive measures such as folic acid supplementation, vaccinations, regular check-ups, and fall prevention. The programme also featured insights from senior neurologists and neurosurgeons on conditions like stroke, migraine, dementia, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and traumatic brain injuries. Dr. Vijaya suggested balanced diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, and social interaction to maintain brain health.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Fortis Mohali introduces dTMS therapy, offering new hope to patients battling depression, OCD, PTSD
In a breakthrough for advanced mental health care in the Tricity region, Fortis Hospital Mohali has introduced deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS), a non-invasive FDA-approved brain stimulation therapy providing new hope to patients who have not responded to traditional medication or psychotherapy. The therapy has already been used to treat 15 patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The dTMS was introduced so that it can penetrate deeper and stimulate areas of the brain that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) cannot reach, making it a more effective option for certain treatment-resistant conditions. Dr Hardeep Singh, additional director, psychiatry, Fortis Hospital, Mohali, highlighted successful clinical outcomes post using dTMS. A 40-year-old woman who had been living under the relentless grip of severe OCD for nearly 16 years, consumed by overwhelming fears of contamination, she spent hours each day performing exhausting cleaning rituals, leaving her physically drained and virtually confined to her home. Despite seeking help from several leading medical centres over the years, her symptoms persisted at an extreme level, severely impacting her quality of life. She was kept on dTMS to target deeper brain regions involved in OCD. 'Within just six weeks of dTMS treatment, her condition improved dramatically. Her Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) score, a standard measure of OCD severity, dropped significantly from 32, indicating extreme symptoms, to 13, reflecting only mild OCD. She has been able to regain control over her life, dramatically reducing her compulsions and reclaiming her independence. The therapy is revolutionising the way we treat depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. It's a precise and safe therapy that provides long-term relief without the side effects of traditional medications,' Singh explained. The dTMS works by delivering targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate specific regions of the brain implicated in various mental health and neurological conditions. It has shown remarkable efficacy in treating OCD, PTSD, anxiety, chronic pain, migraines, and nicotine addiction. Researchers are also exploring its potential benefits in managing Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome and autism. Patients typically undergo 20-30 outpatient sessions over 4 to 6 weeks. The treatment is completely non-invasive and does not require anesthesia, and patients remain awake and communicative throughout the session. Dr Nishit Sawal, Senior Consultant, Neurology, said, 'dTMS is also helpful for treating post-stroke patients for aphasia and post-stroke rehabilitation. Aphasia is a language disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate. It can impact speaking, understanding, reading and writing. Aphasia is usually caused by damage to language-related areas of the brain, often due to stroke or head injury.'
Los Angeles Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
From tariffs to universities, Trump's negotiating style is often less dealmaking and more coercion
WASHINGTON — President Trump prides himself on being a dealmaker, but his negotiating style is more ultimatum than compromise. In the last week, Trump has slapped trading partners with tariffs rather than slog through prolonged talks to reach agreements. He ratcheted up the pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. And his administration launched a new investigation into higher education as he tries to reshape universities. For Trump, a deal isn't necessarily agreement in which two sides compromise — it's an opportunity to bend others to his will. While Trump occasionally backs down from his threats, the past week is a reminder that they are a permanent feature of his presidency. As Trump tightens his grip on independent institutions, there are fewer checks on his power. Republicans in Congress fear primary challenges backed by the president, and the Supreme Court is stocked with appointees from his first term. Trump recently summed up his approach when talking to reporters about trade talks with other countries. 'They don't set the deal,' he said. 'I set the deal.' Trump's allies believe his aggression is required in a political ecosystem where he's under siege from Democrats, the court system and the media. In their view, the president is simply trying to fulfill the agenda that he was elected to achieve. But critics fear he's eroding the country's democratic foundations with an authoritarian style. They say the president's focus on negotiations is a facade for attempts to dominate his opponents and expand his power. 'Pluralism and a diversity of institutions operating with autonomy — companies, the judiciary, nonprofit institutions that are important elements of society — are much of what defines real democracy,' said Larry Summers, a former Treasury secretary and former president of Harvard University. 'That is threatened by heavy handed, extortionist approaches.' Harvard has been a top target for Trump, starting in April when he demanded changes to the university's governance and new faculty members to counteract liberal bias. As Harvard resisted, administration officials terminated $2.2 billion in federal grants. The money is the lifeblood of the university's sprawling research operation, which includes studies on cancer, Parkinson's disease, space travel and pandemic preparedness. Trump has also attempted to block Harvard from hosting roughly 7,000 foreign students, and he's threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status. His administration recently sent subpoenas asking for student data. 'They'll absolutely reach a deal,' Trump said Wednesday. Administration officials also pulled $175 million from the University of Pennsylvania in March over a dispute around women's sports. They restored it when school officials agreed to update records set by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and change their policies. Columbia University bent to Trump by putting its Middle East studies department under new supervision, among other changes, after the administration pulled $400 million in federal funding. At the University of Virginia, President James Ryan resigned under pressure following a Justice Department investigation into diversity, equity and inclusion practices. A similar investigation was opened Thursday at George Mason University. 'Federal funding is a privilege, not a right, for colleges and universities,' said Kush Desai, a White House spokesman. Such steps were unheard of before Trump took office. Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education and an Education Department official under President Obama, said Trump isn't seeking deals but is 'demanding more and more and more.' 'Institutional autonomy is an important part of what makes higher education work,' he said. 'It's what enables universities to pursue the truth without political considerations.' The Fed has also faced Trump's wrath. He blames Fed Chair Jerome Powell for moving too slowly to cut interest rates, which could make consumer debt like mortgages and auto loans more affordable. It could also help the U.S. government finance the federal debt that's expected to climb from the tax cuts that Trump recently signed into law. Powell has held off on cutting the central bank's benchmark rate, as Trump's tariffs could possibly worsen inflation and lower rates could intensify that problem. Desai said the White House believes the Fed should act based on what the data currently shows, which is that 'President Trump's policies have swiftly tamed inflation.' Although Trump has said he won't try to fire Powell — a step that might be impossible under the law anyway — he's called on him to resign. In addition, Trump's allies have increased their scrutiny of Powell's management, particularly an expensive renovation of the central bank's headquarters. David Wessel, a senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, said Trump's approach could undermine the Fed's credibility by casting a political shadow over its decisions. 'There will be real costs if markets and global investors think the Fed has been beaten into submission by Trump,' he said. Trump originally wanted to enact sweeping tariffs in April. In his view, import taxes would fix the challenge of the U.S. buying too much from other countries and not selling enough overseas. After a backlash in financial markets, Trump instituted a three-month negotiating period on tariffs. Peter Navarro, one of his advisers, said the goal was '90 deals in 90 days.' The administration announced a few trade frameworks with the United Kingdom and Vietnam, but Trump ran out of patience. He's sent letters to two dozen nations and the European Union informing them of their tariff rates, such as 30% against the EU and Mexico, potentially undercutting the work of his own negotiators. Desai said Trump's approach has generated 'overwhelming interest' from other countries in reaching trade deals and gives the U.S. leverage in negotiations. John C. Brown, a professor emeritus of economics at Clark University in Massachusetts, said the 'willy-nilly setting of tariffs according to one person's whims has no precedence in the history of trade policy since the 17th century.' 'It's just bizarre,' Brown said of Trump's moves. 'No one has done this in history.' The president has also used the threat of tariffs in an attempt to help political allies and influence other countries' court systems. He told Brazil that he would implement a 50% tariff if the country didn't drop its prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who like Trump was charged with trying to overturn an election. Inu Manak, a fellow on trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Trump's inconsistent approach will foster distrust of U.S. motives. She noted that two of the letters went to Canada and South Korea, allies who have existing trade agreements with the U.S. approved by Congress. By imposing new tariffs, she said, Trump is raising 'serious questions about the meaning of signing any deal with the United States at all.' Megerian, Boak and Binkley write for the Associated Press.
Scotsman
14-07-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Why there's an urgent need to help the million Scots with a neurological condition
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... 'Local health care and social work services are stretched to breaking point and are unable to provide any meaningful support that would impact positively on any of the three family members I support.' That's just one of the devastating responses in a new Scottish study that examines the reality of caring for someone with, or living with a neurological condition. With two out of three patients finding life difficult to cope with, there is clearly an urgent need for action. The chances are that you know somebody with a neurological condition – as around one in six of us has one. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Neurological conditions affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles, and are often the result of illness or injury. They include cerebral palsy, MS, Parkinson's disease and dementia, as well as migraines and epilepsy. The effects range from bladder and bowel difficulties to visual impairment and whole-body difficulties. With many respondents to our survey living with conditions like ME and fibromyalgia, it is unsurprising that the biggest areas of impact include fatigue, movement difficulties, and poor sleep. More medical and care staff are needed to help the growing number of people with neurological conditions like dementia (Picture: Will Oliver) | AFP via Getty Images 'Today's Challenge, Tomorrow's Hope' More people are going to live with a neurological condition as our population ages. That's why the Scottish Government and the health system need to step up now. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Neurological Alliance of Scotland shone a light on delays to treatment and care and the crisis in mental health support back in 2022. It was the first time neurology patients' experience data had been independently published in Scotland and is now the benchmark for how services have changed since then. Our latest findings show that health and social care services are still not meeting people's needs, with over half of adult respondents saying they do not feel supported by the health system. We chose to title our new report 'Today's Challenge, Tomorrow's Hope' because it is important that we recognise the scale of the challenge we face today so that we can take action to improve things for tomorrow. Many people affected by neurological conditions, particularly those with conditions known as 'multi-system disorders', are having to cope while their needs go unmet. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The findings from the survey also illustrate just how challenging it is to be a carer in Scotland, particularly when you look after someone with a long-term, chronic, unpredictable and, sometimes, life-threatening condition. Many carers are not coping well and the need to provide meaningful support to unpaid ones has never been as critical as it is now. More consultants and specialist nurses We have, however, seen some improvements in the patient experience. These include more patient confidence in sharing concerns with healthcare professionals, relative happiness with appointment formats, and better satisfaction with the clarity of information provided by healthcare professionals. But far more needs to be done. We recognise that public finances are stretched and that our recommendations require investment. However, this area is too important not to take action, and we urge the Scottish Government to act on the findings in our new report. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Greater investment across health and social care is essential. Targeted investment is urgently needed to strengthen neurology services by expanding the workforce, including consultants, specialist nurses, and allied health professionals. Scotland needs to provide more localised care through networked multi-disciplinary teams, increase capacity for diagnostic tools such as MRI and CT scans, and recruit more radiologists. This approach will lead to faster diagnoses, which reduce the anxiety and mental health distress caused by long waiting times and uncertainty, enable earlier access to treatment, and provide timely and local access to support, including financial advice, physiotherapy, counselling, and peer support – all essential for building patient resilience. Cost savings For the wider NHS, there will also be fewer emergency hospital admissions, reducing the pressure on acute services and delivering cost savings. We believe everyone diagnosed with a neurological condition should have access to a named care co-ordinator to provide consistent, specialist support. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is particularly necessary for people with co-morbidities and for young people moving into adult services for which no specialist services exist. And we need to improve accessibility to social care by ensuring all staff – particularly social workers, benefits assessors, housing officers, and school staff – are trained in the complexities of neurological conditions. This will achieve stronger carer support, enabling unpaid carers to maintain their own health, stay in work longer, and reduce dependency on the welfare system. There should also be faster housing adaptations, which are essential for safety, independence, and reducing isolation, improved access to financial support, and better support in mainstream schools for children with neurological conditions. 'Shouldn't be this hard' In our survey, an overwhelming 82 per cent of carers reported that children in their care regularly experience frustration and anger due to their symptoms. One told us: 'As a parent you really have to push hard. All the fighting is on you. It's really exhausting. It shouldn't be this hard – and this is when your child has been diagnosed at an early age.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Neurological conditions are already the leading cause of ill health worldwide, and without action we are storing up major challenges for the future. It is not a question of patching things up while ignoring the bigger picture; the time has come to prioritise investment into building the neurological workforce and increasing service delivery. For the one million patients in Scotland with a neurological condition, and their carers, we can't afford to wait any longer.
New York Post
14-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Mental health experts reveal reason why some people can't help being late
Chronic lateness can be frustrating for those left waiting and is often attributed to laziness and carelessness. But experts say a health issue called time blindness could be to blame for perpetual tardiness. Often misunderstood as an inability to perceive time, the condition disrupts a person's ability to estimate how long it will take to complete tasks, affecting everything from daily routines to long-term productivity. In daily life, time blindness can manifest as missed deadlines, difficulty transitioning between tasks, or underestimating how long a task will take, resulting in stress and frustration, according to experts. Socially, it may be interpreted as disrespectful or careless behavior toward others, potentially damaging relationships. 'The cardinal feature of time blindness is an inability to estimate a time interval,' Dr. Mauran Sivananthan, a psychiatrist with Henry Ford Health in Detroit, Michigan, told Fox News Digital. 5 Experts say a health issue called time blindness could be to blame for perpetual tardiness. Voyagerix – This can negatively affect a person's ability to use time as a guide to plan the day. Laurie Singer, a board-certified behavior analyst at Laurie Singer Behavioral Services in California, reiterated that those with time agnosia — another name for the condition — are unable to properly process the passing of time. 'They typically struggle with knowing how much time has passed or how much time is remaining during a task,' she told Fox News Digital. 5 Time blindness disrupts a person's ability to estimate how long it will take to complete tasks, affecting everything from daily routines to long-term productivity. DragonImages – For instance, someone may miscalculate how long it takes to get ready in the morning, rushing out the door and arriving late. Others may get absorbed in an activity (a symptom known as hyperfocus), losing track of time completely, the expert noted. Causes of time blindness Time blindness is considered an 'executive function issue,' Sivananthan said. Executive function refers to skills like working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition control. These skills are essential for everyday tasks like making plans, solving problems, and adapting to new situations, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Time blindness is most commonly linked to ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). 'Various parts of the brain are affected by ADHD, including the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum,' Sivananthan said. 'There have been many studies looking at the role of the cerebellum in time processing.' The condition can also appear in individuals with autism, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), traumatic brain injuries, depression, anxiety, and even conditions like Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, experts say. Time blindness is not listed in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is the accepted reference book for mental health and brain-related conditions, Singer noted. 5 Time blindness is considered an 'executive function issue,' psychiatrist Dr. Mauran Sivananthan said. Monkey Business – While there is no formal diagnosis for the condition, the inability to perceive and manage time is included in the DSM-5 criterion for ADHD. How to handle time blindness Treating time blindness often involves a multi-layered approach, starting with minimizing delays, according to Sivanathan. 'When something needs to be done, it is better to do it right away,' he told Fox News Digital. 5 Treating time blindness often involves a multi-layered approach, starting with minimizing delays, according to Sivanathan. auremar – It can also be helpful to use external devices to keep track of how much time is spent on an activity. Sivanathan often recommends that his patients set timers before getting in the shower or starting a project, for example. Singer added, 'When provided with some of the tools to alleviate symptoms, such as starting each day in the exact same way to create a rhythm, I've seen patients approach it with exceptional diligence.' 5 Sivanathan often recommends that his patients set timers before getting in the shower or starting a project, for example. Pix4Ads – The experts agree that habitual behavior can bring the benefits of 'structure, predictability, reduced decision fatigue, increased productivity, and improved time management.' Sivananthan recommends breaking large tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks and creating consistent routines that 'train the brain' and reduce cognitive load. While time blindness may not disappear entirely, it can be significantly reduced through the use of consistent routines, visual aids, and regular therapy, according to experts.
